
Eventually my life moved in different directions and as much enjoyment as I got out of the sewing, the time I had to do it in decreased and I spent less time in and around quilt shops and fabric, not to mention in front of the sewing machine. My passion for organizing, and running We Love Messes, gradually took over and commandeered my sewing time.
What happens when we are over it? Our passion has decreased either by necessity or declining interest and we've moved on to something else, yet the things we collected over time that to support our hobby remain - unused, gathering dust, and taking up valuable space in our worlds.
Take a look around - do you see items that you used to use a lot but haven't touched in months, maybe even years? Might be clutter! Ask yourself the following questions to see if they are truly worth the space they take.
- When was the last time I used these items? Sometimes being real with ourselves about our busy lives helps us to determine if the things we have are truly necessary.
- Am I holding on to these because I "might" use them in the future? You also "might" win the lottery, but it doesn't mean you should quit your job. Make decisions because of what you are doing - living in the present is more powerful.
- Is there someone (or an organization) who can use these things? Sometimes it helps just to know that someone else will feel the same kind of excitement we once felt from the hobby or activity.
- Will my items be relevant if I continue to hold on to them? If you're really struggling with letting go, ask yourself if the things you have will really still work if you do go back to your hobby sometime in the future. Most of us who return to a hobby/craft/sport/career after an absence choose to re-accumulate more relevant materials.
How about you? Have you given away something from a hobby or special interest and not given it a second thought? Or given away something and regretted it later? Inquiring minds want to know!