Have you ever had the experience of being convicted by your own words? I have!
While preparing for my recent “Clear the Clutter!” workshop, I gathered several drawers of “useful junk” from around my house for a sorting exercise. I decided to use one of the items to demo the use of 5 Key Questions to determine: Should it stay or should it go? I grabbed a box of crayons and began to ask:
1. Have I used this item in the past year? NO
I had used two boxes of crayons at a children’s Webkins event. Now I was saving them
for an emergency condo activity with my granddaughter, Melanie – 4 years old, when she came to Columbus to visit.
2. Would it be difficult to get another if I needed it again someday? NO
I could always buy another box.
3. Do I need to keep it for legal or tax purposes? NO way!
4. Do I love it or find it beautiful? NO, well kinda.
Each box does have 64 colors and a built-in sharpener, something I always coveted in my childhood.
5. Will I need it on a definite date in the future? Uh oh! The true answer to this is NO.
Who knows when I will need these crayons? Since I put them aside I learned that Melanie is so used to the bright and bold colors of markers, she thinks crayons don’t work.
In my own words, “If the answer to all 5 questions is “No!”, let it go! (give, toss, recycle, donate)”
As I shared this example, there were several kind souls in my workshop who could see that I did have an attachment to the crayons, and gave me permission to keep them anyway. The interesting thing was, after honestly answering all five questions I knew I could let go. Asking those questions really works! Besides, the crayon shavings kept falling out of the sharpener all over everything… annoying!
Another thing I have learned: God has a sense of humor. I routinely ask attendees if they would like a list of recyclers to make letting go easier. As I prepared to e-mail this resource, one of the entries caught my eye: CRAYONS! LuAnn Foty of Wayzata, MN will recycle broken crayons, see www.crazycrayons.com In her words, “Broken old crayons recycled into new crayons. Crayons are a petroleum product and take years to biodegrade.”
I laughed as I wrote the e-mail to workshop participants letting them know that I would be recycling those two boxes of crayons.
Who knew? For years I threw away my children’s crayons and purchased them new ones again in August. Gathering used crayons might be a good project for grade school teachers and students at the end of the year.
So, crayons – clutter, trash, a childhood wish, a recyclable? Depends on your answers to the 5 Key Questions! Choose your clutter wisely. Let go of the rest.
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