Now, to be perfectly clear, we are NOT moving.  

However, I'd just helped a couple friends move and got overwhelmed with the sheer amount of STUFF that they had.  They gave away a lot, but still moved stuff that they didn't mean to move into the new house.  So WHY do you keep things THAT YOU WOULDN'T MOVE if you moved ???   

So, I decided to clear out stuff that I don't use.  I came home and started working on our kitchen, drawer by drawer, cabinet by cabinet.  We had too many sets of dishes.  I have a set that I never use, because it's too nice.  Deep red glass.  I love that set, but don't use it, so I put it in the giveaway box.   

Then I thought - why am I keeping and using the dishes that I don't like instead of using and enjoying the dishes that I love?  So I gave away the cheaper dishes and we use the red ones regularly now.  I'm much happier because I have a lot of space in the cabinets, don't feel as crowded, and USE something that I really like.    

One of my sisters lives by "Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful."  I love that.

After I got back from a visit to her home, I started going through our house.  Simplifying, giving away, selling, fixing stuff.  

And then, I started doing THE HARD WORK - going  through other things in my life, like my relationships.     

And I don't just mean physical clutter.

3 clutter-reducing guidelines:

1) 1 year rule:   

If you haven't used it in one year, really consider whether you want to keep it. 

Loaded statement:  regardless of what you paid for it. Sometimes you keep things around just because you paid a lot and can't get the original value out of it now.  So now what?  You're going to store it or keep moving it around forever? 

2)  Is it functional?  Does it still work?   

If not, either fix it or get rid of it.  You may keep things, meaning to fix them.  Then you just have a bunch of broken things around.  

3) Sentimental items: 

There are some things that have value far beyond their "actual value."  If it's sentimental because of a loved one, consider only keeping a few things that most strongly remind me of that person.

What do you have in your life that is a mess, or crowded or gathering dust? Could be actual clutter.  Could be that you're involved with too many groups or organizations.  Some of you have a family or friend relationship that needs a little cleaning out.   

For a lot of you, it's a conversation you need to have.  Something you've been meaning to say, and somehow never get around to it.  If you or that person died tomorrow, would there be things left unsaid?  If so, consider cleaning that up.   

Take a look at what's weighing you down.  

Why do you keep it around?  Is it serving you?   

What could you do differently so that you don't keep carrying that clutter?

What ONE BABY STEP  

are you going to take this week?   

One drawer?  One room?   

A good look at your priorities vs. your schedule?   

One conversation?   

A love note to someone?

Clean Springing - Make your life full of the useful, beautiful, and joyful.  Clear and clean your life so that you can SPRING - keep moving forward.     

 Springing -  Ana-Christina