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One Question to Ask When Decluttering Your Home

by | Home | 2 comments

Change: It's A Good ThingDecluttering is in full-swing at the Baker’s house. Maybe it’s the excitement of the move, or the adrenaline of the unknown, or the simple fact that I can’t find squat that makes this particular decluttering effort seem more successful.

As I began sorting through clothes, paperwork, and yes, even books, I began asking myself one question:

“How will I FEEL the moment I see this item when unpacking it at the new house?”

Talk about changing one’s perspective! This one question Is freeing me both emotionally and physically. If I knew a particular item wouldn’t spark joy the moment I spotted it when unpacking in our new home, it was placed in one of three places: Goodwill, consignment, or trash. It was an immediate score. Woot Woot!

In the past, we’ve hauled the entire contents of one house to another, assuming we’d one day go through all the boxes. Not this time. We’re now going through everything before it’s packed away. Last week, I took two totes to consignment, five totes to Goodwill, and tossed 8 bags of trash. Oh, the freedom!

Yes, the process of ridding ourselves of clothes that have worn out their welcome and tossing papers with scribbles from long ago is freeing, but it still boggles the mind as to how we got here.

At one point during last week’s mission it occurred to me that much of the clutter was due to procrastination on our part. It always seemed easier to find a spot for something, say, next week. Until then, any flat surface would do. Especially if it’s a book. Or a notebook. Or fountain pens. Okay, I digress. But you get the point.

During this frenzied season of decluttering and preparing for a move, I find that the one question I ask myself while deciding what to pack, or what to toss or share, brings rest to this old soul and a renewed determination to do things differently this time around.

So how do you go about the process of decluttering? Do you have a particular question or mantra that helps you stay focused?

 

Dreamy Writing Spots

by | Faith | 2 comments

One could rephrase a familiar bumper sticker—”Pen’s don’t write poems; poets do”—but the pen or pencil or typewriter may have a large role than just recording the writer’s inspirations; it may foster, encourage, or stimulate creativity by its feel or its familiarity.
Try writing in a different place than usual—a kitchen, a porch, an attic or basement, a diner, an airport, a library, a vacant stadium. -John Drury, Creating Poetry

Do you have a particular pen, ritual or perfect perch responsible for kick-starting your creativity? 

I admit it — I do. Fountain pens, owl-shaped coffee mugs, Pandora music, and comfy writing spots often invite my muse to join in the dance.

One of my favorite Pinterest boards is entitled “Dreamy Writing Spots”. It’s teeming with unique places to write—nooks, crannies, closets, and wide-open spaces. My most recent add is Pier 1 Imports Daisy Outdoor Swingasan™. 

It’s not in my budget, so when I say dreamy, I mean dreamy…but couldn’t you picture yourself curled up in this delightful daisy cave? 

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