Lightening The Load

Before my husband and I were married I was sure that it was time for us to move after the wedding.  This had been our first place together and I still couldn’t get it as neat and organized as my previous home.  I was extremely frustrated.  Just the thought of our space annoyed me, and I seldom invited friends over because the energy just wasn’t right.

Two months after our honeymoon I decided to do something about it and stop complaining.  The main thing that I realized is that it was I who had consumed more than I’d honestly like to admit since we had lived in this apartment.  It had been easier to point my finger at my husband, yet I shopped more than him.

I began decluttering as much as I was able to each week and sometimes daily if I could fit in some time.  I started with my closet and began purging everything that I didn’t like.  If I wasn’t sure about the item, I wore it the next day to see how I felt in it.  If I didn’t feel absolutely amazing, it was sold or taken to Goodwill.

Next I began paring down on towels and linens.  We had just received new bamboo bed linens and a gorgeous set of organic cotton chocolate colored towels as wedding gifts.  I then purged all of our other towels except our beach towels, and kept only one other set of bed linens.  I then moved onto cosmetics, paperwork, decorations, and anything else I could get my hands on and free myself of.  The more I cleared out the easier it became, and the more I took my power back instead of feeling overwhelmed and unhappy with our living space.

Over the months of decluttering I have found a new love for our apartment.  It is more welcoming than it has ever been, and I no longer feel the need to look for a new place as I am more content than I’ve ever been right here.  Our once disorderly and deranged space had opened up in ways I never thought it could.

The process hasn’t stopped because our apartment looks beautiful and open though.  I have found more nonsense in my organizational bins and containers than I thought possible.  The decluttering is now at a place where I can truly nitpick and take it to a higher level.

This past Saturday I filled the middle of the living room floor with all the rest of the items that I never look at or go through during the week.  Now mind you I’ve been decluttering since December 2009.  Some of the bins I put in the center of the room were filled with art supplies, paperwork, and then more things that I had no idea I even owned. I couldn’t believe that I found the hand held sewing machine that I bought when I lived in Brooklyn in 2002!  That immediately went in the bag for Goodwill since I have an awesome sewing machine that I do use!

I dedicated much of the day going through everything off and on until it got late and I had to put what was left to the side for later.  I was able to recycle two bags, toss one, and donate three with what I sorted out with the process I describe in my articles Be Clutter Free and Declutter Now–Minimalist Home Inspiration.  I am in awe that no matter how I’ve gone through my possessions over the past months there is still more to look through.  I am also in awe how much lighter our home feels and how much better everything looks each time I pare down.  I feel lighter than ever and I’m loving the freedom of not “needing” as much as I thought I did.  As the process continues the chi only gets better.

Cheers to lightening the load!

Major Overhaul

Greener Than Green–A New Lifestyle

Constantly Clearing Out

(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)

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