The Girl in Gucci Glasses

Can we talk about letting go? As of late I have been purging things I don’t need, and don’t use.

Some items went in the donation bin, others for sale.

A few nosy Nancys asked if I was “going through financial woes,” to which I followed up with, “No, I just have enough.”

But what is enough?

In this culture of overconsumption, it can be hard to be happy with what you have. We have grown accustomed to TikTok hauls, daily blowout sales, and quite frankly: greed.

When I was younger, I was a bit of a shopaholic. I was the child of two responsible, upper-middle-class parents who indulged but not often. So you can bet your bottom dollar that when I had the chance to buy whatever I wanted when I wanted, I would.

And I did.

In college, I wrote about credit card debt and my obsession with consumerism. 

And while I became better about using debit or cash to purchase things, I was filling a void.

Like it or not, when you bury yourself in something, like overconsumption you’re trying to fill a need.

I’m not your therapist so I can’t tell you what needs that is, but it’s a need.

And when I felt sad, or happy – shopping was my outlet. It was like that scene in Confessions of a Shopaholic where she says how when she shops the world gets better. But let me tell you: that serotonin boost is short-lived.

After the pandemic, I emerged less hungry for things and more hungry for experiences. And so it began. I started to let go. 

At first, it was difficult. I would sell an item here and there or donate a small bag of clothes and home goods.

Eventually, I ripped the bandaid off and started purging in bulk.

I felt like I could breathe. 

You see, it doesn’t matter how much you love your favorite pieces of clothing or how much money you spent on it—if it’s not used or worn often enough, it needs to be moved out of your closet and into the donation bin or your Poshmark.

If you have a lot of stuff that you’ve accumulated over the years but haven’t touched in months or years, then it’s time to let go.

What helped me was organizing my closet by type (for example tee shirts, blouses, dresses). Then go through each category and remove anything that doesn’t fit or isn’t being worn regularly.

Letting go is one of the most important steps to a happy life. 

It’s hard to let go of things you know are good for you, but ask yourself: “What am I holding onto that just isn’t serving me?” 

Sometimes letting go is scary because it means letting go of something that’s familiar and comfortable, like an old favorite sweater or the latest book on your shelf. But trust me: if it doesn’t fit anymore and doesn’t serve any purpose anymore, let it go! Your mind will thank you.