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One of the most popular resolutions is to de-clutter one's home. Saying good riddance to junk has increased in popularity as awareness of concepts like the law of attraction and feng shui have grown. These approaches teach the idea that clearing out clutter creates space for new energy, new business, increased wealth and other good things to come into your life. The economy is another motivating factor as people look to sell what they no longer use.
Recently I joined the club. My motivations are somewhat different than many, however. I am as prone to clutter as the next gal. However, ever since I read A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder, I have embraced my clutter as system which fosters efficiency and creativity. Plus, it is mostly all in one room which I can close off to be out of site and out of mind. Don't judge. We all have our coping mechanisms. Ahem. Moving on.
What has motivated me is a recent realization that I might have to move even though I really, really do not want to move. I like my apartment, I like my neighborhood and I really like being stable and having stayed put for several years which has not been the case for most of my adult life.
I have moved, I estimate, on average every year-and-a-half. Until now. I have lived in my place for more than three years. It's a record. I wasn't so sure I would stay when I first arrived. I thought I might depart after my year lease was up. However, I got comfortable, made peace, grew into the neighborhood and haven't had any corporate relocations since I began working for myself.
But some recurrent problems with my unit made me realize that the universe is throwing bricks at my thick, resistant head and letting me know that I might need to let go.
The problem with all those moves for all those years is that I've never really settled in and gotten fully unpacked. There have always been a few boxes that remained unpacked through the moves. And since I didn't commit at first to this place, I never completely unpacked here either. So now is the time. I must don my ninja outfit and attack the stacks and unpacked.
I eased myself in by clearing out the closet. Fortunately this is one area that gets well pruned with each move. Still, I managed to bring about 6 large bags of clothes and shoes to Goodwill. Plus a couple of suits and handbags along with several blouses will be going to a local organization to help women move out of poverty through employment. And I am doing the turn the hangers backward and check in again in a few months technique to prune further.
I am blogging along the way for amusement purposes, to potentially scare some straight by sharing my horror and to get help when I freak out about whether or not I should toss or recycle certain items. Emotionally letting go has traditionally been less of an issue for me (and I have vowed to be ruthless in my clutter ninja-ing) but not doing the right thing tends to paralyze me. But the inaction of allowing things to sit while I get around to researching the most perfect way of not filling up a landfill.
Have you vowed to cure yourself of the clutter bug in 2009? Have you had it up to here? Please share your plans and successes because I can use all the inspiration I can get.
I am not the only one clearing out the clutter (or, perhaps more appropriately, reducing the crap as my friend Dharma puts it) in 2009.
skeeterbess is digging her way out of the clutter in preparation for her upcoming move.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy is also moving and sharing Curtainless Showers and Other Keepin-it-Real Tales of Moving Woe:
Knowing that is coming has spurred us to clean out some of the excess crap that we have accumulated over the years that is hiding in our closets and under our cabinets. It's amazing how much STUFF you can cram into the nooks and crannies of a house in just four short years. We spent today cleaning out the kitchen cabinets and the pantry.
Multi-tasking Mommy at Circle of Life is decluttering in 2009
