September 24th, 2024 – Happy National Punctuation Day! How will you celebrate?? (wow, they were scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with that one, weren’t they?)
Current musings:
Decluttering is hard. Period. But it is also so incredibly REWARDING.
It’s both about finding things to release AND re-discovering things you love (and even forgot about)! I’ll argue that it’s as much about the latter as the former!
Today’s message is designed to inspire and empower you to tackle some guilt clutter. Ready?
On my most recent donation trip to my happy place (AKA Austin Creative Reuse), I wandered the aisles of this crafting thrift wonderland just to deepen my knowledge (and appreciation) of the vast and varied inventory they collect, curate, organize and set out for selling. It’s truly a wonder in there!
While I’ve always known they had a section for everything dolls, surprisingly it had never occurred to me that I, too, could donate my old doll clothing and accessories there…until this last trip. So, I mentally noted that I was going to pull out my very own doll “doom box” and see what was in there.
This past Sunday, I steeled myself and then released the beast out of the attic!!
Eeeeek!!! What did I find???
Not only were there dolls, but also multiple bags of VINTAGE Barbie clothes, an extensive collection of doll house furniture, a handful of pristine beach seashells likely from Virginia Beach circa 1978-82, and an aluminum tea set that my friends and I played with all the time back in the day!
I immediately texted pics to my two closest childhood friends and ahhhh what a nice exchange of memories we shared over the items. Old school cherished joys. What a gorgeous trip down memory lane it was!
Several of the items certainly showed age and might even be too damaged from decades of neglect, but I weeded through, tossed the worst, and packed it all up to go donate to ACR on my next (already scheduled!) donation day. I’ll donate the tote as well! Yay me!!!
So, the decluttering was a amazing, of course, because it was quite a large tote taking up a big space in my storage area…but the REAL WIN was re-discovering the three precious items I DID keep.
One doll. One shell. One tiny tea set on display for my enjoyment. NO MORE GUILT!
Now, instead of a gross old scary Doom Box, I have a plan for it to go to the next owner AND a sweet display for me to enjoy! Win-win!!
Here’s my message: I encourage you to be open to the process of decluttering as a discovery. You will absolutely reduce the inventory greatly (a must!), but you will also find things you actually need, thought you lost, or forgot you missed! Like little old treasured friends.
What doom box awaits you in your closet/attic/storage area??
Do not be afraid. Only pull out ONE.
Truth Bomb: You’re not honoring those things by keeping them in a dusty box where they are slowly disintegrating, FYI!
Guess what?? Good news! You could even bring yours to our always free Thursday online decluttering workshop! It’s all about taking the time to do it, with friends who get it!!
Elsa and I can’t wait to see you on Thursday!
Register for Digital Decluttering With Friends!
Check out our consistent and kind accountability group!
