An epiphany.  This was such an epiphany for me that I began to look at my stuff, my possessions, my clutter and my life.  For the next thirteen years after my mother died, I worked at Craig Hospital, raised my children, and began to read and study. I wanted more information about life and death, why my mother and her mother died so young, and what life had in store for me.  I took a Bible study class with my neighbor and I studied astrology.  I read all Barbara Sher's books on discovering who you are and what you want to be.  For three years, everyday, I read Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy. I devoured the simplicity writings of Elaine St. James: 100 ways to simplify your life, your work, your spirit and Don Aslett's books on clearing clutter.  I finished my master's degree in applied communication and adult training. I read spiritual journey books by Dan Millman and Stuart Wilde, Wayne Dyer and Norman Vincent Peale.  I learned to meditate.  I quit shopping. I started traveling. 

Simplified Interiors.  In August 2002, six months after leaving Craig Hospital,  I went back to school to become a Certified Practitioner of Interior Alignment and started my own business--Simplified Interiors--helping people clear clutter the feng shui way, because clutter clearing is the pre-requisite to all good feng shui. With certification and a master's degree, I began to teach. When the student is ready, the teacher appears--so I taught myself while I taught others.  I continued to read and study and compile information on clutter habits and challenges because I wanted to understand this whole clutter thing, this desire to have a lot of stuff, and then why I bought and collected and saved.  Over time I realized I was living a more simplified life.  From reading and quotes, listening, being aware of others and myself, working with clients and learning from them, thoughtful introspection, and journaling I was gaining a more clear perspective on physical things versus spiritual things. 

The FIRST important thing I learned: The definition of clutter.  The word "clutter" derives from the Middle English word 'clotter' which means to coagulate.  If I wanted to get unstuck and move forward, I had to get rid of the clotter.  The books define clutter as: anything you do not love, use or need; too much stuff in too small a space; stuff that is messy or disorganized;  postponed decisions or unfinished projects; and nagging obligations or suspicious 'shoulds'. And this includes PAPER!  Magazines and articles and newspapers and print outs and recipes and letters and memos.  It's clutter if you don't love, use or need it, if it's too much stuff in too small a space, and if it's messy or disorganized!