A Keen Slate

Yes, even for a seasoned declutterer like me. This might seem strange, but I have decluttered regularly since I was a child. When I felt too overwhelmed by the toys in my room, I would ask my mom to take me to the thrift store a few towns away and donate a bagful or two. As a teenager, I kept my room neat and carefully curated with only my favorite items on display. I remember both strategies creating a big sense of accomplishment and relief.  But in 2019 I began decluttering in earnest. With the three of us living in small space amidst an explosion of baby items, clothes, and toys, I knew something had to change. I was grateful for the things my daughter needed and enjoyed, but the rest of the stuff weighed on me. A lot.  Fast forward to summer 2022. It was time for our big move to NC, and I decluttered like I never had before. Still, as I wrote in a previous post , everything felt like too much ... and that I had not done enough.  2022 was a year of intense upheaval, much of it painf

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,

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

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