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August 18, 2014 by: Shell

What I Let Go

Just when my kids stopped singing that catchy Frozen song, they got the latest Kidz Bop and of course Let It Go is on there, so it’s back non-stop again. But rather than let it drive me bonkers, I let it inspire me to share the things that I’ve let go of lately.

I’m okay with having clutter in my house, even if company is coming over. We LIVE here and our house looks like we do. You’re not in danger of having things fall on you and you don’t have to jump over anything to get to the next room, and it’s not dirty, but paperwork piles up, I have my own system of organization with my work that involves piles, and the toys aren’t ever all put away.

And when it comes to my oldest’s room: this is how it will look for a while. Oh, well. I’ve seen all sorts of LEGO organization systems, but he’s in the middle of creating and this is how he works. As long as there’s a clear path from his bed to the door, this is what you’ll see if you open his door. And I’m okay with that. It also means he puts away his clothes because I do not walk through a LEGO maze.

lego rooms

I can leave the house without makeup on. If it’s a date night or special event, I do prefer to have it on. But if I’m not leaving the house all day except to go to a sports practice around dinner time, I really don’t need to try to impress the other moms.

My toenails don’t have to be polished just because I have on flip flops. I do prefer for them not to get too long so I haven’t let go of grooming, but no polish or if there’s a chip or two, eh, whatever. 

No darns to be given if my clothes are so last season. Or last year. Or several years ago. Not that I’ve ever really cared about this one, but now? Comfort and how I feel in something is far more important to me.

Trying so hard with people who really don’t care: let that go. This one is a hard one, but there’s only so long that I can feel like I’m getting absolutely nowhere before I just have to stop.

Goodbye to tv shows that I’m too far behind on. If I get several weeks behind on a show, it probably means I don’t really like it all that much anyway, so why waste the time binge watching 6 shows? Delete!

Feeling bad about not making fancy dinners: see ya! There’s really nothing wrong with a simple dinner now and then. The type that don’t even require a recipe- not because you have it committed to memory but because it’s really that simple.

What have you let go of lately?

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Comments

  1. Tracie says

    August 18, 2014 at 8:44 am

    I love this list!!

    I’ve let go of most of these things, too. But I’m still working on the one about trying too hard with people. That one is tough. 

  2. Maria says

    August 18, 2014 at 8:48 am

    I’ve let go of caring about what people think. That’s a big one but it has made me much happier!

  3. Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says

    August 18, 2014 at 9:00 am

    Amen, sister. Our house isn’t a museum. We live here.  And most of my clothes are over 7 years old. I have 13 year old dresses that I am still wearing….

  4. Amber Conaway says

    August 18, 2014 at 10:00 am

    I’ve also let go of a lot of these things as well! It makes life so much more enjoyable this way! Thanks for posting, I know I’m not alone now! lol 

  5. Jaime says

    August 18, 2014 at 10:15 am

    I’ve had to let go of a lot of house cleaning (just keeping things perfect.) And I can’t hide my kid’s toys. He PLAYS in the living room, so the toys are going to be around.

    Fancy dinners….I haven’t been to a fancy dinner in quite some time. 🙂

  6. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    August 18, 2014 at 10:18 am

    I have let go of a few things, but the one thing I won’t do is walk out of my house without getting dressed LOL.  I see so many moms at the school drop off in their PJ pants and I don’t understand why they can’t take the 17 seconds to throw on a pair of jeans.

  7. John (Daddy Runs a Lot) says

    August 18, 2014 at 11:28 am

    As someone who has never given much thought to what to wear, and has never left the house wearing makeup, I can say that comfy is sexy.

    The concept of “DVR Guit” cracks me up – but it’s a very real thing.  I do find that, if I allow episode after episode to line up, I’m just not that into a show.

  8. Betsy Mitchell says

    August 18, 2014 at 11:48 am

    Great list! It’s time for us all to spend time on more important things in our life. 

  9. Julia says

    August 18, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    I’ve let go of a lot of the same things the daily make up unless we are doing something special, my toenails are in need of painting but I haven’ t made time and the mess god I’ve let go of the mess. 

  10. laura says

    August 18, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    YES!!! to all of it!! 
    and now I feel inspired to create my own list.

  11. melinda says

    August 18, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    i let go of making my bed every morning,. I often jump out of bed get dressed and start my day without ever stepping foot in my bedroom again. it’s great when it’s made but I’m ok when i have to skip it

  12. Courtney says

    August 18, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    This is a great post! Sometimes you have to just let things slide. If you let everything get under your skin, you’re not going to be very happy.

  13. Terry says

    August 18, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    I used to be such a clean freak.  Everything had to be in its place.  I have learned not to be so anal about the housekeeping… or lack of.

  14. Dawn says

    August 18, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Sometimes you really do have to just let it goooo. Let it gooooo. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Seriously, though. Letting things get to you only makes you miserable. It doesn’t change anything. Great post.

  15. Shasta Walton says

    August 18, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    No darns given! I love it! I have let go of make-up sometimes, but that is always when I see someone I know. Ugh! I have also let go of being super annoyed by Frozen, we even have a new cat named Elsa. I guess something else will come along soon an replace it… right? please tell me it will. Oh wait, I let it go… Or did I? 😉

  16. Ashley says

    August 18, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Oh man, letting things go. That is definitely not my strong suit (shocking, I know). I have definitely left the messes go in their rooms because there are only so many times you can beat your ahead against that wall! I need to work on letting a lot more things go.. including those tv shows!

