The Inventory of a Life You No Longer Live
If you’ve ever stood in your home and wondered why you’re still holding on to things from a season long past, you’re not alone. So many of us keep objects because they once mattered, once fit, once belonged to a version of life we don’t live anymore. And it can feel tender to even notice that. But that moment of awareness—the gentle realization that something no longer matches who you are today—is one of the most powerful steps toward creating a home that truly supports you.
I was reminded of this during a session with a dear client this morning. She said, almost shyly, that she still had things from when her kids were little… even though her kids haven’t been little for a very long time. And then she asked the question that opens the door to freedom: “Why do I still have these?”
That spark of clarity is everything.
The Weight of What Used to Be
Many of the families I work with feel overwhelmed not because they’re disorganized, but because they’re carrying layers of items from earlier chapters—old traditions, hobbies that no longer fit, clothes from former sizes, careers that have changed, lives that have shifted.
These belongings aren’t mistakes. They’re simply part of your story. But sometimes they linger long after the part of your story they represent has ended. And when that happens, your home begins to hold more of your past than your present.
Noticing this is not a failure. It’s a beautiful moment of truth-telling—a gentle acknowledgment that you’ve grown, your family has grown, and your needs have grown too.
A Helpful Shift in Perspective
One thing I often encourage clients to do is reframe how they see their belongings. Instead of thinking of everything as my things or our stuff, try seeing it as the physical inventory of your home.
I use the word inventory intentionally. It creates just enough emotional distance for clarity to come through. Inventory isn’t personal. It isn’t guilty or sentimental. It simply asks:
◈ What is needed now?
◈ What supports the life we currently live?
◈ What belongs in this chapter—not the chapter from years ago?
When you look at your home through that lens, it becomes easier to make thoughtful, loving decisions. You’re not getting rid of memories. You’re curating the environment that will carry you forward.
Creating Space for the Life You Have Today
Letting go isn’t about loss. It’s about alignment.
Every time you sort through a drawer or open a closet with fresh eyes, you’re really asking yourself: How can my home rise up to meet me where I am now?
The items you choose to keep become the tools for your current life—the one you are actually living today. And the things you release? They made their contribution. They played their role. And now they get to move out of the way so that something new—clarity, ease, breathing room—can take its place.
There is so much hope in that.
Somewhere in your home, there’s a shelf or a basket or a box that is ready to reflect who you are now—not who you were ten or twenty years ago. Every time you choose to update your “inventory,” you’re choosing peace, clarity, and a future that feels lighter.
Every drawer you open with ease is a small act of self-care.
Pinky Jackson is a Decluttering Specialist and Home Organizing Expert. If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Pinky and her team would love to help you. Onsite Organizing services are available in the Louisville, KY area and Virtual Organizing services are offered for clients in other locations and for those who prefer to work online. Visit pinkyjackson.com to learn about our services and schedule a free assessment.
Photo: Polina @polina-kovaleva
