Okay. Let me first say that the before and afters aren’t as dramatic as I had anticipated. But this clean out has made a huge difference.

Here’s where the difference is. I have room to move clothes around, to flip through my shirts, to actually find what I went in looking for. It’s kind of amazing, actually. I kept putting this project off into the weekend. Even when I told you I wouldn’t. But by Sunday afternoon, I had no choice but to jump in. I started by pulling out clothes I couldn’t remember wearing. And then I took a brake, read the paper, relaxed. And then I pulled out the shoes I don’t like to wear. My donate pile was growing by the second. But I took another break. When I jumped in for a third time, I pulled out another round of clothes I didn’t wear.

Taking a break from the great clean out felt really important. It gave me a minute to clear my head while I was cleaning the closet. Shoulder deep in hangers and dresses was overwhelming. It might’ve been because this is quite a closet, or because my cleaning out muscles are exhausted at the end of these 30 Days. I’m not sure. What I do know is that taking a break make me come back at the project refreshed and ready to start again.

I’m using my closet dividers to separate all the different kinds of hanging clothes I have. The shoe organizer is usable again, since I cleaned out the extras and unworn shoes. Plus, I was able to move some flats to the low space under where Jason’s pants hang. They’re low enough that they don’t get in the way over there, but I can get to them easily. Then I put all my scarves and belts in a box at the bottom of the shelves in the middle. My sweaters are folded neatly instead of crammed in tightly. Yesterday morning, I was able to find a gray sweater easily and quickly, and it was awesome.

I made this deal with myself: I could keep three hanging pieces that I love but might not ever wear. So I kept my red cords, my McEwan’s football jersey from Scotland, a pair of fantastic pants that look like shark skin. But I got rid of some things that I’d been holding onto, like the flip flops I wore for my wedding or an eyelet sundress with a broken strap that I am never going to fix, even if I say I will.

But here was the best part of the clean out. I found a shirt-a black tank covered with sequins. It was hanging there, trapped between some shirts that I never wear that in the donate pile. It’s an amazing shirt, and now, it’s waiting patiently for the perfect night out. Girls night? New Year’s? Just wait. The shirt alone was worth doing the project.