The Blessing Behind Getting Rid of Half of My Belongings

So, there I was, boxes everywhere because we were moving. And not just any move—a big, life-changing one where I’d be leaving Wisconsin where I had lived for the past four years to Nevada. 

Emptying out my office, a storage unit in town, and then going through stuff in my apartment is when something hit me: why do I own so much stuff? 

Here’s the tale of how I halved my possessions and why it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve genuinely feel like I’ve ever made. 

Why Did I Buy This to Begin With? 

Ever looked at something you own and asked, “What was I thinking?” Yeah, me too. 

As I sifted through years of accumulated ‘stuff,’ I realized I bought half of these things on a whim. Souvenir shot glasses, a bread maker (when did I become a baker?), and endless cables to gadgets I no longer owned. Each item seemed like a good idea at the time, right? 

The embarrassing moments were mostly when I went through my storage unit and found items still with tags on them. “Was I a hoarder?” I asked a million times. No, but I was basically paying a monthly fee to store junk I didn’t even end up using. That feels worse than just buying something you’re not serious about— now you’re paying for a storage unit to house all that junk too. 

Why Am I Compelled to Keep Something I Don’t Want to Keep? 

This was the million-dollar question. Sorting through my things, I felt this weird pressure to keep items just because they were gifts or expensive, not because they added value to my life. 

It’s like those jeans that no longer fit but you keep just in case. Spoiler: I haven’t fit into those in a decade. 

Besides, my wife and I threw away items that people got us for our wedding that weren’t even on our registry. Years later, would these people we didn’t even talk too really care if we threw away their empty picture frames? 

Donating, Selling, and Throwing Things Away Felt Like Removing a Physical Burden 

Once I decided to let go, each item out the door felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Donating clothes that could warm others, selling gadgets that could delight someone else, and yes, trashing the truly useless felt liberating. It was like I was peeling off layers of my old life and habits.

I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt like every bag that went to GoodWill or into the trash made it feel like it was easier to breath in the space I was in. 

I Have Deeper Connections to the Things I Chose to Keep 

The stuff that made the cut? Those things felt more special. 

I kept books that inspired me, gifts that truly meant something, and essentials that served a daily purpose. It turns out, when your space isn’t crowded with meaningless clutter, you appreciate the meaningful so much more. 

Getting Rid of Clutter Reduced My Anxiety 

You don’t realize how much clutter messes with your mind until it’s gone. Each cleared space in my home made my environment more peaceful and my mind clearer. 

I could actually find things without turning the house upside down. 

Who knew reducing your belongings could decrease your stress? 

It Felt Empowering to Have Only Things I Wanted to Keep 

Making intentional choices about what stayed gave me a sense of control and accomplishment. I wasn’t just throwing things away—I was curating my environment to better suit my new chapter in life. 

And let me tell you, there’s power in looking around and knowing that everything around you is there because you chose it to be. 

Getting rid of half my belongings wasn’t just because we were moving—it was a move towards a more mindful, deliberate life. 

I’m not a minimalist, but I’m not a slave to my material possessions either. 

If you’re staring down a home full of clutter, maybe it’s time to ask yourself: does this stuff make me happy, or is it just taking up space? Here’s to less stuff and more happiness.