Number 21 on my 33 Before 33 list was, simply, to get rid of all of the clothes clogging up my closet and drawers that don’t (and haven’t) fit. This type of item has appeared on lists in previous years, and tends to be something I’m only really spurred to do knowing I may need to move soon. My weight has always fluctuated between a few sizes, and as much as I hate to admit it, the past few years have had me at the higher end of my comfortable range. Higher than the dark, overalls-laden high school days. Like most brides, I had all sorts of plans to lose weight before my wedding… but I self-medicate with beer and food, so attempting to cut off my primary “you had a shitty, stressful day, you’ve really earned a beer” coping mechanisms during such a stressful year didn’t seem worth the, well, stress. (And let’s face it: part of me also recoiled at the idea that I should lose weight for my wedding. This is what I look like, dammit, why wouldn’t I look like myself on my wedding day?)
All that being said… I have a hard time getting rid of perfectly good clothes that fit recently but just don’t, now, and probably won’t in a while. I really liked that polo shirt, and that’s my “reading is sexy” t-shirt, and those jeans are just the best.
But there’s a line between holding on to things because you loved them, and holding on to things that depress you to see. So I put it on the list. Because hopefully we truly are moving soon, and the last thing I want to do is continue to fill closets with clothes I can’t even wear anymore. Yes, I probably need to work harder to exercise and eat smart and stop rewarding myself for hard days with booze and burritos. But setting aside those perfectly good shirts for my sister to look through, and bagging up another giant bag to get rid of felt GOOD. I feel lighter already.
And I can always buy some new best jeans if I need to.
she likes stripes 
Love this, because I am right there with you. I just ditched a bunch of clothes, too, and I felt simultaneously bummed that I couldn’t wear them and elated that I was no longer holding onto them and thus not making myself feel guilty (which is stupid, so stupid, to feel guilt for such a thing) for not fitting into them. Also, so happy read that I’m not the only one who prepared for her wedding by drinking beer and eating good food. If that’s not what life’s about, then I don’t know what is.
Omg wedding prep was sooooo much beer and food. Not even counting the beer we drank for our table numbers- the tables were types of beer and I took photos of each variety. But thank you. I’m just so glad it’s not just me who does this, and feels simultaneously guilty and relieved afterwards.
Hurray!! Good job cleaning out those closets. It always makes me feel so much better–mentally lighter. I got rid of a ton of stuff when we moved last year too. But I kept all my nice trousers…and I don’t know if they will ever fit again with this post-babies body.
I figure I’ll give myself more time before getting rid of that kind of thing… I do have a donation bag or two sitting around that just get to Goodwill, maybe this will be a good kick to do that. 🙂