Decluttering for the Upgrade
When my phone nudges me with a “Software Update Available,” I swipe it away without much thought. Those alerts feel more like a pesky sales pitch than a necessity. Honestly, I don’t want to deal with the interruption—or risk a glitch—by starting an update.
But eventually, those persistent notifications, dressed in their clever little red badges, wear me down. I start poking around, checking reviews to see if the upgrade is worth the hassle. Then comes the inevitable: agreeing to restart my phone and endure the waiting game.
Recently, when I finally gave in and hit “Update,” I was met with a frustrating roadblock: Not enough storage space.
So began the meticulous process of figuring out what was bloating my phone. One by one, I tackled the culprits:
- Deleting message attachments—primarily the excellent stream of grandkid videos our family loves to share.
- Letting go of apps I’d downloaded with good intentions but rarely opened.
- Clearing out large chat files and long-forgotten videos.
What started as a chore soon became a challenge. Could I free up enough space? Little by little, megabytes became gigabytes, and as I worked, I realized something: sometimes, letting go of old, unused things is the only way to make room for something new.
And don’t lose heart—this upgrade thing is a constant. Just when you think you’ve cleared enough space, another notification or need will pop up. But that’s part of the process. Growth isn’t a one-and-done event; it’s an ongoing journey.
P.S. I may be cheating the system on those grandkid videos. One of my sons set up a server just for me to stash them there. A genius move—my phone feels lighter, and I still get to keep all those precious memories close!
The New Year Shift
As we move into the first week of the New Year, many of us set goals and dream big about what’s ahead. But Pastor Levi Lusko suggests a counterintuitive approach: the key to achieving resolutions isn’t about doing more—it’s about quitting – resigning.
This idea resonates deeply with me right now. Instead of asking, What new challenge can I take on? I’m asking, What can I let go of?
Making Room
Like cleaning out my phone’s storage, I’m taking a closer look at what’s cluttering my life—both physically and mentally. What habits, commitments, or distractions take up space without serving me? What am I holding onto just because it’s there?
The answers aren’t always obvious, but the process is worthwhile. Sometimes, creating room for growth means letting go of what’s familiar but unnecessary.
As we step into this new week, consider What’s taking up space in your life? And what might you discover if you let it go?
Timely. Well said. Thanks for the reminder, Mary!
It was my own reminder as I looked for a book I needed for a paper I was writing. Good grief – still hunting in the piles for it!!