Decluttering - It's About Time

This is part of my Lenten fast. I have too much stuff! It is all fairly well-organized but there is just so much. I have a neighbor who is a true minimalist, and she cleans out stuff continuously. However, when she needs something, she just comes to see if I have it. Guess what? I always do! She borrows staplers, tape, markers, tables, chairs, table centerpieces when she has a party; the list goes on. The other day she borrowed my husband's dress shoes, because in a cleaning frenzy she got rid of her husband's dress shoes, figuring he doesn't wear them often, but on that day he needed them and was a little annoyed that they were gone. So she came over and asked if we had some he could borrow. Luckily our husbands wear the same size. Here is the thing: her house is always tidy, ALWAYS! And she has four boys, ranging in age from 5-14! I know what kinds of messes come with kids and for her house to look they way it does, she either does nothing but clean all day, every day, or she doesn't have ANY clutter. So I realized I have too much stuff.

You see, gathering things for a future need is one of my superpowers. I got it from my mom. You can ask either of us for the most random thing, and we probably have it, or something like it. But what is the cost of that? First, I spend money unnecessarily, I store things for ages, I forget I have things when I need them and we run out of space. Again, it is all very organized, because I am a genius at Tetris, but then the thing I want/need is in a place that would take too much effort to get out, so I go out and buy it anyway. All really ridiculous behavior. I have TOO MUCH STUFF!

So this Lenten season I decided I was going to correct this behavior altogether! I planned to clean out every nook and cranny and only keep that which is really useful (or that I have actually touched in the last 12 months). I have craft projects for any craft you may want to start, which I have had and packed up and moved for YEARS and YEARS! Well, no more! That is done! I am fasting from shopping too (except food and essential care items) because I have tried purging before, but I find that I fill the space with new items almost as fast as I get rid of stuff. So now, no shopping and major decluttering are in full swing. My kids think it unfair that my Lenten plans bleed over and become their chores too, but I noticed that as I am like my mother in this way, my kids are like me. Can you believe we have every stuffed animal that has ever come into this house for the last 25 years? (They ALL have sentimental value you know! That is- until their owners move out. Guess what happens to the things they don't want to bring along, but don't want to be rid of either? Yep: Mom stores it! Just like I did to my mom!) I have a teddy bear that I got for Christmas when I was 7 or 8 years old! It is not small either; it is giant and it is stuffed up in the top of my office closet right now. (Yeah, that fire hazard has got to go just as soon as I post this.)

The thing is- I am not wasteful either so I don't throw things away. I will find good homes for all of it. Some will go to this fabulous local thrift store called Second Story; the profits will be used for finding women and children lost in human trafficking. My craft supplies are going to the Sacred Heart Sisters retreat house for use during their kids and family retreats. Toys and games will go to Tiny Treasures, a thrift store that uses all its proceeds to care for abused and/or homeless pregnant women to help them get back on their feet. My furniture will go to Habitat for Humanity Restore and that benefits the local Habitat for Humanity. So all this stuff that is just collecting dust waiting to be used will now go to helping others in need. Now that is a win-win! I've included links for the websites of each of the places I mentioned, so you can learn more about the these businesses.

I'll post again when I've finished and let you know how it all turns out.

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Chicken Sausage, Potato and Leek Soup