Lovely stuff and breathing space

I've purged myself of worldly goods; half my stuff is either being sold or going to charity. 

I need to go shopping.

Christy Leigh Stewart

This quotation made me smile. I can soooo relate.

I've been going through a bit of a clear-out around here. The trigger was sorting through some boxes transferred from my old workplace and that I'd avoided for months. Not sure why. I finally tackled them though and it was great - most of the stuff ended up in the recycling or being given away to former colleagues, who I hope might still find some use for it. A fair bit of it just went in the bin. Why've I been holding on to some of those materials for years and years after the content was out of date? Just in case? No idea. Apparently I have squirrel tendencies!

Once I'd started, I just kept going... sorted through several cupboards and identified more stuff that really needed to go. Some of it was worn out (why do I hang on to that sort of thing, much like the out of date materials?), some of it was excess and taking up space for no good reason, and some of it was junk. Lots of paper junk especially. I swear paper multiplies on its own when left in the dark! All into the pile. For several days my hallway was a box-and-bag-mountain range of stuff to be given away, thrown away, or recycled.

Now that it's done, on the outside, not much looks different. I can feel the breathing room behind those cupboard doors though and it feels good. I still have some sorting to do but it has created a sense of calm even where I cannot see the space. I love that.

So why then is my next impulse to think... "Mmm, now that I have given that away, have the space, I could go out and buy..."? Peculiar. I'm really not in need of anything. Definitely not in need of anything. I don't even really want anything. But I do love beautiful stuff and the urge to reward myself for the clearing out with some new loveliness is strong. I've found though, that in times like this, a little online window-shopping can really help to diffuse the impulse to splurge.

So I went to Etsy and had a bit of a browse. I haven't done that for a while and it was fun. These were some of the goodies added to my already 45-page long wishlist. Just added. Not purchased. And, just like that, I feel it go... the urge. The breathing space remains. Best of both.

Etsy loveliness:

Curious, a mini art-feeling sculpture
Have a bit of a thing for pomegranates at the moment
Long and lovely hoodie
Butterfly leather wrap bracelet
Gorgeousness!
I'm sure it sounds like the sea too...
Turquoise flame
A lesson I'm still learning
Never can resist a beautiful mobile