Last October, my bloggy friend Marla hosted a “31 Days ofPurging” series. I didn’t actively participate last year, but have come to the point I realize I desperately need to. Our home is currently on the real estate market. My hope is that moving will be fairly easy and painless when our house goes in contract. I fear, however, the big move will be scattered and unnerving.
Add to that a control freak/perfectionist’s worst nightmare – not being able to find something in my house. I try to keep everything in perfect order. Even when everything isn’t tidy (Jay’s fault I promise!), there is still a place for everything and everything in its place.
Picture it – Tennessee, late September. A 30 something woman awakes on a rainy day to get ready for work. Much to her dismay, her one and only umbrella is at the office. Didn’t I buy a new one just a few weeks ago? She thinks to herself. Where did I put those sunglasses I got the same day? She wonders. In her search, she finds part of her sister’s birthday present in the closet. CRAP! I finished her pressie off the same day.
I have searched my house and have been unable to find the following: 1 brand new pair of sunglasses, 1 brand new umbrella, 1 brand new _______ (just in case she’s reading this). Sounds like an episode of hoarders if you ask me. I’ve got so much stuff, I can’t find what I need. Its honestly not that bad, but still unacceptable to me.
Lucky for me, we’re starting a new month today. For the month of October I pledge to:
· Purge 1 clothing item per day
· Purge 1 non-clothing item per day
· Sort through what I have and put what I’m keeping in working order
· Pack up seasonal items that won’t be needed until after we’ve moved into the cabin
· Re-evaluate my purchases. Spending is a big part of the “too much stuff” equation.
Care to join me?
jaime said:
I may just have to join you on this one. 🙂 I emptied FIVE boxes from our garage yesterday. Five!!! And I barely put a dent in the boxes that are still in there from our move in Dec. 2008. Goodwill is going to be receiving so much stuff…
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Mari said:
The first part of this sounds like me. I pick things up, put them somewhere and then can't find it. 🙂
I need to do some purging too!
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Marla Taviano said:
This THRILLS me.
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{amy} said:
This sounds like a great idea! I might join you in the purging. If I clean out my garage & get rid of a few things at one time, does that count for a few days?! As for the clothes, I know I have stuff I don't wear. I'm afraid to get rid of them, though. I don't know how many times I've gotten rid of a shirt only to want it a month later… Maybe I should turn my fall/winter hangers backward & commit to truly getting rid of the items I don't wear during this time??
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Brooke said:
that's what i plan on doing – i know i'll be too busy to get to it every day, so i'm more committing to purging 31 X 2 items.
as for the hanger thing – i think that's a great idea. size fluctations aside, if you don't wear it ALL season, you {I} need to get rid of it.
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Penny said:
How cool! I need to do those first two REALLY bad…
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