So I have been a busy bee lately. I am currently on summer break and while I would love to read all day and lounge in the sun (ok, maybe I did that for a couple of weeks already) I am feeling an urgent need to simplify life.
Let’s be honest, things can get harry sometimes. For me that looks like a wild woman running around 9.7 acres trying to keep 2 cows, 20 chickens, 4 goats, 5 cats, 1 dog, 3 kids and 1 husband from destroying everything. Yeah, you can see how well that might work. So I have started clearing the clutter in a major way. Like, they know I’m coming to the thrift store EVERY. DAY. (to donate, not shop)
I’ve decided to keep only what is useful in my life RIGHT NOW. Not in a few years or even a few months. I do have seasonal things but I’m not holding onto the “just in case” items. No more unfinished projects lying around. Not more “maybe it will fit me” or “it was such a great deal”. If it doesn’t add value to my life in some way it’s out the door!
Guess what I found in those closets and boxes? Stuff that I never wanted in the first place! Weird right? Who in their right mind would even bring this stuff home? Um…..this girl! I am always on the look out for a project and I have found that my creative nature sees the possibility in EVERYTHING. This is all well and good when you want to remodel or maybe repurpose something, not so great when you are taking a slow meander through a yard sale and you are chock out of storage.
In the past week I have taken an average of 3 bags to the thrift store every day. That may not seem like a lot but remember this is DAILY for a weeks worth of days. I have also filled the large trash can outside 3 times. It holds about 6 bags of trash and we usually have at least 2 bags of garbage in a week.
The result? I feel so much lighter. I can see what I have and what is important to me. I don’t feel overwhelmed or weighted down by stuff. I like my rooms. Every one of them! I can easily find things and get them out because I know just where they are!
We had a real struggle with our move to this new place last year and we have had to just let things be and learn the ‘lay of the land’ for that time. We have done a lot and made many changes but it’s just now starting to feel like home and I am just so thankful for the space of time to get things to a point that I feel like is manageable. I love where I live and I wouldn’t trade it for anything but this girl has got to get organized!
Hennekes At Home 