Do I always turn to Regina Brett for inspiration? No. Have her observations and life truths resonated with me? You bet. Will I ever get sick of blogging my personal reflections to her life lessons? I hope not.
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. -Regina Brett
This morning, I talked a little bit about chores so it’s not a coincidence to hear about how much stuff I have. Don’t worry; I’m not remotely close to being a hoarder. Garbage, things with holes in them (usually), and pieces of paper I’m sure I’m never going to be able to use again can go. But everything else is not a struggle, but a conversation. Admittedly, these are conversations I don’t have with myself too often, “Do I really need a drawer full of stationary?” “Is the one more use I’m going to get out of this Halloween costume in the next ten years worth storing it?” “Do you have plans for these fake pearls from a necklace that broke a year ago?”
The answer is always no. Then, without complaint but perhaps a pout, I discard the item. The helpful aspect of apartment living is that I’m having these conversations more often, but I wish I could have them before the loose item gets stashed somewhere. It would make moving a whole lot easier.
I’m not a gypsy either, but I have lived in six places in three years. That’s enough to make anyone a little scattered. I also suspect this contributes for my irrational need to hang on to pretty useless yet sentimental things- I haven’t really called a place home until this past year. Even then, I knew it was only for a year. My being is going to take the biggest sigh of relief September 1 when I am in a place indefinitely; my light at the end of the tunnel.
As I pack this time around I’m getting ruthless, and it feels good. I put on a pair of backless black heels for work today. Before I walked in I changed into a pair of grey heels I had in the car that I liked better. I thought to myself “I’m not even going to out those black heels back in my closet, they’re going to Good Will.” I cannot tell you how many necklaces, bracelets, and earrings I had that hadn’t been worn in years, YEARS. Out, damned spots clutter! Out I say! Good Will is my saving grace because I just know this stuff will go to someone whose style aesthetic it will suit.
I’m the Queen of Piles, well, I’m the Princess of Piles. I say that because I’m pretty certain I picked this trick up from Mother Dearest. I am not quick to place blame, but I remember how my house felt like a home growing up and not a museum. When I say that, the image that comes to mind is the pile by the door of mail, notes, magazines, etc.
How do people have houses that actually look like this when visitors aren’t coming over?!
I mean, this is my desk at the given moment. My life laid out- never sterile, never quiet, and always active.
As we gradually move my things to their final destination I owe it to myself to only deem “useful, beautiful, or joyful” worthy of the trip.
What are some of your strategies for keeping on useful, beautiful, or joyful things in your life?
When you have a pile of jewelry you want to unload, key me know!