There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth. -Leo Tolstoy
I have started this year out differently. The plan is to go through my entire home and reflect on the things that I own. To make sure that I am surround by things that give me joy. So I will hold every object that I own and if it does not make my heart go pitter patter out it goes.
I want to reduce what I own so that I am not burdened with stuff. This was easy when we moved every two years. Tougher now that we have lived in our home for 16 1/2 years.
And finally I want to deep clean and renew my environment. Once this process is done, then I will decide on longer term goals. So far I have cleaned out two bathroom closets and my entire kitchen. Yep every cabinet and my pantry and it also now also sports new shelf paper. I even went through my spices! I cannot tell you how uplifting this felt.
One New Year's day, I read the life-changing magic of tidying up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo. This book is a best seller in Japan, Germany and the UK. She did not share anything that I did not already know but it was an excellent reminder. Her point "when we really delve into the reasons for why we can't let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear of the future" has given me much food for thought as I go through the process.
My dad died in March. He promised many times that he would leave things in good shape because his legal guardian did not. Well, my dad did not live up to his promise. I know that want to be surround by things that give me joy and I certainly do not want to leave my children with the burden of dealing with my stuff. How about you?
