I have a secret… not like a true secret but something you won’t usually see unless you are REALLY close to me (like known me for years and I know you won’t judge me for it and will still love me no matter what). I am not an organized person. I am not a clean freak and I am not someone who keeps house easily. I have always struggled with keeping things I don’t need. I remember doing it as a kid. Not sure why but I have my own theories. I am what most would call a pack rat. Nope scratch that, I am a recovering pack rat. Because I am aware and have come to terms with it and I am now fixing it.
I am getting rid of stuff left and right and I am realizing just how much CRAP we have. Because I always kept stuff because I may need it one day. Except I am realizing that one day doesn’t come often. I don’t need to keep things that don’t “bring me joy”. (Yup, I went there). I struggled with this for years. We moved into our house almost 10 years ago and I still have unpacked boxes. Our house keeps filling and filling with junk though. Part of it is buying. I have bought things because I can’t find things. I have bought things for the small high I get just from spending money (let me tell you that is a DANGEROUS game.) But these are all truths and I know I am not the only one to deal with them.
A couple years ago I got fed up with it. I was so tired of being surround by things that literally collected dust and served no other purpose. I read Marie Kondo’s “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. I was desperate and likely to try anything but this one resonated with me. I read it and I love the concept but between kids and life I have not done it. No excuses other than I haven’t prioritized it. I have taken thing to donations sites, the dump and sold things that we just don’t need or use. I am realizing as I get rid of the clutter my mind is put to ease as well. The truth of physical clutter being the manifestation of mental clutter is astounding.
Fast forward to January of this year. We made a choice to clear out an extra room in our house. It was supposed to be used for a playroom for the kids and school room but every time they went in there, something triggered their asthma. Not sure what it was but I was going to get to the bottom of it. So I started by getting rid of stuff. Clearing it out. Got most of it out and I decided to go further and rip out the carpet because we knew there was nothing in the walls. That leaves only the covered floor to hide things. As I started ripping up carpet we found a little bit of minor water damage. So we fixed that and got rid of the carpet. Then I decided, I need to be able to make my work mess and close a door so that I wasn’t constantly looking at the mess. So we moved my office up there. It wasn’t cleaned out fully but it had space. So I decided to slowly move. Wellllllll, slowly turned out too slow and before I knew it, February and my daughter’s birthday party were upon us and so everything was just thrown in there.
This is what it looks like 2 months later when I haven’t had a chance or taken the time to sit and organize it.
Lord, help me. But this is where that ends. I need this space to be functional. I need it to house my tumbler and vinyl area, I need it to house my sewing area AND my fabric stash. I also need a play area for Mermaid so that I can work and she is still supervised but safe and not wandering around pins and needles (right now she plays in her pack ‘n play). One of the dogs crates is in here but needs to be kept away from the fabric. And ideally, the boys will eventually have their school area here if we find that it was the carpet making them flare up.
I started yesterday and am working a little everyday. Hopefully I will be able to finish the reveal of the space next week! That is my goal. But if you are having trouble getting things out of your house, you are not alone. If you are unorganized or your house is cluttered, I feel you. Just start with one thing. Get rid of clothes you don’t wear or even clothes that don’t fit. One step at a time! I am taking those baby steps with you!
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