Oftentimes, while we're on our numerous breaks from college, we look into our closets at home and realize all the stuff we haven't looked at in years. All the clothes and shoes that don't fit us...basically, all the things we just don't need anymore.
Cleaning out your closet when you're in college is a lot like your friend circle; you come home and realize there are a lot of people you haven't talked to in years -- many of whom you've simply outgrown.
So you start to weed out the clothes you haven't touched since the dreaded ninth grade; getting rid of them is no problem. Then, you get to the clothes that you just recently wore, but sadly don't fit you anymore: Your favorite sweater, your favorite pair of jeans, the items that were always there when you didn't know what else to wear.
It's hard getting rid of these clothes. They've been there for you through your high school years, maybe even some of your college years. They were there for your best days, fun high school weekend nights and on your worst days. That big sweater made you feel comfortable on days you just wanted to crawl into a hole, and those jeans made you feel confident when others put you down. Sometimes they weren't washed when you needed them to be, sometimes a hole would tear, or a button would fall off, however eventually they'd be washed and you could easily fix the hole or tear.
You were my comfy big sweater and my favorite pair of jeans all throughout the high school years and even some of the college years. You made me feel comfortable and confident and happy and free. However, unfortunately, the rips recently got bigger and the tears could no longer be fixed. The big, comfy sweater wasn't so comfy anymore and the jeans just didn't fit right.
As we grow older, we outgrow our clothes just as we outgrow our friends. I will always remember how comfy that sweater was, how well those jeans fit, and how great they both made me feel. And with that, I will always remember those clothes in their prime, not the way they were when I had to get rid of them.
My closet, unfortunately, is better off without those clothes because an old sweater and worn-out jeans just wasn't doing it any good. I have a new big, comfy sweater now and a new favorite pair of jeans, items I know won't rip or tear, the good kind, the strong kind.
I'll always remember that sweater and pair of jeans, however my closet is better off without them. My closet now has comfier clothes that I know I'll keep forever.
My closet is happy.
