A Keen Slate

Last week I completed my first 2023 donation roundup. After several weeks of going through our closets and totes in the garage, I filled a total of seven boxes! This is the biggest set of donations since moving to NC in July of 2022, which I consider a pretty big win.   Upon arriving in NC I learned that the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), despite having thrift shop, do not pick up donations here. Since the VVA had been my go-to for donation pickup since 2019, this was disappointing.  Of course, I say this knowing the risk of sounding incredibly spoiled and lazy (Why can't I just drop off the donations myself?!). You're right, I can. But I have my reasons: 1) When my daughter was really young I've had the experience of taking what little 'free time' I had to load everything up and drive to Goodwill, only to be told they're full and not accepting donations. Talk about disappointment! In my experience, pickups will only happen if the organization has the space,

Since starting my decluttering journey in 2019 I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff. As I decluttered I saw progress, because stuff was no longer under foot or falling out of cupboards on my head. Our 1,125 sq. ft. townhome seemed like it was no longer overrun with stuff. It felt pretty peaceful, actually.  Then there were the closets. Two of them, full of stuff, lurking. One contained mostly seasonal decorations, but also stored our off-season tires. Yes, TIRES. I had sealed them in the largest bags available so they didn't smell, but they took up precious space. I was so glad when, before our move, we posted them for free on Marketplace and a nice gentleman with an eastern European accent came by and somehow loaded them all into his Prius.  Then there was the other closet. About a year before our move to NC, I was about to began another iteration of Uncluttered (Joshua Becker's room by room decluttering course). My goal was to declutter that closet, which contained ... jus

Recently I participated in an online workshop that focused on how clutter effects our energy. The hour-long session included a guided meditation, breath work, and setting affirmations. Although it might initially sound 'woo woo', the approach was actually quite practical.  Our workshop guide was Jane Hogan, a design engineer by trade who has been exploring the mind-body connection since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2016. Her aim is to implement a scientific approach to unite the body, breath, and mind  to help people dealing with chronic pain and autoimmune disorders. To learn more, check out thewellnessengineer.com . Concomitant with the meditation session, Jane offered this profundity: " Clutter is the accumulation of energy that is no longer flowing. " It's so true. For all of us who've been there, we know how stifling clutter can be, how it can make things feel stagnant. The inertia that unaddressed clutter creates is heavy , which is prob

Lately my general response when I open boxes that have been packed away for years is, "Oh my gosh ... I had completely forgotten about this!/I still have this?!/I thought I donated this?!" Which, based on my reaction, likely means that the item/s were not so valuable (if not completely vexing) to me. Despite the feelings of overwhelm they incite, it also means that sorting through it all is probably a good thing.     Yet, there are those relatively rare moments when a long-lost item does, as Marie Kondo would put it, "spark joy". Over a decade ago, I visited an antique store in Zionsville, IN, with my sister, nephew, and my parents. There I found a whole trunk full of black and white celebrity photos , probably from old magazines, that some meticulous soul had taken the trouble to laminate. Since many of the images were gorgeous and so reasonably priced, I (a broke graduate student at the time) couldn't resist. I was most attracted to photos of glamorous actress

With the 25th being my next donation pick up day, it's go time! This past weekend I worked at the  decluttering station  in my garage and packed up four boxes of stuff. I also took pictures of items I will attempt to sell on my neighborhood facebook group. Like I said, no obligation or urgency here, whatever sells, does, and whatever doesn't will be donated or posted for free.   Although I've been feeling really good about my progress, sometimes this mean voice pops up and makes me feel like all my efforts are just weak sauce, and nowhere near enough.  When this happens, I need to remember that this is where mindfulness can work its magic. I mean, it's not really magic , but more about being truthful, acknowledging. And I have to acknowledge that I have come a long way. That is a fact, mean voice or no.   So, it's time to take a deep breath, and deal with the stuff (and the emotions that accompany it) moment by moment. Because that's the only place where progres

