An Old BlackBerry And A Letter From Mom: What Decluttering Is Really About

One of my favorite things about our monthly Live Declutter With Me workshops is that you never know what’s going to happen.

During our most recent workshop, one participant was sorting through a drawer when she found two very different things.

The first was an old BlackBerry.

Remember when those felt indispensable? We checked our email on them, carried them everywhere, and couldn’t imagine life without them. Then technology changed. What once seemed essential quietly became obsolete, yet there it was, still taking up space years later.

The second discovery was something she never expected.

The last letter her mother had ever sent her.

One item had long ago outlived its purpose. The other held immeasurable meaning.

That moment perfectly captured what decluttering is really about.

Finding that old BlackBerry was more than a funny trip down memory lane. It was a reminder that yesterday’s essentials can become today’s clutter.

The same is true in our lives. We carry outdated expectations, commitments we’ve outgrown, and responsibilities that no longer belong to us. Until we create space by letting go of what has become obsolete, it’s harder to notice and appreciate what is truly meaningful.

Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of everything. It isn’t about creating a picture-perfect home.

It’s about making room for what really matters.

Sometimes the meaningful things become buried beneath the obsolete, the forgotten, and the “I’ll deal with it someday.”

People often think decluttering has to be complicated. It doesn’t. Or maybe a better way to say it is this: the process becomes simpler when we stop trying to tackle everything at once.

One drawer.

One shelf.

One inbox.

One decision.

Small actions create momentum. Momentum creates change.

And sometimes, tucked between something that’s long outlived its purpose and something you forgot you even had, you rediscover what matters most.

If you’re ready to create a little more space in your home, your mind, and your life, I’d love to invite you to join the next Declutter With Me session. Bring one small project, and together we’ll create momentum, celebrate progress, and make room for what matters most. Register here!