uncluttering one day and one thing at a time

Admittedly going against one of Marie Kondo's principles (dive wholly in and tackle decluttering in one fell swoop); I have been experimenting with her question:

"Does it give me joy?"

And I'm finding it to be a transformative one. (Orienting towards joy has been an ongoing piece of self-work for me in the past year, so this is a very timely question for me to use in the house as well)

And although I was skeptical, I've also taken the time to try and follow some of her instructions around the way I keep clothing - taking everything out of the dresser, handling each piece, folding it carefully, arranging clothing so that it is displayed, rather than stacked. It's time consuming; and I'm trying to not fuss about whether it's sustainable; but again - it's a transformative way to handle my things - to treat them as valuable paradoxically allows me to let go of more. To set a vision for how I want the drawer organized sets a boundary on how many things I'm willing to keep. 

My house has five rooms downstairs: three that are are lived in (kitchen, dining room, living room) and two that are.... kind of always edging on complete disaster:  the back sunroom and laundry room. They are a catchall for tools and games and hobby equipment and laundry and things and things and things. 

I have a friend who has been coming over and helping me clean and declutter. She came a few times before Christmas, and again today -  today we tackled the back rooms. There are some amazing ways in which this is helpful: she has no emotional attachment to any of the things, so she's very encouraging on the "get rid of it" task. And she's better at cleaning and decluttering than I am, and more focused. If she comes over we work for hours, way past when I would give up or get distracted. 

So. There are three large garbage bags of stuff thrown out; and an equivalent amount to go down to the thrift shop. Major areas of decluttering were: blankets/linens; videos/vhs tapes, craft/hobby supplies, and board games. 

Homeless at the moment are a small collection of musical instruments; but I'm hoping to move them upstairs into one of the disordered closets. 

And I'm exhausted. (and trying to regroup to go curling tonight!)

Well, my dears. I'm sure we're all over the place in terms of socio/cultural/geographic/religious location; but where I am is the day after Christmas, with a house containing two currently sleeping children and assorted christmas gift detritus. Also, it is snowy outside.

The combination of post-holiday consumer hangover and the arrival of the new year always seems to spark my decluttering. Historically, I can go strong on the 1 In/1 Out model for a few months before tapering off, I'll see how that goes for me in 2013.

As for today, after I finish my coffee, and ship the kids to their dad's, and get around to putting away some gifts, I'm going to try to be intentional about asking myself whether each one replaces something I already own, and could now release.

Blessings of renewal to you all. 

OUT: 21 books!

I think that squares me up for the new books I bought.

OUT: 10 assorted board games and puzzles, a bag of books

Those books, you guys. They were sorted to go out at least a year ago. Not sure why they're still in the house. I'm NOT letting myself look in the bag. Even though there's an interesting looking book on top. That's how they got into the house in the first place.

Also, since I was tidying up the board games, and we have So Many Good Games - I instituted a new summer house rule - kids that are spending hours PS3 gaming must also play a non-electronic game. So there's now 4 teenagers playing a board game in the living room.

 Helped my daughter sort and pack up a big bag of clothes to go out.

Also threw out a  few sets of no longer used curtains, and an old chipped plate I'd been using with the houseplants.

 In the ongoing project What is in this closet, anyway?!   I have started to unearth the sweaters that my much loved and missed grandmother knit for me.  In the 1980's. In acrylic. Which is pretty much indestructible. 

What do I do with them. I will ask my daughter when she gets home, maybe they are the right kind of retro for her. But... I am a fibre snob now, and a competent knitter in my own right. 

I think I am getting close to being able to let go of them, after something that is shoved in the back of a closet isn't really being enjoyed.

Suggestions Support?

 Only items in today.   :/  Stuff that came home with me after being away.

5 new puppets , they will live in my office with the others

2 boxes of dress up clothes, mostly already at work, but with a bunch of costume wigd/hair extensions that will stay in the hoise dress up box

2 new yoga blocks and strap

2 antique milk cans and a lounge chair for tje yard

4 pieces of clothing

teapot

4 insulated containers of various kinds

Hopefully by Monday I will have a corresponding set of outs.

IN: Kid's b-day presents (not really counting them)
OUT: about 2 dozen assorted hats, scarves and mis-matched mitts from the hall baskets 


The problem with being a knitter is the breeding of knitwear. I tried to be as ruthless as possible.

OUT:  old scouting shirt and sash into the garbage

SALVAGED: the badges to send toangelbabe_cj 

Hopefully I'll get those in the mail to you before our postal service goes on strike!!