What prompted this decision was actually a very ordinary moment. One day in December, after completing a routine online training session, I sat down on the sofa to rest. A thought crossed my mind: Will next year’s performance be better? If I wanted to move forward, perhaps I needed to do something different.
I knew I would need several large boxes. So I went to Sunlight Pharmacy, where I regularly buy caregiving supplies for my mother, and asked the staff if I could have a few cartons. Perhaps because I’m a regular customer, they kindly let me choose the sizes myself. I picked four large boxes, each about half the size of an office desk. One morning, I placed the boxes in the living room: one for paper, one for plastic, one for aluminum cans, and one for fabric items. Then I began sorting through the house, placing unwanted items into their respective boxes.
After spending most of the day, I uncovered quite a number of things that truly needed to be let go. Some items had been kept because I once believed, “I might need this someday.” That “someday” turned into ten years. Many of those items were still unopened, covered in dust. This time, I made up my mind — no matter what, they had to leave my life.
During the process, I stopped in front of a stack of documents and hesitated for a long while. They were materials related to MeSTI food safety certification. When I first registered my company, I was determined to provide MeSTI consultancy services. Seven years passed, and not a single project was completed successfully. I had even experienced doubt and dismissal from others. I asked myself: Do I still want to hold on to this? Those documents had been lying there quietly, constantly reminding me of an unfulfilled aspiration. Over time, they became an invisible weight, leaving me feeling suffocated.
In that moment, I made a decision — to let go of these materials for now and redirect my focus toward work that truly moves me forward. As I continued organizing, I found an old plastic cabinet that hadn’t been used for years. On impulse, I cleaned it thoroughly and placed it in a newly cleared corner, using it to store work equipment that I actually need now. Once everything was done, I followed Tzu Chi’s recycling schedule and sent all the items to the recycling center. The back of the truck was filled to the brim. My wife and I exchanged a smile — we owned far more than we had realized.
When we returned home, the extra space brought an unexpected
sense of ease. Not only were things easier to find, but my mind also felt
noticeably lighter. Through this decluttering process, I learned to let go more
decisively of things I no longer need. Over
the past few years, I’ve gradually developed the habit of buying only what is
necessary — because earning money isn’t easy. In life, I’ve also begun to
detach from activities, social circles, and work that no longer serve me.
Sometimes, what we truly need to clear isn’t just physical clutter, but
outdated expectations and attachments that no longer fit who we are.
This decluttering experience reaffirmed something important
for me: only by letting go of what no longer suits us — including old beliefs —
can we make room for new ideas and a fresh start. Stepping out of our comfort
zone is often where new possibilities begin.
I believe doing a decluttering exercise once a year is
actually a good practice. When the home holds less, the mind carries fewer
distractions. More importantly, it creates a valuable opportunity to reflect on
the year that has passed.
If life feels a little crowded lately, and your heart feels
a little heavy — perhaps start with just one box.
#Decluttering
#MinimalLiving
#LifeReflection
#PersonalGrowth
#YearEndReview
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