Porch #133 🧺 The Joy of Owning Less Stuff
too many unloved, unnecessary possessions drain the energy out of our spaces with their intrusive, annoying presence
Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or - worse! - stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rUst and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Matthew 6:19-21 {The Message}
Good very very early spring weekend to you, my friends!
When we find ourselves sighing and muttering 'ugh' as we open a jammed, unorganized closet ... or feel oddly immobilized like a deer in the headlights as we gaze into the untended abyss of a dresser drawer, we do ourselves a big favor in taking a deep breath and a few minutes to understand and appreciate what our emotions are whispering to us.
Maybe we're overwhelmed by too many possessions that are worn threadbare or no longer serve their purpose or are connected with unpleasant situations. Perhaps we've been ignoring how certain stiff, tight, baggy, or itchy clothes make us feel ... or have been caught unaware of the reality that our current wardrobe doesn’t match the stage of life we're now living in.
There might be losses, changes, or transitions we need to grieve that passed unnoticed along the way.
Or it might be that we feel guilty at the thought of saying 'farewell' since we invested so much money on stuff we don't actually care about anymore ... or that some of what we really want to get rid of were gifts and we feel oddly like ungrateful betrayers at the thought.
We're wise in acknowledging what is true about what we're discovering and then taking time to thoughtfully figure out next step forward.
Becoming good stewards of our time, energy, and possessions is an ongoing, uniquely personal undertaking, not a one-size-fits-all scenario.
If you’re into decluttering, organizing, minimizing, or creating a bit more margin or white space in your home or your head, here’s a bounty of food for thought:
Becoming Minimalist’s Most Popular Articles
Joshua Becker
Why Organization is the Ultimate Form of Self-Care
Shira Gill
Declutter Your Home: 13 Articles & Challenges to Help You Start
Courtney Carver
I Tried the 90/90 Decluttering Rule in My Closet, and It Created So Much More Space
Ashley Chalmers
11: Wear Better Pants
Emily Freeman
THREE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ BOOKS
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
Joshua Becker
Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living
Tsh Oxenreider
Biblical Minimalism: Following Jesus from a Life of Abundance to a More Abundant Life
Cheryl Smith
{read my review}
Ok, let’s talk! I can’t wait to hear what you’ve experienced, what’s stirring deep inside, and any potential plans that are unfolding in your head …
Linda
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My husband and I were talking about this yesterday. It is time to get rid of what we don’t need or even want. I don’t want our only child having to sift through all of this stuff when we are gone. Cheryl’s book is a great one to read! Thank you, Linda!
Getting married and moving into my husband's home this past year causing some forced decluttering! I still have boxes and containers to go through this summer. My husband helps men through transitions, so we are planning to have an area they can come "shop" (all n/c items) for items they need. I'm hoping some of my things can be passed on to others that are in the stage of life that they need them. Remembering that reduce and reuse come before recycling helps me decide what to buy (or not buy) and what do do with items I no longer require! Great collection of articles!