a moment to refocusonlife - letting go!

It's hard to let go of things. I have some trinkets, some jewelry, and a few books that I've held onto for years for no reason other than the sentimental value they hold. I do not mind the fact that this stuff more or less clutters up a small drawer or two at home. They have meaning. I want to keep them.

Me in my suit 10/27/2011

But, something I did not want to keep, but had trouble letting go of was all my "fat clothes" (Hey--I call a spade a spade--sue me!) Yes, fear paralyzed me even though my waist is now approximately 8 inches smaller around than it was before. (Yep, I was wear size 40 or 42" pants and I can now wear a 33" waist.) It truly is fear that kept my closet full of those clothes.

Fear of the what if's? Most people who lose weight gain it back, right? Most people who lose weight gain it back plus some, right? I hate thinking like that, but it's reality. I've heard it over and over from Doctor's, to talk show hosts, to random articles on the internet. It's a statistical fact! So, I better hang on to those big clothes so I don't have to spend money on an entirely new wardrobe again!

Me in one leg of the same
suit pants 8/17/2013

WRONG. This weekend, I took the first step in an emotional healing process. I cleaned out our closet. We had three 6-foot long racks full of clothing. From those 18 feet of clothing, I culled down what I could wear to about 5 feet of clothing I've bought in the past 6 months.

Yes, it felt good, but at the same time my stomach was knotted. I, truly, was near panic mode when I started. But, in the end, Mark encouraged me, helped me, and we truly did a spiritual, emotional, and physical cleansing of the fat men we were before!

We will traverse this journey together. If I gain 5 pounds, I'll work harder to take that 5 pounds back off! I will NOT allow myself to slip up and end up back in the same (much larger) boat that I was in before!

It's time we all let go of some of the emotional and physical baggage we carry around with us every single day! It's just time-consuming, harmful, and not worth the energy!

What are some things you need to let go of?