Embracing Change: Tearing Down the Walls of a 23-Year-Old Home

This week, I’ve been sitting in the middle of boxes, memories, and big feelings. After 23 years in the same home, I’m officially selling it...and selling pretty much everything in it too. The furniture, the glasses, the art, the things I once thought I’d have forever… all finding new homes.

There have been tears. There’s been nausea. There’s even been some unexpected excitement.

This process has turned me into a true minimalist overnight. What started as decluttering for staging my house to be sold turned into something much deeper. Letting go of so much has forced me to face how much abundance it actually takes to release everything. It’s freeing, scary, and a little wild all at once. I’m giving up the stability of what I’ve always known in exchange for the unknown and trusting that it’s the right next chapter.

Two books that helped me start this process:

• Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton

• Life Is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler

Both reminded me that this isn’t just a move. It’s a transformation. A shedding. A reset.

There’s a certain grief in this season too. So many decisions. Honestly, more decisions this month than in the last five years combined. And that’s midlife, isn’t it? It’s full of pivots and identity shifts and constant letting go.

The other day I was walking my dog and saw a woman drive by in an SUV. I didn’t recognize her. She must be new to the neighborhood, someone who moved in while I’ve been spending more time in Florida. Then I saw her open the door and out poured a bunch of kids with backpacks. The after-school pickup run. Something I did for so many years.

And it hit me: the baton has been passed.

Our block is turning over, and so is this season of my life. And while I’m still processing it all, I know this much growth often looks like chaos at first. And that is the stage I am in right now.