Well ... perhaps 'love' is in this case too strong a word. But I do like it. Either way, this subject has been debated to death, and is something that most people are not going to change their opinion about. In regards to laundry, there are (probably) four kinds of people: 1) Everyday task masters 2) Once-a-week warriors  3) The we-need-clean-underwear-now crowd (hey, no judgement here!)   4) Laundry? What's that? I'll just buy new clothes ... lol Obviously, these categories have a completely plausible scientific basis. Maybe. Okay, not really. But in my defense, I have met people who fall into each of these categories. In our previous residence I did have laundry 'day...s': Wednesday was sheets and towels and Thursday for washing my and my daughter's clothes. The main reason for not completing everything in one day was that our dryer was terrible . It usually took two hours for a load of clothes, three for towels - yikes! After we moved (and had access to

In her groundbreaking book " The life-changing magic of tidying up " Marie Kondo poses some unusual, perhaps even outlandish, questions and ideas. In a discussion that meandered into describing inanimate objects as if they had feelings and aspirations, one such proposal is emptying one's purse at the end of each day.  Um, say what now?  I was incredulous. When I already have so much to do, how exactly is doing this supposed to help me? As Marie went on about how the purse was tired from a long day of carrying a full load of heavy objects, my skepticism deepened. So .... I should take the time to empty my purse each day because it ... has feelings ? Riiiiiiiight. But then I thought about it a little more. I thought about my purse. Although usually not overly full, it could be kind of a problem. Stuff gets lost in there. If you carry a purse or any kind of bag, I know that you know exactly what I mean. Loose change? Mints? Grocery lists? An old Cliff bar? A full-sized wate

Talk about a 'clean slate'! I love my Christmas decor, but it always feels good to pack everything away again once the season is over. I (kind of) timed myself today as I placed items in their respective boxes. From the first ornament off the tree to packing and closing up the plastic bin, it took about an hour and a half. I mentioned before that we don't have a lot of Christmas stuff, and it makes me happy that everything (with the exception of outdoor lights) fits in one box.  The South Indian harvest festival Pongal is happening over the next few days, so for now I have changed the decor to feature Indian textiles. Then, it will be time to decorate for Valentine's Day 💖 How does it feel for you when you put away Christmas/holiday decor? Sad? Wistful? Relieved? If you've found a way to streamline the process, please share in the comments!  Decor featuring Indian textiles Some new Christmas items I bought a couple days ago. The box is full now, so next year it w

It is now finally time (perhaps a little past time) to put away Christmas decorations . Although I have sorted and donated mountains of clutter in other areas, we have fortunately not accumulated much Christmas decor. This is owing mostly to always living in a relatively small space, with little storage. Since our current rental is at least two times bigger than previous homes, our decor is even more spaced out, and I love it .      Our Christmas decor focuses on a winter-themed tablecloth, decorated sideboard, nativity, and The Norfolk Island Pine enthusiastically and lopsidedly decorated by my six-year old daughter 😀. A few little gnomes, a small wreath, and garland complete the indoor decor. Any additional pops of color are splendidly fulfilled by red poinsettias. We also have a few outdoor lights.  With all this (with the exception of the lights, which come out at Diwali time) held by only one medium-sized plastic bin, I am always relieved that it is not more . In the coming years

I was recently asked the thought question: What would be "my" word this year? Quickly, almost instinctively, I said, " Lighter ". While life can certainly be great, sometimes it's really hard. Uncomfortable. Sticky. Heart-rending. Terrifying. In a word, life, and its accompanying emotions, can be heavy .  So, if blessed with the opportunity, this year   I want to work towards lightness . I can't control what happens to me or those I love, but I can control how I respond to events around me. In the interim, I can invite more lightness into my life. Rolling with the punches but knowing that I don't have to white-knuckle my way through; I can loosen my grip even when things feel heavy.   Taking a breath, letting go of fear, feeling gratitude for the love that surrounds me, I have the power to feel lighter in each moment and to be filled with light.  Whether it's decluttering possessions or letting go of toxic emotions, that's exactly what I'm s

So I finally got the nerve to post some items on my local neighborhood group. Up until now I have only listed stuff for free, especially before our move. Not all items I listed the other day sold, but I'm happy to say that the biggest and bulkiest did. Plus, I ended up with some cash in my Venmo account, which felt good.  Even better though, I was able to have a nice chat with the woman I sold them them to when I dropped them off at her house. That felt good too, because in our previous home we had never gotten to know our neighbors. Since I have already decluttered so much, and we are not in the process of moving (yet), selling items does not have the same sense of urgency as before. Every thing I sell equals a little more letting go, a little less stress. I know that perhaps every selling experience won't go as smoothly as this, but I feel encouraged.  Have you sold items online? How was your experience, and do you have any advice for newbies like me? Plastic drawers, x4! Bin

