What did I learn from yesterday's efforts, and what can we accomplish today?
In the past two weeks, there were days I simply didn't have the energy to tackle the effort of downsizing or to begin blogging about it. On those days I'd pamper my self and my husband with an extra break, some hot tea, and most especially, some cuddle time.
Fortunately he knows when to enjoy a nap.
I've also spent some time reading through a few different downsizing blogs for inspiration and ideas.
FLY LADY helped me get kick started on reducing the CHAOS (Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome) a few years ago. It seemed I was ever in the middle of kid raising, remodeling the house, painting and parenting, too embarrassed to have the boss and his wife over for dinner. The Flylady declutter program was a good start. BUT, I Never did get around to having the boss over. A friend from Moldavia told me that he was accustomed to Americans having houses too full to have company over. Wow.
Time has passed, the kids are grown, and now, in downsizing mode, what captures my imagination is the book: The life-changing magic of tidying up ~ the Japanese art of decluttering by marie konda.
The two authors have this in common: Discharge from your life the things you don't LOVE (Flylady) or the things that don't bring you JOY (Konda).
Flylady suggests that for 15 minutes a day, You do a "get rid of that old thing" fling boogie. Each day is a new area, the one common denominator is starting off with a polished clean kitchen sink.
Konda suggests that you give your self a time limit and get it all done. At once. Category by Category. In this way you'll skip the forever doing the tidy up thing.
She states that once you have your house in order, you will only allow your self to bring home the things that bring you joy. You will discard all that does not belong. You will surround your self with things that bring joy.
Your physical and mental house will ever be in order once you have finished putting your house in order.
Do it once. Forever. It will change you.
This appeals to me.
I'm reminded of two photos Paul published in earlier posts.
Room number one: The photo of the room taken after my daughter took to her new home the Cal King bed. Clear. Clean. Pristine.
Room number two: The disheveled room of boxes and other disorganized castoffs in the catchall room.
Where would I rather spend my time? In room one! I can write a letter or sip on tea or sit and talk with a friend! Clearly, I'm ready, Konda, for the do it once and forever be changed. Let's roll.
As things pass over the threshold out of the door, on to bless some one else's life, the clearer and more determined I am in my own mind about living a life with less. A Lot Less.
I am Loving the progress, as slow as it seems some days. I am impatient at times. I want more done.
Less stuff is the goal. More time to play. I am motivated to be clearer about what is useful. What is needed. I'm not yet at the realization of JOY or LOVE to keep an item. Maybe I am too practical?
The idea of organizing EVERYTHING just seems to be such a life waster time chaser. I don't want more organized stuff. Who wants to be an ODC Hoarder? Not Me. Therefore, I continue the pursuit of Less.
What to sell? What to give away?
This morning my thoughts turned to the clothes that I've moved from the bedroom we live in to the empty room that now serves as a staging area. Everything in the re-staging room is in the reassignment phase of it's life.
At one time, these items:
1. Earned money (uniforms for work)
2. Brought a smile (hoola hoops and nerf footballs to break up the monotony during slow days at work)
3. Made me feel Pretty (an amazing lace gown with spaghetti straps I won't wear again post cancer and an awesome handbag or two)
Since then, these items have one thing in common. They all take up space. Each item takes up time. How much time do I want to spend on the experience of yesterday at the expense of the joie de vivre of today?
Tomorrow will go something like this:
It's another morning in the process of downsizing. I will my self to do more paperwork, some past, some current.
While dear Husband showers, I go through another drawer and decide item by item which stays. Which goes.
I'm still looking for usefulness. Utility is my primary filter.
Will I use this in the next two months or two years? Will it matter to me if I never see it again? What dollar value do I place on the items I use every day? Am I willing to buy all over again rather than pay to have this shipped? Who will be the wise steward or lucky recipient?
While I look at each possession as it passes through my hands, I will try to find in my self the experience of "Joy" or "Love". I might realize again that I am not yet interested in Joy or Love when it comes to possessions.
I keep this item, because when I have it in my possession, I feel ____________ .
(Smart, organized, prepared, equipped, like a boss, like a girl scout, like some one ready for the Apocalypse)
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