Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Goodbye to Old Clothes


I am going to switch out my summer for winter clothes next week so I've sort of been looking at my clothes with an eye toward what will be thrown away and what may be given to the thrift shop.

Tonight I was folding laundry and noticed a hole about the size of a quarter in a pair of casual pants. I have probably had these pants for three or four years, washed and dried and worn them dozens of times, so I've definitely gotten my money's worth. This is a hole, not a tear so it's not fixable (hey, as if I would mend it...) Just plain worn out.

So the inner debate begins...

chuck them
no, i can still wear them
no you can't
yes i can
no
yes, i can wear them in my apartment
you don't want to have to check to see are these the ones with the hole
you're not this broke
i know

I folded them, and the next pair are these very lightweight casual pants that are just so darn comfortable, but they do have little pinhole holes so it's time for them to go. But I folded those too.

This sounds crazy, but it's my own personal truth: I didn't want to throw them right then since I had already exerted the effort to fold them. Didn't want to waste the effort.

Then I came upon this red knit shirt -- also ancient, also stained, but it's also so comfortable. Wouldn't wear it out on the street, but I do grab it for a casual weekend day but it's time for that to go as well. This shirt is probably five years old.

Overnight I will come to grips with these three items going out. I am soothed by "out with the old, in with the new." I believe that happens and futher, I don't want to be that old lady who wears stained clothes, even around the house. So I will make way for something new to come into my life.

2 comments:

Amy Laboda said...

Significant O is making me throw out one old thing for every new piece of clothing I bring in the house these days. Frankly, it ain't a bad plan. Should have thought of it myself!

Pat said...

I did throw away two old bras for the two new ones I got. Those old ones were so past their (ahem) "useful life."