Sweaters

I started simplifying my life by simplifying my clothes--I have too many and when they're all dirty it is a pain to deal with the pile. So I decided that all my clothes should make a small pile.

One day I choose seven t-shirts, seven underwear, three pants, one pair of shorts, seven pairs of socks, and one sweater and put it all in a bag. I have been living with those clothes for about two weeks. Last night I moved my clothes into two drawers and started going through the rest of my clothing to decide what to keep and what to throw away.

I cannot decide which of my two sweaters to keep--I have five. I don't know why I have so many. I bought three of the same sweater in different colors about four years ago and bought the other two some time in between. I choose two to keep and then I wonder, what if I need more sweaters or I think to myself, I am getting rid of a sweater just like the one I am deciding to keep why did I choose that one?

I had no problem just choosing one random sweater to include in my bag of clothes. But now that I am actually going to get rid of the stuff I'm not choosing it seems harder. The other day I likened it to choosing clothes for a trip--you don't get rid of the clothes, you just don't have them while you're on the trip. But while you're on the trip you wonder, Why do I need so many clothes while I'm at home? Only using the clothes in my bag is a self-imposed limitation, the same as on a vacation, but getting rid of the clothes is final. I guess it is nice to know that I could always just decide to use the clothes.

First Post

I decided to take the 100 things challenge.

I haven't decided when my year of 100 things will start since I haven't reached the 100 items mark. So I will blog about getting rid of my stuff until I do.