Monday, March 14, 2011

A Suitcase Full of "Just in Case"

I was in a deep funk yesterday. Between all the tragedies going on in the world, and the mess that was my house, I couldn't motivate myself to move. So I didn't. I sat in front of my computer most of the day scanning website after website for any news that might not be so horrific. I was unsuccessful.

Fortunately, I remained online long enough for my "flybuddy" to appear and we began to chat. I don't know why I ever brought it up, but I started asking her what I should do with all my boxes that I never unpacked from the time we moves a year and a half ago. I know the theory: if you haven't needed it in a year, then you don't need it at all. But we're living in a temporary home and I was concerned that we would need a lot of these things once we moved.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

As the World Turns...

I hate reading or watching the news. For the most part I just find it disturbing and really insignificant in my life. I hate politics, I hate violence, and I find that I could go on and live my life without following what's happening in the world. My husband on the other hand, is a news junkie. He loves watching, reading and listening to news. He is up to date on the politics and policies of everyone all over the world. This works to my advantage. We have a great arrangement. If there is something that I really need to know about, he tells me.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Caution: Heavy Load

I had a breakthrough today. And I didn’t even clean or organize my house. I talked.

Every person goes through life with baggage. Sometimes it’s a designer handbag, and sometimes it’s a giant duffel bag that has been through a war. But every person has their unique baggage that they travel with.

I am no different. I have baggage. Its not pretty, and its extremely heavy. But I’m strong and I carry it with me.

This week I started to lose my grip. I felt as if I were being crushed by all the things I carry with me. And instead of letting go, I was depressed and would cry at the slightest touch.

Its important to my story that I tell you that I made a new friend this week. Maybe since our friendship is so new, I felt uninhibited when speaking to her. Or maybe its just the person she is. But she let me vent. And I feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.

Of course I will continue to carry things with me, but now I have someone who will help share the load.

I guess you can say that I decluttered my mind.  

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Clutter is Contagious

I've noticed that clutter is a contagious thing -- and I don't mean that it spreads from person to person. Rather, it spreads from room to room. I can have a perfectly clean and clutter free home (As if!!!) but once I start accumulating clutter, it slowly but surely spreads into other rooms of the house.

So here I am, struggling to overcome the clutter in my house all the while it is spreading like a disease. So to combat this disease, we're fighting it with flight, or more specific with flying. Slowly but surely one corner, one pile at a time, I can do things to combat this disease.

~~~~~~~~~~~

We decided to go away for the weekend. We had it all planned and I was totally excited to avoid my house and my mess for a couple of days. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out the way you would expect them to. When a friend of mine got wind of the fact that we were going away, she asked if we would mind having her company sleep in our house. Now she is a REALLY good friend and I owed her big. So how could I say no. So I said yes. And my body was screaming inside "NO!!!!!!" But at that point I had already committed to letting a family of six sleep in my tiny doll house. I had a heck of a lot of work to do.

But work I did. And by the time we left our house on Friday, there were six beds made up and my bedroom was looking pretty decent.

Now I know the title of this post is called "Clutter is Contagious" but the fact of the matter is, I mean the exact opposite.

On my nightstand I had left a copy of my book "Sink Reflections" by Marla Cilley. My flylady bible. My house guest found it. And even though she doesn't really know me or my struggles with clutter she immediately felt a kinship to me as she began reading the book.

I got some feedback of the weekend from my friend. Apparently, this book left quite an impression. And my house guest is now motivated to start taking baby steps and learn to fly herself. Hearing this bit of news has motivated me as well.

So instead of spreading clutter, lets make cleanliness contagious and clear our homes of clutter for good!