Something strange happens to me almost every January - I become….a minimalist. Though I love all that comes with Christmas - the shopping, the decorating, the baking, the planning, the traveling, the giving - come January, I am all inged-out. So along with putting the decorations back in the attic, I start going through closets and cabinets, bagging up anything for which I cannot come up with an immediate use. This is when having a small 3-bedroom house becomes really useful - we don’t have much room to keep anything around!
And this is what I have been focused on…for 2 days! Two days! I am amazed at how long it is actually taking me to simply simplify my house! Why do we have so much crap?? You should see the back of my van - bag after bag of stuff to give away. And I began to ponder, why do I still have this stuff around? For a rainy day? For when I am that size again? For just-in-case?
Simplify. De-clutter. That’s what I want to do this year. Not just to my house, but to my life. Figuring out what really matters and getting more of that. Sure, it may not add up to a tax deduction, but the return has to be grand, don’t you think?!
I’m sure you’re far away from this milestone, but when I hit my forties suddenly collections and things I onced cherished became things that were taking up valuable space, not just in my home, but my heart and mind also. Those size 2 outfits were the worse because they just always kept taunting me that my personal growth was nothing more than physical growth. I can’t stand clutter anymore (by the way - I finally gave up my size 2 fantasy). Uncluttered and unfettered is a great choice for me now. I only wish I had your energy…two days….Wow!
You know, Becca and I do the same thing every couple of years it seems like, maybe less often, I don’t know, but we are in the same place. We “de-cluttered” a couple of months ago, had a garage sale, and never looked back. The stuff that was left we boxed up (most of it, anyway) and are donating to Goodwill, or somewhere. We are in the process of decluttering our life as well as you said. It’s hard to do!
Becca and I were talking the other day that we know what we want, we know what we want our lives to be, what we want to do, how to do it, but we simply don’t do it… We get tired, or we come home from work angry, or we get angry at our spouse, or blah, blah, blah…. we just don’t put into action what our heart and spirit cry out for…. relationships.
Relationships are hard work, they take energy and time, which seem two resources even less abundant than finances, but yet so worth it. Anyway, I’m a little of topic I’m sure so I’ll stop, it’s late, and I’m tired finally.
Hope to cya Sunday
Robert Prince
We’ve been doing Major Decluttering since September. We usually do it a couple of weekends a month and donate tons. It has gotten much better around here (small house here, too) but, still, I keep thinking it isn’t enough.
What I’m learning is that it is a constant thing…not just something you do every once in awhile.
Hooray for simplicity– may it move into all the other aspects of your life!
I am the same way however it happens more than just January. My hubby loves the little kicks I get on ever so often. He just nails things down and hopes I can’t pry it off.
Blessings,
Debbie aka The Real World Martha(S)