So the kitchen reno project is (hopefully) coming to an end--this is the end of week 5 and the kitchen is functioning with little bits still to be done. And all the art/decorating decisions to come! Anyway, this week has been about the Reload. It turns out, of course, that doing this requires a complete rethink about what goes in the kitchen--just like a move really--and that of course means finding places for things in other rooms and that of course means cleaning closets! I have now cleaned ALL my closets, and it feels great!
In this process, I was really confronted (again) with how much I have been a hoarder/archivist, and even worse, how I have been keeping things "just in case" that have never been useful or beautiful and will likely never be either. Kept because well, I ought to, or a family member gave them to me, or whatever. I also realized that all these decades of working put me on the back burner, and having closets that were chaotic messes kept me stressed and always feeling that I wasn't doing enough.
SO, rethinking everything. Taking everything out (as recommended by Marie Kondo in The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up), putting like with like, only keeping what I actually like/can use now. Separating things in prime real estate from things in (reasonable) inventory--like big packs of paper towels now on the basement shelves. It feels so awesome! Like a whole new house!
This would be a good time to link to some favorite blogs and other resources on decluttering and simplification:
Becoming Minimalist
Zen Habits
Slow Your Home
Clutter Busting with Brooks Palmer
My bookshelf on decluttering, simplification and other good stuff
I've done a lot of reading, but I didn't really understand the amazing benefits and emotional clarity until I Did The Work!
