blog is a many splendored thing

I’ve had some time to myself this morning.   I’ve done some reading, watched a few YouTube videos, and looked at my “multipurpose” room with a critical eye.   It’s been restful, educational, and illuminating.   One of the things I noticed when I was looking around my room was the poster I shared today.   My mom gave me this poster at least 50 years ago; if you look at the picture closely you can tell that it’s yellowed and that I’ve taped the edges with clear shipping tape to keep it from tearing.   She knew, even when I was a child, that I had a clutter problem.     When I was young, mom would let it go just so far and then she would take control and do something about the clutter.   I can clearly remember, even taste, the anger (rage) of coming home to find that she had gone into my bedroom and thrown away my things.    As I got older she nagged, shamed, blamed, denied privileges, grounded me, and finally forced me to keep my b...

Today I decided that I would keep an electronic journal of my decluttering journey.   I’m not sure that it’s fit for anyone to read except me; but I think it’s important for me to keep track of my progress so I have a record of my struggles and my success. My dear husband, Ray, hates clutter.   He is a “hider”.   He puts things in drawers and boxes and sometimes forgets where he puts them (sometimes he forgets that he ever touched an item).   I myself would rather have everything out in the open so that eventually my eye will fall upon what I need.   Alternatively, I like having things in labeled containers, drawers, or notebooks so I can find them quickly if/when needed (assuming I’ve taken the time to return them to their assigned spaces). Ray and I have talked, on and off, about setting a timer and working together to declutter our apartment for some time.   We agreed to do it; but we cherish this time together.   Ray doesn’t seem enthusiastic a...

Letting Go and Letting God! Have you ever spent most of your life believing something, I mean firmly believing something, and then in an instant finding something that shook you to the core and made you question your perception of someone, something, or an entire lifetime?   I had that happen to me just this morning. I have been dragging “things” with me as we moved here and there and everywhere (including two cross country moves) for the last 40 years.   Yes, I’ve recently had to admit that am a hoarder.   I never met a piece of paper or a gadget that I didn’t love!    My dear husband and I have committed to decluttering and downsizing for at least 1 hour a day until we can rid ourselves of enough stuff to move across country AGAIN, without the burden of a semi-truck. I found my mother’s Bible in one of yesterday’s boxes.   I got my coffee this morning and sat down with mom’s Bible to look at her handwriting; my mother’s handwriting was, is, beautifu...