The era we grew up in has a profound influence on our relationship with things:
Depression era folks save for a future need when hard times may return.
Post-War era, parents want more for their children than they had.
Baby Boomers just want more, period.
Children of Boomers have more than they need, so have no problem throwing things away, they can always get another one.
This is an over simplification, of course, but does shed some light on why letting go of things is more difficult for some. The good news is that the benefits of clearing out things that you don’t use or love far outweight the inconvenience of having to replace something down the line.
If you haven’t already, you may want to review the steps to begin clearing clutter from Part 1 of this series. After sorting into piles of similar things, you will take the next step toward letting go: purging. You pick up one item and ask the 5 Q +Magic Q to determine what you will KEEP.
As you are ruthless with each pile, you see that you don’t need 13 nail clippers, or the construction paper your grown kids never used. Not only are you making the space YOU need, you allow unused items to have a new purpose.
REUSE – Thinking outside the box can result in creative storage containers or alternative uses for belongings. For example: check book boxes as drawer dividers, a flower pot as a kitchen utensil holder.
RECYCLING – saves the natural resources that were expended to make the product.
GIVE – a grateful friend, relative, or neighbor who has a need for the item gets to use it for FREE.
DONATE – the same as give, except you don’t have a face for the happiness you bring to someone else.
Are you catching a vision of all the positive benefits for you, for others, for the environment as a result of letting go? Once you know that trimming down possessions is a good thing, it becomes much easier. The result for you is a simple, organized, and sustainable lifestyle… priceless!
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