To anyone watching, it likely looked like I was thrashing. In reality, I felt completely grounded and calm. I had come to the understanding that the volume of material things in my home, rather in my life, was a physical manifestation of unsettled energy. It was all a distraction, something to focus on so that I didn’t have to look deep within. Most of the physical objects in my home were not bringing me joy, so I began to ask why I had them, why I had purchased them, why I worked hard to pay for them and why I moved them around my home or worse, stored them in my attic.

I was holding a large trash bag and placing item after item inside. To anyone watching, I may have looked manic, but in reality I was ecstatic. I was lighter and happier than I had been in a long time.

After placing each item inside the donation bag, I felt the handcuffs that I had been wearing release. My ties to the material world were loosening. Rather than subscribing to societal norms, I started to set my own boundaries, my own limits, and embrace my own values.

I didn’t feel the need to explain to friends and family and I didn’t feel the need to justify to anyone. As I stepped into my own power and my own self I stepped out of other peoples ideals and norms.