Here is a picture of the room officially known as my bedroom. This was taken after I tidied it up a lot.
I must admit most of the stuff will go back into my closet when the workman is done there, and it was jerked out in a hurry to avoid moisture damage, but still this mess is terribly distressing.
In our previous place we had a LOT more things, yet everything seemed to have a place thanks to a dedicated utility room with lots of shelves. Combine that with lots of closet space and we had it made!
This spaciousness served only to hide the fact that we have too much stuff. How much stuff do two people need anyway???
She's a kid, so she's going to have toys. I'm a geek so I'm going to have computer junk. We're both females so we're gonna have clothes and shoes galore no matter how hard we pare down, yet this is getting ridiculous!
I look at this room and wish I had some of those organizers from that hoarding show. I wish they would come in and help me deal with this mess that is my bedroom...and the mess that is my kitchen.. and the mess I'm afraid to look at in the building outside....
A fresh pair of eyes and a strong pair of arms to go through this junk though part of me wants to just chuck it all--but how can I toss the papers from my parent's funerals?
My children who are now adults can perhaps take over the care of their baby photos which will help, but just seeing these things all piled up really affected me today...Somehow, some way I have got to reduce my possessions... before they drive me insane....
I went back in there and worked on it some more.. It is a lot better, but has a ways to go.
How is it that we have so much stuff, yet feel the need to add even more to our lives?
I do not believe I will buy any clothing for a while. While my closet was not overflowing it was tightly packed, and I have clothes that I have forgotten I owned.. It is time to re-think my wardrobe. I definitely do NOT need to purchase any liquid potpourri until I use up what I already have, not including the surplus of bleach pens I purchased some time ago on ebay...
I am going to explore this evernote program to see if it will help corral the paper and memories so that I can pass some of that out of my life....
What is sad is the fact that people come to my house and they look at all facets of it, and they tell me I don't have enough stuff, yet these piles tell me a much different story...
This is why I pursue simplicity. I want the ability to know what I have and where I have put it--know what I need and want and know what I can do without. I want the peace and security of knowing that someone can walk into the most private areas of my home unexpectedly without it being an embarrassment to me...
Yes, the sight of this room embarrasses me, yet here I am posting it for the whole world to see. Why am I doing this?
Because I want to do better. I know I can do better. And I know that I am not alone.
What do you have that embarrasses you? Do you have a room like this one? What are you doing to fix it? Send me before and after photos--even before and during photos--and tell me your story. I'll feature you on this blog so that you can be an inspiration for others to simplify their lives.
Simplicity and minimalism do not HAVE to be about getting rid of everything, but let's be honest--we can all afford to pare down our possessions.
Let's do this.