Simplifying

I am organized. I always have been. As a child my room was kept in order, as a youth I actually decluttered my friends rooms for them, as a young adult I pissed off most of my roommates with my need to rearrange and keep things spotless, and today I continue to amaze people who come into my home and see it clean and clutter-free. All I know is I feel calm and clear in a clean space, chaotic and stressed in a messy environment. As I move through my home throughout the day, my habit is to straighten, wipe, put away, and find things I can get rid of.

I love to get rid of things. I feel such a rush when I clear out piles of things from my home. I feel energized and lighter when I let go of things, and more free as I unbind myself from having to stay attached to things I don't like (if I don't like a shirt, for example, getting rid of it gives me freedom to find a different shirt that makes me feel beautiful). Feng Shui says the energized feeling we get from decluttering has to do with clutter keeping our energy stuck, while simplifying allows our energy to move more freely. Not to mention that having stuff means you've got to manage it, deal with it, fix it when it breaks, and find a spot for it.

Makes sense, right? Sure, but what about the times you get cool things for free, like this fun Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker that my husband has been loving using to make fizzy drinks, or this table-top rotisserie I found at the thrift store? These are cool, helpful, unique items to keep and use now and again, yet when I look at them on my counter or taking up a whole shelf I feel the "too much clutter" feeling bubbling inside me. Is it worth keeping around, or is better to keep things simple? How much do I need? How much do I want? My feeling is that simpler is better, but then again that rotisserie keeps our house from heating up in summer, and the soda maker gives us refreshing summer beverages. I'm in a quandry.

Will you help me? Tell me, what would you do? Keep it or let it go? How do you decide?


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