{"id":797,"date":"2023-10-12T13:58:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T18:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/?p=797"},"modified":"2024-06-19T06:13:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T11:13:22","slug":"when-too-much-really-is-too-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/12\/when-too-much-really-is-too-much\/","title":{"rendered":"When Too Much Really is Too Much"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My husband and I earn our living<\/a> because people saved things and because people collect things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothes Represent Memories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve lived in our home for over 40 years and every cupboard and closet is stuffed to the gills with things! This spills over to my closet as well. I have been every size from an emaciated size 6 to an overflowing 16. I remember purchasing every article of clothing in my closet and I look at it with fondness and yearning, hoping that one day I will return to that weight and be able to wear it again. I don\u2019t purchase trendy or cheap clothing. Most of my clothes are timeless and quality. I\u2019m really a very organized person, and had my closet arranged well and neat and tidy. But, when I couldn\u2019t jam one more hanger on the rod, I knew something had to be done!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years ago, I began a new system for my closet. I purchased 2 packs of 50 teal, velvet hangers<\/a> with rose gold hooks and one pack of 20 pant hangers<\/a>. Every time I laundered an article of clothing, it got hung up on either the velvet hanger or the new pants hanger. Ultimately, I had to purchase more of both styles of hangers. After two years, it was obvious what clothes I had worn and what I hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Purge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the big purge began, I borrowed two clothing racks from my local theatre group and began emptying every item that was on an old hanger. I could not believe the clothes I have not worn in two years! It was excessive and I was ashamed. You don\u2019t have to wait for two years to apply this system. You can do it today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Overflowing
Clothes that were going away<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
And more!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What was the next step? I reorganized the clothes on the velvet hangers into sections. One for dresses, one for long sleeve tops, one for short and sleeveless tops, one for slacks, one for jeans, and one for casual\/athletic clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once my closet was stripped of everything I hadn\u2019t worn in two years, and I\u2019d hung them out in my bedroom on the borrowed racks, I had to decide what to do with it. My speaking clothes, dresses and professional outfits are not really what Goodwill or Salvation Army customers are looking for. I put a post on Facebook asking local friends for suggestions of where to donate my clothes. I got over 35 comments and some great suggestions. Many people wished they lived closer so they could share in my castoffs. A former missionary suggested there might be a \u201cchurch with a missions \u2018boutique\u2019 for returning missionaries\u2014that\u2019s a huge blessing to missionaries coming home from the field.\u201d Another great idea was Working Wardrobes and Dress for Success, for women returning to the workplace. Some of the typical suggestions were; Cancer Society, YMCA closet, women\u2019s shelters, Assistance League and Salvation Army. I emailed an organization that helps Single Moms and they were happy to receive anything I had to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My daughter-in-law wished she lived closer, so I asked what she could use. She lives in a colder climate, so I boxed up some of my favorite sweaters and shipped them to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A speaker friend also commented, \u201cI wished I lived near you, that\u2019s my size.\u201d As I went through my beautiful jackets that I wore for speaking, I picked out my favorites and boxed them up and shipped them to her. I was so happy they would continue to be valued and used in ministry. When she received my package she replied, \u201cI just opened the box. It\u2019s like Christmas!! Ohmygosh! I can\u2019t believe it. They are gorgeous and you are so generous. I\u2019m overwhelmed with gratitude.\u201d Now that I have someone for whom my clothes work, she may well receive another box!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beneficiaries <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve counted it up and my clothing went to more than 10 different people and causes. From fellow speakers, family members, single moms, friends, and women in need. This was neither a fast nor simple process, but, as my sister said, \u201cI know I am always happier to give my treasured items away when I see them going to someone who will love and appreciate them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that I now have an empty nest, I have taken over three other closets with clothes I haven\u2019t worn in years! One step at a time. Soon, I will move those clothes on to appropriate recipients. Until then, I am enjoying the freedom of a nice clean closet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Long sleeve blouses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Short sleeve tops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Slacks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What about you? Do you have clothes in your closet that you no longer wear that could be a blessing to someone else? Find someone who would benefit from and appreciate your excess\u2014it makes it easier to part with your treasured memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"Dark
Lauren Littauer Briggs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Through her speaking and writing, Lauren<\/a> encourages people with her heartfelt messages and practical presentations. She is the author of The Art of Helping<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 What to say and Do When Someone is Hurting.  Lauren and her family are active in both church and community choral groups. She lives in Redlands, CA.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve counted it up and my clothing went to more than 10 different people and causes. From fellow speakers, family members, single moms, friends, and women in need. This was neither a fast nor simple process, but, as my sister said, \u201cI know I am always happier to give my treasured items away when I see them going to someone who will love and appreciate them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,13,18],"tags":[196,77],"class_list":["post-797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beauty-fashion","category-community-engagement-patriotism","category-service","tag-closet-organization","tag-clothes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1363,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions\/1363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}