I Didn’t Know I Wasn’t Seeing Clearly
October 1, 2026
We decided to retire last December, sell our house, and step into a new season of our lives. Something inside me wanted a fresh start, but I had to wait until after the holidays to start clearing things out.
Having to wait worked in my favor. I started seeing messes everywhere. It didn’t make sense to deal with them the way I really wanted to, so my frustration fueled my desire. I was tired of organizing stuff I didn’t need. When the time finally came, I tackled those crowded counters and dove into that junk drawer.
If you’ve read my other posts, you know I joined a class to guide me systematically through areas in my home. And after a while, something interesting happened: I started noticing things I hadn't seen before.
During this time, I also saw my eye doctor. Even though I thought I was seeing fine, he recommended cataract surgery.
Later, after my first surgery, John and I stood at the kitchen sink, talking about something ordinary. I looked over and caught a glimpse of the stained glass window. It took my breath away.
I couldn’t believe the colors! The vibrant orange and turquoise. The purple.
I love purple! How did I not miss seeing the purple!?
(The photo above doesn’t capture the colors in the best light. What looks mauve here is actually a bright violet—that’s what really captured my attention.)
I wish I could have seen my face. Even as I think about it, I remember the marvel. The wonder. And questioning. How could I not notice the change?
I asked my husband, but of course he couldn’t answer me.
I stood there in shock—looking first with one eye and then the other. It was remarkable—as if I took off tinted glasses and I could see clearly again. And this was just after having one cataract removed!
Decluttering opened my eyes in a different way.
For example, I became aware of a habit I didn’t know I had. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t really close the pantry door. I don’t know when it started, but I’d put something on the shelf, tap the door, and walk away. The door never actually closed. It stayed slightly ajar until I came back again.
And I did the same thing with drawers. I’d get what I needed, give it a little push, and walk away—never quite closing it.
What in the world? I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! I looked around at no one who was there. It had to be me. How long have I been doing this? Why was I doing this?
Of course I couldn’t answer those questions, just like John couldn’t answer me at the kitchen window, but what became clear is that my cluttered countertops altered what I saw in my surroundings. It wasn’t until the counters were cleaned and I enjoyed the tidy room that the habits became obvious.
I stood in the kitchen, dumbfounded.
On numerous occasions, decluttering left me standing just like that. I thought I was going to learn how to deal with my stuff. Instead, I learned about myself. The kitchen window didn’t change. The colors hadn’t either. I had. My perception had been altered, and I hadn’t even realized it. Or, rather, the thing that impacted my vision was now removed, so I could see things correctly again.
I remember being so grateful to see those colors in the window. And after decluttering the kitchen, I felt different every time I stepped in there and saw the closed doors and drawers. It was something like this:
I felt lighter.
I’d catch myself smiling as I looked around the room. And I wanted to look around the room because it looked so nice.
The atmosphere was different. I wanted to take a slow, deep breath.
I loved how it felt.
And I didn’t even know there was an issue before. I had to see the problem first.
I started decluttering to get rid of things. I was discovering that, perhaps more importantly, it was also helping me decide what to keep.
We knew 2026 would be a year of transition. Retire. Sell the house. Move. We spent time talking about what we’d like to do and who we’d like to be in our next season. These conversations played a critical role in our downsizing process.
I picked up every object and asked:
Do I use this?
Do I like this?
Will it support the life we want in our next home?
If an item made it through my questions, not only did it get to stay, but it helped me say Yes to my vision.
But not everything had an easy yes or no answer. There was so much we didn't know. And things we wouldn’t know. So my questions changed:
Does this serve who I am now?
Does this belong in the life I'm moving toward?
Does this support the person I am becoming?
These items usually belonged to another time in my life—for example, when I thought I would make that quilt. Or perhaps I kept an award because of the recognition I received. These things weren’t bad. I just didn’t need them anymore. We feel like God is inviting us into an exciting adventure now, and we want to clear out the old to make room for the new.
Here’s the point I don’t want you to miss: This decision-making process was clarifying and empowering, and each decision allowed me to say Yes to our vision. I felt like I was investing in my future.
I've started thinking about this like a kaleidoscope. Each piece of colored glass is small on its own, but when the pieces come together, they are beautiful. As I make decisions about what stays in our home and what we release, each choice becomes part of the picture we're creating for our future.
While it felt risky and at times scary to release these things, remembering our commitment to the life we want to have helped me make decisions with more confidence and ease.
Clutter can influence more than a room. It can skew what we see and hide other issues.
The more clutter I clear, the more I notice. The more I notice, the more clearly I see. And the more clearly I see, the easier it becomes to choose what belongs in my life now and what I want in my future.
I am still amazed at how my vision changed after cataract surgery. I was totally unaware that I saw those vibrant colors differently. They bring me such joy, and I could have gone on missing out.
Decluttering has done similar things in my home. I'm still learning. I still have spaces that need attention. And while I absolutely want to keep my physical environment decluttered, my higher goal is to be clear mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
To do that, I need to pay attention. I need to notice when things are “off” and address them. I want to make choices that will serve me now and that my future self will be grateful for.
Clearing the Way This Week
What have you started noticing since you began clearing your own space?
Are there little habits or patterns you never noticed before?
And as you think about the life you're moving toward, what do you want to make room for?
I’m sharing what I’m learning about decluttering, transitions, and being intentional with both my thoughts and my things on the blog, Clearing the Way. I hope you’ll find something helpful for whatever you’re sorting.
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