All the Clutter

Things, stuff, treasure, junk.....basically it's all just clutter.

I have been on my own quest lately to lighten my load and get out from under all this stuff!  I have lived in the same house for 10 years. Mind you, my house is not messy, I am not a pack rat by any definition. So why do I have all this stuff? Why am I holding onto it? What am I waiting for to use it? Do I even need it anymore?

I have all this 'stuff' because when you have kids, they have lots of stuff. They are constantly getting new things, out growing clothes....basically, kids = stuff. I have all the exes stuff too...packed away in boxes down in the basement. He says he doesn't want any of it but I really don't feel it is my stuff to get rid of, so it sets there, waiting for him to claim it. I doubt he will ever claim any of it to be honest...I think it will set down there forever.

I have gotten rid of things that used to mean something to me but now who cares and what is the point?! Great examples of this would be: stuff from my wedding 13 years ago, stuff that I saved 'just in case' I wanted to have another kid (big not happening on that one).

So as I have worked on cleaning out every closet, every drawer, every everything in this house...I ask myself some really basic questions. Why am I keeping this? Do I really need it? When is the last time I have used this? The end result of all these questions is that a whole lot of stuff has been donated to the Goodwill...car fulls to be honest.

I also have a new found appreciation for the things that I have kept. I am no longer going to 'save' things to use for good. If you really think about this, it is kind of silly. Why shouldn't I use it now and enjoy it? Why do we save things to use for 'good' and never get them out to use them? Didn't we buy it because we loved it? A great example of this would be my Vera Wang heels that I purchased last June. I could have left them in the box and 'saved' them for something special...but why? I have worn those shoes so much that part of the sole is coming apart, and you know what....I am glad that I wore them! I absolutely love those shoes to start with, and have had so much fun wearing them that I am glad I didn't 'save' them even though they were expensive.

Getting rid of all the clutter is liberating, you feel like you are getting rid of old baggage that you just don't need anymore. At this point of my life's journey right now, this is very fitting for me...out with the old and in with the new.

So ask yourself as you are cleaning that closet or drawer out...why am I keeping this?

Lastly, quit holding onto something and saving it for something special...get it out now and use it because right now is special!!