We clean out our closets periodically, right? (At least theoretically…some of us are less diligent about that than others. Like me.) But what does kindness have to do with closets?
Our lives are sort of like closets. Things build up over time, get hidden away and remain there, stagnant, past their useful life.
Not everything in our closets is worth keeping and the same is true with things in our lives: jobs, activities and sometimes, even relationships and people.
We assume that everyone will be with us a lifetime, but that may not be their role. They may be here for just a season and then, having done what they arrived to do, move on.
I love the idea of letting go of things that have outlived their usefulness kindly. Without judgment. It can be hard to do but then again, once you’ve done it you see how easy it is to hold no grudges.
Was talking about this the other day with one of my nephews–about something big I’d let go of. It was so big my spirit guides had a lot to say about it in great detail. They don’t often advise directly but in this case they advice me to let it go immediately because it wasn’t mine to carry. “It had to be a big weight off you,” my nephew commented.
It was.
It’s surprising how much old baggage can weigh us down and even, at times, suck joy out of our lives. Even when we don’t realize it.
But for me, it’s helpful to evaluate everything in my life and determine what’s worth keeping. The rest? I let fly off into the wind in a breath of kindness.
And that’s the key. No harm, no foul. No grudge.
Just kindness.
Speaking of kindness, check out all of my wonderful gifts to support those who are grieving or working at healing.
Candy says
September 5, 2018 at 7:41 amNever thought about the similarities between cleaning a closet and our lives. This has me thinking which is a good thing
Melanie says
September 5, 2018 at 8:01 amI always tell my kids to be kind every morning before they leave for school. We can’t be everything to all people, but we can be kind!
Melissa Chapman says
September 5, 2018 at 8:04 amThat is such a great analogy . We do put things in the back of our minds and hide them sometimes. It is good to clean out the clutter and make a new start.
Frank says
September 5, 2018 at 8:05 amThankfully I tend to be pretty good about this. It’s not worth the stress to hang onto the past!
Nina Bashaw says
September 5, 2018 at 8:14 amI agree sometimes we have to take an honest look at ourselves and even our relationships and get rid of anything that is weighing us down in a negative way. Even when its really hard to move on.
Haralee says
September 5, 2018 at 8:28 amNot easy to do but a necessary step forward!
robin rue says
September 5, 2018 at 8:42 amI am SO not good about letting things go, but I am trying to work on that. It makes me feel good when I actually CAN let it go.
Tasheena says
September 5, 2018 at 10:17 amI love this analogy. This is so true, not everything in our closet is worth keeping.
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Amber Myers says
September 5, 2018 at 10:37 amI love this! And yes, I do always try to spread kindness. That’s the best way to be these days. I also let things go because it takes too much energy to hold onto anger.
Laurie Stone says
September 5, 2018 at 11:07 amLoved this and so true. I’ve said goodbye to possessions and people and most of the time (if not all), it was the right thing to do.
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Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
September 5, 2018 at 11:24 amThat is a great analogy. Cleaning out our mind and starting fresh is important. Thanks for this reminder!!
Joline says
September 5, 2018 at 2:23 pmSo true. And sadly most of the time we don’t realize it’s time to let go until it’s gotten way too heavy and cluttered. Comparing it to cleaning out our closets is dead-on.
Pam says
September 5, 2018 at 5:02 pmI love the part about how some people aren’t supposed to be with us forever. That’s so hard to learn and so true.
swathi says
September 5, 2018 at 5:40 pmYes kindness is wonderful nature that human can make his life forward. I always tell my kids to kind to other then only they will kind to you.
Alyssa from The Sparkly Life says
September 5, 2018 at 5:47 pmLove the idea of reassessing your relationships and “Cleaning house” every now and then. Also love comparing it to cleaning your closet!
Cathy Mini says
September 5, 2018 at 9:55 pmSuch a great thought and perfect to compare our lives as a closet. Nice to let go of the things not needed to look forward. Keep sharing positive vibes.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
September 5, 2018 at 10:03 pmOver the past couple of years I have found kindness in unexpected places, and haven’t found it where I thought I would. It’s been a challenging time and I found life is better when you accept not everyone is kind and remove them from your daily life.
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Bekah W says
September 6, 2018 at 5:58 amThis can be a hard lesson to learn, especially with friends. I’m one who selects very few loyal friends, so it’s hard to accept that any of them may only be for a season. Still, it’s true.
Anosa Malanga says
September 7, 2018 at 1:43 amBeing kind is not easy but it can be easy if it becomes a hobby. The act of kindness probably starts within ourselves and it comes back to us. Sometimes being angry just makes as a looser.
Kate | Life of a Ginger says
September 7, 2018 at 6:08 amThis is very true! We all need to let go of things that weigh us down.
Sara Welch says
September 7, 2018 at 6:18 amPeople need to read this. Kindness is inherent with humans. Somewhere along the way people lose it, and that’s tragic.
Kita Bryant says
September 7, 2018 at 6:18 amIt is the most contagious of acts. We can all use a little more of it in our days.
Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski says
September 9, 2018 at 10:30 pmBeing kind makes everything that surrounds you so much better. It’s contagious.
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