Minimalist...

As my road to more simplicity moves on, my thoughts lean into becoming a minimalist. Someone asked me the other day if I had the money to have other people do all the things around my house etc. that I needed done, would I still want to down size and minimize? It took me a day or so to really think about it and the answer was yes ~ I would still like everything very simple and minimal. Just thinking about it brings me relief and anticipation. But also a little overwhelmed as all my "stuff" still lingers longing to  be given a new home.

Answer...

"I am the answer someone has been looking for."

As I was going through "stuff" today, trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of, I came across this quote a friend shared with me one time. I'm not sure if it is her original quote or not, but it was just what I needed. I have found myself stuck in a message I don't even know I'm listening to, until something triggers it, like teaching a class about all the things I'm passionate about, and that old tape says, " nobody wants to hear what you have to say." With awareness comes change, and even though I've been aware of this tape before I'm hoping to now replace it with, " I am the answer someone has been looking for!"

Plants...

As I've been going through "stuff", sorting and deciding what to get rid of and what to keep, you really start looking at what I value and treasure. So as I was digging up my blueberry bushes ( even plants I consider "my stuff") to put in portable pots, I realized how much they mean to me. And I just kept looking around saying "oh and I need to dig up that and that." I'll end up with more plants then my actually house hold stuff!

Recycling...

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/website-converts-excess-goods-to-good-deeds.html

One of my passions is recycling. I love to see others trash turn into someone's treasure. One struggle I have when I'm clearing out and getting rid of my "stuff" is trying to figure out who to offer it too. I have a hard time throwing away thing when I know that someone would love the item. There are many options for business and personal that will distribute your belonging to others and I don't allow as much time as I would like to making that happen, so everything sits in my garage waiting. But I am determined to work at that in the days to come. It will be put higher on my priority list, because clearing out and giving feels GREAT!

The "stuff"...

I have been waiting to get back in my garage and start the process of clearing out again. All the projects I had going on are finished and I can once again work on getting rid of and organizing. What a great way to start the new year. It feels so good! I am a person who doesn't like a lot of "stuff" around. But the funny part is I have been surrounded with family members who love to collect "Stuff" or should I say "their stuff collects". Now this is not to say I don't have my own piles around my house. But mine is mostly from laziness and not wanting to take the time to figure out where to put something. I do have to admit that I have a enormous pile of fabric that has collected over the years and I have done very little with it. Part of me is afraid that if I use it I won't be able to get more and another part is overwhelmed with where to even start. That is one of my goals this year is to make something with all the material until it is gone. I have always believed that clearing out allows more room for abundance to flow freely. And my challenge is to allow those around me to find what works for them and their "stuff". My middle son finally decided to go through his "stuff" and said he was amazed at how much can accumulates that he didn't even care about anymore.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A new year...

For the past few years I have been slowly moving people as well as things in and out of my life. My two car garage has been a holding space for a lot of "stuff" over the years and has never been used to house a car. As this new year rolls around I am looking forward to dumping some things, selling others, giving away and opening lots of space for continued good things and people to come flooding in. And maybe even put my car in the garage for the first time in almost 20 years. There is joy to be found in reorganizing and replacing, a new welcoming of more peace and less chaos. I want to embrace the process and see it as a new chapter that I can write in my book of life.

All is Well...