  17. Michelle Swank says

    August 18, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    I am learning to let go of what people think of me and just work on being a better me for myself (make sense?).  I’m also learning to let go of old clothes.  They don’t fit and they’ll likely be out of style if they fit again in the future.  It has freed up so much space in my closet!

  18. aimee fauci says

    August 18, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    I am trying to bring back what I let go! I am trying to be more on top of my house.. I ‘let it go’ in the summer. I think I am the opposite.. I ‘let things go’ and wish I hadn’t, may be I just needed a break. 

  19. Amber says

    August 18, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Great list! Our house looks lived in for sure. And I basically wear jeans and a t-shirt daily. I don’t care what’s in style. I never do my nails either. I’d rather spend the money on lunch at Panera Bread.

  20. Jeanine @ sixtimemommy.com says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    Love this! What a great list. I think I am basically the same. I’m a yoga pants mom, and I don’t really care. haha. I brush my hair and my teeth and out the door I go, I am not much into caring really.

  21. Veronica says

    August 18, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    I am pretty good at getting rid of stuff. I get sick of stuff easily because my taste and style changes a lot. Always good to organize

  22. Chrysa says

    August 18, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    I have let go of keeping up with social media accounts that I don’t really care about.  There are only so many hours during the day!

  23. Camesha says

    August 18, 2014 at 11:54 pm

    Great list! It feels so good to just let go. I”m with you on keeping things simple. Whether it be dinner or what I’m wearing. Easy, breezy works for me. 

  24. Beth@FrugalFroggie says

    August 19, 2014 at 12:13 am

    I have let go of a lot of stuff.  It is so freeing to let stuff go.  But I can safely say that I won’t wear flip flops because I have let go painting my toe nails.

  25. Carly Anderson says

    August 19, 2014 at 12:22 am

    We definitely need to let most things go.  I know I try to tell myself that my house is fine and it’s just “lived in” … but I still rush around the last half hour before someone comes over trying to clean and hide things so they don’t see anything out of place.

  26. Emily says

    August 19, 2014 at 1:07 am

    I feel like I already et go of a lot of things that maybe I shouldn’t. And then the little, dumb things are what I care about!

  27. Travel Blogger says

    August 19, 2014 at 3:31 am

    Sometimes we just have to learn to let it go. We are our own worst critics and hold ourselves to a higher standards than anyone else ever would. 

  28. Jessica (Savory Experiments) says

    August 19, 2014 at 7:33 am

    Cleaning my house!  I used to need it to look like a model home at all times, but I’m just too busy juggling my blog, new spot on the local news and my day job.  Hubby has been helping, bless him, but I’m thinking of hiring a house keeper for once a week.  I’m embarrassed to have people over and we don’t evenh

  29. Christie says

    August 19, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    I gave up and made spaghetti for dinner last night. Easy, and the family loved it anyway!

  30. Melissa @ This Girl's Life Blog says

    August 19, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Haha… there are definitely some things I need to let go of more often. My daughter’s toys everywhere are probably one of them. Easier said than done for me though.

  31. Everyday Living with Chrys says

    August 19, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    We have bins full of legos just like that and that exact same book! So much fun. 

  32. Tess says

    August 19, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    I’m trying super hard to let go. I’m better then wgat I used to be though.

  33. Katrina says

    August 19, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    I’ve let go trying to keep my kids’ rooms in order.  What I need to do to help me with this is stay off of Pinterest and all the blogs about organizing that I love so much.  I see their posts, their ideas, and their kids’ rooms all neat and organized, and it makes me feel BAD instead of inspired.  I’m a busy mom with ten children and I’ve let go of “keeping up” with everything.  I simply cannot keep up with everything!  So, the bedrooms are what I’m choosing to “let go” — I will show the kids how to keep their things neat and tidy, and I will provide the containers and drawers to do so, but it’s up to them to keep it that way.  If they want to live in a mess, so be it.  I can only keep up with so much.

  34. Rosey says

    August 19, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    I’m with you on every single one of these.  My DIL (whom I am very happy to have in this family) runs to get a pedicure before she’ll even consider donning sandals or flip flops. Makes me laugh. Her french pedi for her toes is pretty cute… but as for me, eh…clean is in around here, everything else is just icing on the cake if it happens. 🙂

  35. Krystal says

    August 19, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    I like to wear makeup outside of the house too. I don’t wear a lot, but it just makes me feel better! 

  36. Amy Desrosiers says

    August 19, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    I used to be on top of messes too, and I found sometimes if it is toys it is just not worth it. I also probably let myself go too..=a whole nother’ story.

  37. Felicia says

    August 19, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    I am learning to let go more as well.  Life is too short and time is so little.

  38. Lisa says

    August 19, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    I love this list. I need to take this advice and let some stuff go too!

  39. Cynthia Wright says

    August 19, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    This hit right on with where I am now. I realize I need to let a few things go myself. This is an awesome article.

  40. Alison says

    August 20, 2014 at 5:29 am

    I stopped making my bed, or ironing my clothes. I let my boys choose their own clothes, never mind that they just wore it yesterday, or that nothing matches. More important things to worry about! 🙂

  41. Liz Mays says

    August 20, 2014 at 10:09 am

    I have a chip on my toenail polish right now and at first I panicked, but then I was like who cares? I sometimes leave without makeup on now too, depending on what I’m doing. It’s freeing to let go!

  42. Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy says

    August 22, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    Good for you on learning to let go. Life is much more enjoyable when you take it as it comes rather than trying to steer it in the direction you’d like it to go. 

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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