In the last 12 years, I have moved eight times and to four different states. There were always a few boxes that remained unopened after the early moves. Eventually, I would open the boxes and realize I didn’t need most of the things in them, put away the few things I did need and get rid of the rest. Currently, I am packing up again to move to a different apartment. I have been going through my things, packing up stuff I won’t need between now and the move date, such as books and winter clothes (it has been so hot in the last few weeks!). I am also screening out things I no longer want or need. I discovered clothing I didn’t know I had, old college papers, and books just sitting on my shelves that I haven’t looked at since I graduated. My clothing style has changed, so items I haven’t worn in a year or more, especially when they are in good conditioned, I toss into one of three piles:
1. Donate to an organization
2. Sell in a consignment shop
3. Give to siblings or friends
This gives me room for new collections to wear now.
My college papers no longer apply to my professional life so I have placed them into a recycling bin, and I have added many books to the donation pile or given them to interested friends. This gives me room on my shelves for new collections and interests.
As a friend said after finding out about my move, sometime people just need to move in order to shed things. I actually found it to be liberating as I go through my own packing. Yes, packing is a pain, yet letting go of things from the past to make room for present and future is more fun to look forward to!
As a professional organizer, I can help with packing up, unpacking and organizing in different categories at either end of a move.