Clutter, clutter everywhere — not an end in sight! Clutter is not only unattractive, but it also drains us psychologically!
I decided to write this article when I found three books waiting at my doorstep (ordered from Amazon.com by my husband). These books were:
What can we do about clutter? The answer is more difficult than you think. You really must first learn how to let go of things. This can be hard to do!I used to fill my shelves with books on how to be more organized and how to get more things done. These books all helped me, but they helped me do MORE things (and, unfortunately, accumulate more things)! One day, I was reading through a book that said, “Being organized and being neat are two different things!” I would like to be able to quote the source of that profound thought, but am unable to do so at this time. What an eye-opener — and what a relief! I was organized; I just wasn’t very neat! Now came the question — how do I become neat?
The “How do I become neat?” question was a bit harder to find answers for. In looking at my baby book that my mother so lovingly kept for me — From Heaven to Seven, there was an entry that asked for the milestone when I picked up and put away my toys. She had written, “Still doesn’t do this at 7 yrs old!” So, I guess my problem isn’t new!
Mother always said, “There is a place for everything and put everything in its place.” While I still don’t think this is entirely true, I do think that it has some merit. Take a look at your things. Why are they out? Are you afraid if you put them away that you will forget about them or never be able to find them again? I am!!!
So what are we to do about this? Start small. Start letting go. An email message came to me with one of those quotes attached to it. It said, “Have nothing in your house, which you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris. Think about how that might be incorporated into your world? Start with one area in your life that is the worst. How did it get that way? When did it get that way? What can I visualize that it will look like when it is the way I want it? What can I do to get it to look the way I want it to look by just working at it 5-10-or 20 minutes a day?
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