What’s In Your Basement?

They say the basement is like the subconscious.

Whatever is stored there carries energy for that thing in your life.

Is it time to do a little cleaning? 

For example, if you have large tubs of Christmas decorations like I do that you don’t use any longer, you may be holding on to the way the holidays used to be. 

Too many old pairs of tennis sneakers with worn treads? Perhaps like me you are subconsciously clinging to the tennis player you used to be before you had lateral epicondylitis.

Maybe an entire section is filled with your partner’s woodworking tools, and he carries not just his dad’s DNA, but his dad’s energy in how to approach life.

These could be good things. 

But it’s also worth being thoughtful of whose stuff you have in your basement. 

My adult child has a corner of our basement!

Periodically, it’s good to do a little cleaning out.

What thoughts are you carrying that might be mildewed or dusty?

Where are your ancient spiderwebs that could be wiped clean?

I spent a few hours clearing some things out of our basement this weekend. Time to sell, donate, and recycle the clutter. 

I can use clear space in my mind for other things.

A file drawer revealed old work projects that were a decade old. CEO searches. Strategic planning projects. Old paperwork from when I used to adjunct teach. Time for the shredder!

I recycled a dozen empty shoe boxes we were saving in case we ever wanted to put something in them.

I should not be storing more things, so to the recycler they go.

A large, round tin with cows on it that my mom had given me was full of ATM and grocery store receipts. I remember opening it a few years ago and thinking I should hold on to them because it hadn't been the requisite seven years. Now, they are from 2010. 

What might you clear from your attic, basement, or storage room?

Who else might use it if you aren’t?

And what freedom might that give you?

A few thoughts I am choosing to let go of: I must talk to my son every week to know what is going on with him. Taking care of me is not as important as taking care of everyone else. I have to be productive to be worthy. 

I’m ready to let those go, too.

One of the things we cleared out: a box with a dozen brand-new softballs—from back when my partner used to play on a team. He has been storing them for at least 15 years, because we’ve been together that long, and he has not played softball since I’ve known him.

Where did they go? 

To a Special Olympics team in Concord.

It makes me smile thinking of those kids getting those brand-new softballs. 

Knock them out of the park, kids. 

Hit ’em with everything you’ve got.

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