Right now I'm focusing on a new challenge : to get the garage cleaned out and sell some stuff on marketplace. Last year my dad came to visit and brought a beautiful 'new' table, one that my family had used as a dinner table when I was a teenager. Made by Mennonite craftsmen, the ingenuity of the pull-apart mechanism and the hidden leaves is exquisite. My dad had painstakingly refinished the four chairs, so the set is also a reminder of his handiwork. Although we loved our square breakfast nook table, now we can actually welcome more dinner and anytime guests.  So what to do with the old table? I thought about selling it, decided to keep it for one main reason: The sticky issue of cleaning out the garage. As I mentioned in the new challenge post , I would like to clear out the half of the garage occupied by boxes, totes, and other items so that both vehicles can fit inside (and we can get rid of stuff we have now dragged through two moves!).  The dilemma was being able to ta

For anyone just starting out on their decluttering journey, I would be the first to advocate donating. Why? Because selling items online via Ebay or Marketplace, consignment, or garage sale is time consuming and often aggravating ... And the money 'earned' is usually not nearly worth the effort.  If I have learned this in the past, and if this is what I say to others, then why am I being a hypocrite (and perhaps a fool) about it now?  The truth is, I have a bit of a dilemma. I have made a lot of progress on my decluttering journey by donating or recycling a lot of items. And, after I first realized how hard it was to sell things, how little I would get for most of them, and that the money is already gone, donating felt pretty good. But now I am left with half a garage full of items that need to be re-homed. I know that a significant number of items would probably sell, and now I live in a neighborhood where I see people are constantly posting things on the community page. So wh

I am using my knowledge of the power of the present moment to change how I motivate myself, and therefore how I show up in my life and for those around me. Here I share my current goals for simplifying and letting go. My space:  To let go of anything that doesn't serve me. I know, pretty nebulous. The more concrete goals I have planned for 2023 are Operation Clear Garage and Operation Sell Stuff on Marketplace (OSSM sounds a little like 'awesome' doesn't it? Ha!). Since the garage is where my family's clutter still has a stronghold  and  the space where I take pics for putting stuff on marketplace, these two goals go hand in hand. I hope to start a month-long challenge for this soon.  My body:  I want to be more conscious about the food and drink I put into my body. I want to become physically healthier and lighter. To let go of cravings. I know what you're thinking: Isn't this just a fancy way of saying you want to lose weight? Yes. But not to be fancy, jus

As I pulled my thoughts together to start this blog, I scrolled through images of donation pickups I'd scheduled since May of 2019. Literally boxes and boxes of stuff.  In truth, I am a little amazed. Amazed:  At myself, a supposedly money-conscious frugalista who shopped thrift stores and the clearance rack,  At what this meant about the sheer volume of stuff I had before I started, and    That all of that was STUFFED into a 1125 square foot 2 bedroom townhome, and a 900 sqft one before that! (no wonder I often felt like I was losing my mind!)  Looking at the pictures, I feel like I've come a long way. And that's because I have come a long way. Even without showing items still lurking in my home, even people who don't know me can guess my progress.  However, even with the validation that can come from others witnessing (and celebrating) my progress, it is not my reason for doing this. For me, reaching my full potential lies somewhere within decluttering ... everything

I could start at the very beginning, but I won't, at least for now. The truth is, I've already come a long way. But now I want to go a little further. A lot further. Moving on from always feeling I am just on the cusp of something to diving in, with full immersion.  That's where I am right now. And right now is important, because it is everything. I have decided that the way to make more progress with every current (and future) challenge is by engaging keen awareness. With mindfulness as my compass, I can accomplish anything and move towards lightness in my life. Will I falter and mess up sometimes? Yes, I will. I know that. But that is also where mindfulness and the present moment come in. I do not have to be afraid of the future, and I do not have to be affected by my past. I can decide not only to change, but to take action, in this (and every) moment.  This possibility present within each passing moment is in itself an amazing opportunity, and it is my privilege to shar