Whether it’s a yearly, seasonal or monthly task or something you just do when you’re moving, there will be a moment when you find yourself cleaning out your closet. No matter how much time you spend in that tiny crammed up space (or giant walk-in if you’re extremely blessed) dedicated to your wardrobe, it’s safe to say you’re bound to experience one, or heck probably all, of the following feelings while doing so.

1. Joy
Alright so for most people, cleaning out your closet is one of the least enjoyable chores on your to-do list. It’s time consuming and not an easy thing to do. Let’s face it, deciding what to keep, donate or throw is the hardest decision you’ve come across since deciding which college to attend. However, there are a select few who find pure bliss when getting rid of last seasons’ trends or reorganizing all your shirts by color and size. And so this feeling is dedicated to you.

2. Regret
There are many clothes from your past that have been long forgotten in the deep depths of your closet. You know that hideous sweater or unflattering pair of jeans you find and say “What was I thinking?!”, a statement that applies to the moment you spotted the item, thought it was cute, thought it looked good on you in the fitting room, purchased it, and wore it…many times in public. If you could go back in time and give your seventeen-year-old self one piece of advice, it would definitely be that bell bottom jeans are not cute.

3. Nostalgia
Everyone has that old band tee or volunteer shirt from one of the dozen committees you were a part of in high school or college that when found again gives you a rush of memories. Just the touch and smell of it brings back the good times and you know that this is a piece you’ll take with you to the grave. Then, there are the items that bring back the memories you wish could disappear into your subconscious forever. You know, the shirt with that stain you got after the-worst-date-ever spilled his wine on you. With things like that, it’s best to practice your best Michael Jordan shot by throwing it straight into the garbage can.

4. Relief
Sometimes beloved items you thought were lost forever resurface and you let out a big sigh and/or the biggest smile creeps up on your face. It could be your great-grandmothers necklace that somehow ended up in your sock drawer or a vintage sweater that was passed down your family for generations. Either way, cleaning out your closet brings unexpected surprises. The completion of the entire task of cleaning out your closet also calls for a big sigh of relief, leaving you with a hopefully satisfied feeling of an afternoon well spent.

5. Sadness
It’s not easy parting ways with your things, at least not as easy as it should be. Especially when you invested so much money into an item. But there’s no point keeping something that you will never touch again, or you know will never come back in style. The point of cleaning out your closet is to get rid of things, so saying goodbye is a must. “You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.” – Guy Finley