It's beginning to look a lot like spring out there, but unfortunately I am not very good at spring cleaning. Don’t get me wrong, I can clean and I do clean, I’m just not very accomplished at it. So, in lieu of the full-on house spring clean this year, I thought I’d have a go at spring cleaning my mind instead. According to life coach, Gail Blanke, there is a connection between physical clutter and mental clutter, apparently the clutter we live with, weighs us down and affects our ability to think clearly. I can certainly relate to that, and I bet Feng Shui people have a lot to say about this too.
I do have a lot of surplus stuff, which I would really like to get to grips with. I am trying not to collect random stuff any longer, but it doesn’t help that yard sale season is right around the corner AND I am planning on going to Brimfield this May, (it's on my to do list).
What I really must do is avoid going to places like the Christmas Tree Shop, that suck you into buying that ridiculous crappy plastic tray with a picture of an apple on it, because it will be good for catching the mess from the foaming volcano of baking soda and colored water when my 6 year old wants to play with his science kit.
Or the stupid signs that say, “BEWARE OF THE LEPRECHAUNS”, that instantly transform your front yard into some kind trailer park (no offense to people who might be reading that live in a trailer park). There is so much crap that store, why are people buying it? Why am I buying it? I don't even want to get into the effect on the environment that the manufacture and distribution of all this stuff has. ugh!
I have a bit of a dilemma with the CT Shop 'though, as they do have a good selection of teas AND last week they even had Cadburys chocolate fingers which I could not pass up! Plus, I am trying to break my personal record and spend over $50 there. It seems that, no matter how full or empty my cart, my total expenditure always amounts to about $47.62!
I cant believe that I even passed up IKEA the other day… telling myself, “do I really need any more candles or packs of 100 funky colored paper napkins? No you DON'T!” (But I would like some more of those funky garden lights that resemble a plastic chandelier from two years ago, if they still have them....!)
No, I have to stay away from these places, it’s the only chance I have. Got to stay focused on the essentials for so many reasons, financially, environmentally and now for the sake of my own sanity!
I am not sure if my astrological sign has anything to do with it. (someone please tell me if Capricorns are meant to be pack rats), but all I know is that I have problem with over-buying stuff and what’s worse, never throwing stuff away. I'm afraid I am that person who holds on to the single leather glove for way too many years in the hopes that it’s partner will show up. And I daren’t even mention the cosmetics I hang on to, especially eye shadow “duos”, that just have the one remaining color left in them, the color that you never wore, and will never wear – throw them out! Then there’s craft supplies, wrapping paper, ribbons, shoes, books, magazines …and that’s just a quick ten second list from scanning around the room as I write… there’s the rest of the house to consider… it's overwhelming!
Sometimes I wish I had a teeny tiny house which only had room for just the essentials for modern living (i.e. laptop, cell phone, chocolate and teabags); it’s like my handbag theory, the larger it is the more stuff you pile into it, and therefore the more rummaging time it takes you to look for something in it, (creating an instant "disorganized, un-together person" impression on the checkout lady at the supermarket)…. so why not use a smaller handbag?
What has motivated me to clear some of this physical clutter, is the connection Gail made to the mental stuff. I do feel like my mind is cluttered, and I am definitely looking for some clarity on the road to find my inner Cecilia Smith. So, if I promise to try to get rid of some stuff, will it start to clear the fog in my mind? If this is true, then starting tomorrow (in true procrastinators style) I am going to throw away fifty things, as Gail suggests, and see if it brings me any closer to a clearer mental state.
Forget all these “25 things about me” lists that are going around, (although I do intend to do the, “What my child thinks of me. Interview your child” one which is currently on Facebook).
I am starting my own meme, “50 things I will throw out”, and I don’t just mean odd socks and gloves. I plan to be going in for the bigger stuff. Apparently magazines count as one thing whether you have 10 or 10,000, the same with clothes, (which is a shame because I could knock off the 5o in my underwear drawer alone!), but I’m going to try to do it.
Watch this space, but remember I am a procrastinator, so give me a couple of days to get going okay?!
Purging is very hard but very rewarding - did my closet the other day, all those clothes I have been waiting to be thin again to wear - who am I kidding.....myself! and that is why I threw them away as maybe they are whats keeping me from my goal??
Anyway the kids just walked in fighting so keep on blogging......
Posted by: Jaq | March 21, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Oh, I love this... will you place the meme on facebook? It will be a big hit!!!!!
I am going to write my list already.
Posted by: jessica | March 22, 2009 at 05:58 PM
Jess - you will have to show me how to do it.. i still haven't figured out how to do the "what my kids think about me" one.
And Jaq - the "thin" clothes thing, I still have pre-Noah jeans that my hips will never fit back into....i think we have to face the fact that after kids our bodies change but in a GOOD way!
Posted by: Lexi | March 23, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Lexi, just start a "NOTE" on FB, write the meme you're making up and the rules on top of it.
Just make your own list in that note and tag as many people as you want, who will receive it. At the top of the note you invite them to make a list of their own and tag their friends and family (and tag you back, so you'll read their list). Peak again at the "25 random things about me" list.
It's fun to do these lists. Did you go to www.plinky.com yet?
Posted by: jessica | March 23, 2009 at 11:24 AM