Who Am I Now? The Journey of Reducing My Belongings

When we rented our storage unit in 2021, it was only supposed to be for a year. We were going to build a house. After several costly disappointments, we decided not to build our dream home and bought another condo. And now, it was time to clean out that storage unit.

After four years, I had forgotten what was in that storage unit. I was surprised as Doug unloaded the truck with all of our "treasures." My mother's china, which she begged me to pack for her when she went into a nursing home. My father's tool chest. A tea set, which was the rage...in the 1960s. Furniture. We collected the appliances for our Airbnbs and didn't use them. Equipment I bought for my hypnosis business but no longer needed. Comedy merchandise purchased just before COVID-19 canceled all of my gigs, and then I retired from comedy the following year. I no longer needed most of these things because I didn't need any of them for four years. And yet, I am having a rough time getting rid of these things, even though they are taking up precious physical and mental space.

Amid life's hustle and constant accumulation, we often find ourselves weighed down by the things we've gathered over time. From clothes we never wear to books we never read, possessions can quickly become burdens, making it harder to feel at ease in our own spaces and, perhaps, our lives. In a world obsessed with more things, success, and achievements — it's easy to lose sight of who we really are.

Looking over my things, I kept thinking, "That's who I WAS, but who am I NOW?" I'm no longer a road comic, so the comedy merch was irrelevant. I never needed a tea set or my mom's china, but I desperately wanted them because they were hers. For me, the question "Who am I now?" became a powerful catalyst for reducing my belongings. It was the prompt I needed to reconsider what I truly valued, who I've become, and what no longer served me.

The Catalyst: Who Am I Now?

I realized I was surrounded by stuff that didn't align with my current or future self. I'd moved several times in my life, each time accumulating more — more clothes, more gadgets, more furniture, more of everything. But as I settled into each new chapter, these things no longer represented the person I had become.

Asking "Who am I now?" led me to an important truth: I wasn't the same person I was when I bought most of these things. My tastes and goals had changed, and what I valued had evolved. The sentimental items I thought I could never part with no longer had the same significance. I felt a deep disconnect. It was time to let go.

Letting Go of the Past: Objects as Metaphors

Many things I held onto were connected to memories or versions of myself that no longer felt authentic. Some possessions represented the past — places I'd been, relationships I'd outgrown, or phases of life I had left behind. But as much as those things had once held meaning, they were now just reminders of who I was, not who I was becoming. These items represented a version of me I was nostalgic for. It symbolized freedom, youth, and adventure — qualities I still cherish but expressed differently now.

Asking myself, "Who am I now?" I realized I didn't need to hold on to everything to keep those feelings alive. I could release these things without losing the essence of what they represented. This became a recurring theme as I decluttered: I was letting go of the past not because I wanted to forget, but because I wanted to make space for the present.

Reducing My Belongings: A Process of Discovery

As I began reducing these belongings, it wasn't just about getting rid of things — it was a way to rediscover who I am now. I gained clarity with every item I let go or gifted to someone. Each item I removed felt like an act of shedding, and with each step, I began to see my life more clearly.

I asked myself questions like:

Does this item bring me joy?

Does it serve a purpose?

How does this object reflect who I am now rather than who I was before?

Is this item part of a past self I'm ready to let go of?

Sometimes, I made significant progress; other times, I had to sit and chill because processing so many items became overwhelming. But I noticed something beautiful happening with each item I let go of, donated, or re-gifted. The more I let go of it, the more I began to feel and accept the person I am now. It was as if I was creating a canvas, wiping away old layers, so I could paint a new picture of myself.

Finding Freedom in Less

Reducing my belongings wasn't about minimalism for the sake of minimalism. It's about creating room for who I am now — for the person I have become, not the person I used to be. With fewer things, I feel lighter and spacious. There is more room for experiences, moments, and new things to come into my life.

I felt a sense of freedom when I looked at my pared-down space. My belongings no longer define me. Instead, I could define myself without being tethered to the past. The act of reducing wasn't just physical; it was an emotional and mental process, too. It allowed me to reconnect with myself, focus on what mattered, and live with intention.

Who Am I Now? A Constant Evolution

The journey of reducing my belongings made me realize that the answer to "Who am I now?" is never fixed. It's fluid, changing with time and experience.

So, who am I now? I'm someone who values simplicity, mindfulness, and presence. I'm someone who isn't defined by material things but by the way I choose to engage with the world. And I'm someone who embraces change, growth, and the process of continually evolving.

If you're feeling weighed down by the things around you, ask yourself: "Who am I now?" and let that guide you. It might just be the nudge you need to simplify, declutter, and make space for a life that truly reflects who you are in this moment — not who you were, but who you are becoming.

What about you? Have you ever needed to reduce your belongings to find yourself again? I'd love to hear your thoughts or experience.