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 whe...

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 . ...

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...