It's true. I am surrounded by clutter. I have been like this all my adult life. As a child the rule in my family home was 'bedrooms are only for sleeping'. So the one room in the house I could call my own had nothing in it that said it belonged to me. There was a bookcase but it was removed because I was suspected of reading when I was supposed to be going to sleep. I wasn't reading but I was up to someting. My mum had another rule 'homework is given by teachers who don't get their wok done in class'. The time I was allowed for homework was never enough - so I did it by torchlight under the covers when I went to bed.
But back to the clutter issue. In the Sunday paper there is a '7 days' feature. Last weekend it was "7 days to declutter your life."
Monday Start in a room, work for 15 mins. Move on.
This didn't work for me. the only room I have any real control over is my office. It's full of books. None of them are clutter.
Tuesday Sort paperwork - the bills kind.
Snap! I already do this. When I was sick last year, I had no energy for anything. So I caught up on the paperwork. I discovered so many errors that had cost me money I resolved to always be up to date. Good thing too. The errors haven't stopped. Last week my health fund underpaid a dental claim by $100.
Wednesday Update your wardrobe. Throw out wasn't doesn't fit.
No. I am not a clothes person but the things I have I love. Last year illness meant I lost 17kg. I've hardly put any of it back on (not for lack of trying - I have been doing some serious chocolate eating lately!) Now I can wear all the clothes I loved and kept even though they didn't fit.
Thursday Empty your wallet
Now it's getting easier. This one does itself. Stuff tends to fall out.
Friday Clear out cosmetics.
I can do this! I don't have any!
Saturday donate items.
I am on a roll. I do this all the time.
Sunday Keep It Up
"Now that your home is clutter free... "
Except that it's not. I'm still keep my Christmas cards out for a year - they hide the dust and remind me of friends. There are books and papers everywhere. I have more photos and artwork than wallspace. There's the tapestry I designed - I'm going to do it one day. Family history research - going to do that one day too. I guess I have to face the fact that that I can't live without my clutter! It's who I am.
The wonderful feedback I get for the Samurai Kids series never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes it even makes me cry. I am a big sook from way back. I cry in my own books. "You are so lame, Mum," my kids say.