– by Carell-Ayne Whalen –
Did you know that Noah Webster (creator of America’s first dictionary) was a man driven by his obsession and compulsions? Clutter was one of them. Stay with me, as I share a few more.
Aspirational Clutter. This is where plenty of unnecessary purchases make me feel better.All those beautiful books decorating my coffee table. Yet, I have never read one of them. And what will I do with those Ping or Nike golf clubs that I purchased after only one golf lesson?
Clutter without Storage. Benjamin Franklin used the phrase: “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Those nasty books, magazines and newspapers stacked up for further reading are definitely not “in their own place.”
Trash Masquerading as Clutter. We all have one: a decorative box that sits on a shelf, counter, or top drawer filled with items you don’t have anywhere else to put.
Bargain Clutter. Yep, this is me: can’t resist a good Flea Market, garage sale or auction. After being in the antique business for several years, I have collected some “great finds.” And yet, to this day, I still don’t know their value.
Abundance Clutter. I have friends that are stocked up for any event, be it earthquakes, wedding, those occasions that require an “extra gift,” and all other special events. Or there’s the folks (including myself) that keep stacks of cookbooks … which we haven’t even opened to read the recipes.
Want to be clutter-free? Try this recipe.
1. Start slowly. Just 10 minutes, the first day. One day, one item at a time. Half an hour the next day. One room at a time. Sort through the piles of magazines, newspapers and books. Love it, lose it or laugh at it!
2. Ask for help. I finally bit the bullet and asked my girlfriend. Believe me, this woman is ruthless. She is not related or passionate about “MY” stuff. The reward? A good meal, great wine and good conversation works every time.
3. Purge “techie clutter.” Get rid of the orginal boxes. Just keep cords, batteries and remotes. This is the age of technology and as soon as you purchase it it becomes obsolete.
4 Don’t worry about perfection. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to throw away.”
Now contemplate this one: Albert Einstein used to say “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
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