Ballard resident Sara Gardener used to have a lot of stuff. Not any more than “the usual” amount of possessions found in any of our homes.

At the time she had a house that had a lot of space, and the majority of the belongings were “…out of sight, out of mind. But it kind of takes up psychic space, too.”

With a big life change (divorce), Sarah found herself moving from a large house to a smaller one and in the process getting rid of many of her things.

“I’m not living an austere lifestyle, or anything”, she said, “it’s just less.”

More and more folks are clutter clearing and downsizing and I admire that. Personally, I think it can be a really difficult thing to do.

I wish I could add up the minutes that I have stood in front of (fill in closet, garage, drawer) and tried to decide if I really, really need (fill in those red shoes I rarely wear, the dremel tool I had to have or every computer cable purchased since the Commodore 64).

How many things do we really need? And why is it so hard to let go of our precious possessions?

“The process of loss is scary and overwhelming”, said Gardener, a person who went through that experience and came out on the other side. Apparently there are rewards for doing that emotional work.

“There’s a freedom I didn’t expect,” she explained, “I don’t have to hold onto things. I feel in my heart that as I give stuff away it clears the way for new and fresh to come in. You can open yourself to new experiences, or treasures, or whatever.”

And she really means it, too.

One day she went into her bank and the teller said that she really liked the sweater Gardener had on.

“So I just took it off and gave it to her," said Gardener. "And every time I saw her she was wearing it, it was great.”

It’s that non-attachment thing she talks about.

I am totally inspired by Gardener (much to the chagrin of my partner, Jim) and already have two garage sales planned for this summer. I may not give up my favorite sweater but you will find red shoes and a bunch of computer cables for sale.

Rhonda lives in Ballard and is the Urban Crop Circle Project Leader for Sustainable Ballard. She and Jim are currently culling the basement of unused stuff. Questions, Comments, Ideas? You can reach her at Rhonda@sustainableballard.org.