Storage Space
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It takes courage – and big deep breaths!
It takes courage … and a big deep breath! The mountain seemed massive and steep. The summit, the peak I wished to reach, was far off in the distance. There were no switchbacks to make the climb easier. It appeared to be an endless uphill climb. I hadn’t prepared or trained for this climb, let alone be able to reach the ultimate peak—the peak I truly wanted to reach. It made me sweaty, gasping for breath with my heart pounding a mile a minute. I almost gave up before I began. Who was I kidding? But then I reminded myself I’ve done this before and made it to the top.…
- Cherished Items, Decluttering, Journey, Letting go, Musings, Simplifying, Storage Space, Tidying, Triggers
Are you frozen in overwhelm?
Are you frozen in overwhelm? Oh no! You’ve got to be kidding. Another box? How is it possible there’s yet another box? I thought I’d handled all of them, yet there it was on the shelf. A shelf that usually doesn’t store this sort of thing. How did it end up there? It must have gotten shoved in whatever open space was available just to get it out of the way – not to mention out of mind. In this case, it had been out of my mind for two years! What box is this for which I refer? A “hidden” box that went unnoticed and forgotten since my Mom…
- Cherished Items, Consumption, Decluttering, Letting go, Musings, Simplifying, Storage Space, Tidying
Where’s your pile of negativity?
Where’s your pile of negativity? Let’s talk basements and attics. Not that everyone has them. However, for those of you who do, have you considered the tremendous negative energy that smolders below and hangs heavily above? Your basements are full of who knows what, and your attics are full of even more. Most of it you’ve kept for years, if not decades. For those who don’t have a basement or attic, this applies to you too! Aw shucks! Did you think I would only stick to what is under or above you in your home? You’ve got piles of negativity too. Only yours are hidden away in inventive places or…
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Is your clutter hidden?
Is your clutter hidden? Are you ready to laugh at yourself? There’s nothing better than to laugh at yourself when you recognize that you, too, have fallen trap to something you thought you had dealt with already. Such as clutter. You prided yourself on the fact that it was no longer an issue. After all, you have nothing left to discard, let go of, or giveaway—all neat, tidy, and organized. Or so you think! A friend and I laughed at ourselves as we chatted about clutter. We joked about how we had convinced ourselves we didn’t have any and agreed the visible areas in our homes were clear of excess. There was…
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What compels you to fill up empty space?
Do you know what compels you to fill up empty space? After all, you finally decluttered that jam-packed closet, drawer, room, or garage — areas packed to the brim for eons. And proudly, you stepped back and breathed a big sigh of satisfaction and relief. Finally, you think, it is done! Ta-da, like magic, there is open space. But then, before you know it, you fill it up again. I’m sure you told yourself at that point — Why have stuff lying around when there’s this newly empty space? You decided it didn’t make sense to waste it. And, wham! The space is packed full once again. Of course, it makes no sense to have stuff lying about when…
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You can’t take it with you
You can’t take it with you … Then, why do I have so much stuff? You can’t take it with you! Something my dad said and lived by — his voice still clearly resonates in my head to this day. He’s now been gone almost 15 years and his wisdom and practical guidance and still so useful to a world that has forgotten this principle. He was a giving man, one who believed he had plenty in life, even though he was not a high-income earner — at least based on today’s standards. He gave generously, to his family when he saw there was a need or even a desire. He didn’t just say…
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Shocking news … the storage unit is empty
Shocking news! The storage unit is empty. In less than 2 months, a stuffed full unit is empty. Mind you, at the beginning of December, when my husband pronounced that his intention was to have it empty by the end of the month, this Queen of “Let’s get rid of that,” nearly fainted. With disbelief. And, I looked at him as if he was insane. That’s when I began to squawk and protest. Was he crazy? In my logical, wise mind, there was no way this goal was going to be attained. Certainly, not by month’s end, right on top of the holidays. Who was he kidding? Did he forget how…
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Where are your secret hiding places for stuff?
Where are your secret hiding places for stuff? You know, those places where you put stuff out of sight and out of mind. Like closets, drawers, cabinets, boxes, or under the bed … just to name a few. I call them “hidey-holes!” They are sneaky, secret little areas. Those places we put stuff to get them out of the way. Usually done during our futile attempts to organize. Once hidden, we dust off our hands and feel a sense of accomplishment. After all, it feels good to have that stuff out of sight and out of mind because it no longer nags at us. Somehow we then convince ourselves it is handled and no…
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Who buys a house with no closet? Wanna guess?
Who buys a house without a closet? Seriously. Isn’t that one of the main aspects of a house you want most? Lots of closet space? Especially in California where basements and attics are a rarity. Garages and closets are king. So, then, how did my hubby and I manage to buy a home that had no downstairs closet. None. Where were we to hang coats, put shoes, dog leashes, hats and scarves, umbrellas? Not to mention other stuff handy and out of the way. But, before you judge us … we didn’t even notice the lack of a closet once we felt the peace and breathed in the calm. And, I’ll…