Breaking News: I Unpacked
Less than eight hours after getting home from Italy, I didn’t sit on the porch to enjoy this gorgeous Indian summer day.
I unpacked.
Now, those who know me know I can let a suitcase sit in the corner for weeks.
Zero guilt.
Unpacking just isn’t my thing.
But something minimalist came over me.
Maybe it was the 60 pounds of luggage I dragged over cobblestones while wearing only a quarter of it.
Or maybe I’m just tired of managing stuff.
Either way, I unzipped the suitcase…
and the closet tornado touched down.
Cue the negotiations:
“I should keep this—I paid $200 for it.”
“This would look so good on So-and-So.”
“I’ve never worn this—maybe I should try it.”
Five hours later:
luggage put away,
ten bags ready for their next fashionista.
Meanwhile, my husband just emptied his suitcase and moved on with life.
Me?
I had to do three jobs to finish one.
Closet’s lighter,
piles are waiting,
and I’m toast.
But somewhere in those five hours, I started thinking about how much energy we spend managing things we don’t even want.
The clothes we paid too much for.
The things we might wear someday.
The things that could be useful.
The things that might look good on someone else.
The things we feel guilty getting rid of because we spent money on them.
And maybe that’s why letting go can be so damn difficult.
We’re not just moving stuff out of a closet.
We’re negotiating with old decisions.
Old identities.
Old versions of ourselves.
And sometimes, we’re holding onto things simply because admitting we don’t want them anymore feels like admitting we made the wrong choice.
But five hours later, I had ten bags ready for their next fashionista.
And my closet was lighter.
Sometimes that’s enough.
So now I’m curious—
are you a “done in five minutes” unpacker,
or does your suitcase become a semi-permanent piece of furniture?
And what are you carrying that you’re finally ready to put down?
If you enjoyed this post, explore Julie’s Season of Self program.
