Although it would be nice to just whip out my magic wand and zap about a hundred objects per room into oblivion, I haven’t perfected that method of de-cluttering yet. I’m working on it. In the meantime, I’m reading this book because I need help with housekeeping. I’m sure recognizing that I have a problem is half the battle.
Sitting in the living room this morning enjoying my second (or maybe third – who counts) cup of coffee gave me a chance to look around with a critical eye. I tried to be objective, and imagine how a stranger would view my collection of random things.
It might be a stretch for that person to believe I love, need, and use all this crap, or that it brings beauty to the atmosphere and joy to my heart.
Tess Whitehurst suggests several external clutter categories (paper, clothes, books, decorations, furniture, gifts, food, unfinished projects and broken things) but I think the decoration category is my biggest challenge. I’m not ready to even think about my internal clutter yet.
In front of our living room fireplace there is a lovely stone shelf which I’m sure was bare when we moved in but has hardly seen the light of day since then. It’s the perfect place to burn candles and put miscellaneous stuff that there’s no room for anywhere else. It’s been looking more like a junk heap than even remotely decorative lately.
The book suggests starting small so this is where I decided to begin. I got rid of my bowl full of rocks because I can’t remember whatever possessed me to have a bowl full of rocks in the first place. Then it was easy to throw away a bunch of candles that were burned down to nothing or melted into ugly puddled blobs of wax. Things that I couldn’t imagine parting with I moved somewhere else so that it looks like I threw them out. I’m not telling you where they magically teleported themselves, but I will admit that I made several trips to other parts of the house and only one trip to the outside garbage bin.
I’m giving myself A for effort here. It’s still a shelf load of junk, but it’s better organized. I read to the end of the first chapter of this very helpful book only to learn that “clearing clutter is a lifetime pursuit”. Perhaps the author has seen my house. I wonder if I’ll live long enough to get to the rest of it so that my home will eventually become “a powerful catalyst for personal transformation and manifestation.” Huh. I foresee a lot more trips to the black-bin or Good Will, or a colossal garage sale in my future.
But I’m going to completely ignore the book de-cluttering category. The line has to be drawn somewhere and my books are sacred. Even this one. The good news is – the next chapter is about cleaning, and with all the de-cluttering still to do, I might never get to that part at all.
quilt32
October 22, 2012 at 5:48 pm
I think the fireplace area looks charming.
Lillian
lillianscupboard.wordpress.com
grandmalin
October 22, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Thank you Lillian – now I’ve discovered another section in the book about fireplaces, balancing energy, activating the area, and purification rituals. Who knew this could all get so complicated. lol I think I’ll just settle for charming.
muddledmom
October 22, 2012 at 7:53 pm
I think your transformation looks good!
grandmalin
October 22, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Me too! But then I think a lot of candles make anything look good.
misswhiplash
October 23, 2012 at 2:57 am
I did a de-clutter a few weeks ago ..starting with the kitchen as the new one should be arriving soon. Anything that I had not used for many years went to the charity.The strange thing is that the cupboards still look full… Clothes , I often throw out..usually just after I have purchased them.
anyway you made a good start and the before/after pic of your hearth looks great…still interesting but not so crowded….
grandmalin
October 23, 2012 at 9:55 am
Lucky you getting a new kitchen! Now there’s a place where I’d like to just scrap it all and start over.
Grass Oil by Molly Field
October 24, 2012 at 10:17 am
you did a great job and this book sounds great. i gotta get rid of magazines… i want to decoupage my powder room with New Yorker covers and what that means really, is that i gotta get on the stick. i like to clean up too… i have decided that if i hang on to stuff “just because” i am preventing the piece from being used by someone who really needs it — like my wool sweaters. i almost spontaneously combust when i put them on … so really? just because i got it when i was on my honeymoon doesn’t mean i should hang on to it… argh. it’s so hard. but i do this. and i need to do more. thank you for writing about it and sharing your progress! <3
grandmalin
October 24, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Ah, the clothes we have and never wear – maybe that should be next on my agenda.