Day 1 1/9/10 Count Down Begins -Get Organise

I Desire  A Clutter Free Life.

Even though I started each day with a to do list, I used to be in a mess and full of confusion.I couldn't find pens, documents,keys you name it.This confusion caused lateness and I had to make excuses. Most organise people just do not have any empathy for people like me, we frustrate them.They  have every right to feel the way they do, they are always on time,they do what ever to finish assignments on schedule. They  flourish in life.  When my husband used to say, if I plan things would go better,I would get irritated because I did plan.  He can't dwell in untidiness,and gets upset if anyone enters the home with shoes on.With me it is different,a place that is  clean from germs,but a liitle choas won't kill us.We quarrelled  for a piece of tissue paper on the floor, clothing, toys etc.He always  say I do not have to general clean everyday.My belief was we are living in the house so it will get dirty,  just clean and do not argue about it. His way is to  put back,do not let crumbs fall,wipe little spots as you go and  general clean weekends.He cleans up very fast too.I am always rearranging,cleaning and packing, filing  bills and statements . I  even researched how to  organise bathroom, living room, bedroom,kitchen etc . I would start but  return to my old ways .


Clutter and  organising are  enemies, I think I understand how easy it is to get to the stage of  compulsive hoarding.Thank God for my parents and husband, who can clean up, throw and give away in a flash.Who do not like people to walk into their home with shoes on.They have pushed,and fought with me to  get rid of stuff. My husband would glance at a page, roll it up and throw it in bin. A friend of mind gives away her bags, clothes and shoes every year and replaces them.She is not rich or has plenty clothes.I just could not do that, looking back to when I was a teenager I had a high cut, cotton, green  under ware, it fitted just right,it was faded, the crotch disappeared and  so I made another.I am what we commonly call a pack rat.



Pack rats everywhere are having a ball,with the go green drive, for the environment.It is very good to make the three Rs, reuse,reduce and recycle , a part of our everyday lives, but remember we must  use within a certain time. If we don't, it becomes  clutter and the environment will not benefit.The longer we hold on to stuff, the more we get attached.Many  think hoarders are just nasty,lazy and crazy people.Some hoarders even despise other hoarders, I think all hoarders have an  incredible amount of creativity,sensitivity and tenderness but sad to say these become lost due to obsession. Compulsive hoarders do not have control over things, they bond with them.This super bond  consumes them and they loose sight of themselves.I still have a barrel I put plastics bags, and now paper bags I get from grocery shopping. I tried to get into taking my own bags and the people look at me as if I am crazy, my husband too.I have to let go of them too, I just can not use them up fast enough.

Watch out for these  excuses we make, not enough storage,space,have to buy more clothes because of too little time for laundry,have to get a bigger house, this was gift from so and so,those are my children's baby things,it is still good to use,this is too expensive to give away or throw away and there is a story for everything .To heal, I have to learn to reason and let go. It is feels  great to be free from this type of bondage but it didn't  start over night,it will take time ,and it takes work.   


I no longer want  to see a lot around me. I want an organised home, that speaks peace.I am leaning more  to a minimalist life style,this kind of  designed house really specks elegance for me these days. To get there  I have established some areas that I always need to attend to such as  laundry and fridge.Laundry is now taken care of as it fills the laundry basket and I sort as I go.Sometimes I'd do a load a day or every other day, it depends. I do not allowed laundry to overwhelm me anymore,we fold and put away  as soon as they are dried.I allow my children to help too.I do not have to do everything.Delegating is helping me a lot, I have to remember I have love ones who are willing to help but only when asked. Ah!.The fridge is another clutter area,I plan meals with what I have on hand and only buy for menus planed. I waste less,left overs are turned into stew or soup.Plate scraps I feed to the fish in a canal behind me. I try not to cook too much, but my husband eats  seconds.  I am now  able to throw out at least five things everyday, other than kitchen waste.I think this is  a very good therapy for hoarders, look for things to to give away or just throw away.Keys I put them one place every time, paper is still a big issue for me. Bills,statements and receipts those on filed I need to keep within a time fame to throw out when necessary.Used books with pages missing, used envelopes with my To Do List I have to do the same. I am still  afraid, I will need them sometime.I am presently working on the motto less paper, more work.My children are  shaking out and giving away clothes,toys etc. They do not have plenty that should be a breeze eh,but it isn't for pack rats.


If for nothing else, we must fix this behaviour of storing things for our children, we  pass it on to them.My husband and other organised people I do not call neat freaks anymore.I used to but not to their face.Now I just want to embrace the power of organising. An organised  home really keeps the head clear and reduces stress.The way forward for us is a clutter free life.