Packrat to Minimalist-ish

Packrat to Minimalist-ish

I had a candy bar wrapper collection that I used to store in a cigar box that I had painted when I was a kid. They were not my cigars, just the box, so stop your judgy-mcjudgester ways, my friend. I had receipts from a decade long gone, a swim cap from sixth grade, sealed together from the 15+ triple digit summers it had endured in my garage. My closet was full of clothes that I never wore. The walls were saturated with art that I did not like. We had 40 bath towels, well over half ready to become rags. Chipped mugs, plates, and broken sippy cups and bottles filled my overflowing kitchen. This packrat thing was my normal. I had always been this way. I still do not remember what prompted change. One day, I just started.

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There was a summer where we were frustrated because we wanted to have another baby (you can read more about that here) and I was determined to prepare our lives in a million ways for what we were praying so fervently for. All of the preparations and changes were good, regardless of the size of our family or how it would eventually grow. One of the changes was decluttering. I called it “Project Organization” because giving difficult things a name (and yes, a hashtag, sue me), made it easier for me to see it through. When I began, I had no idea how deep the problem ran. It was as if it was not a problem, in my mind, because I managed to shove everything into cabinets, drawers, under beds, and in closets. It was “organized” if it fit. My big “aha” moment came the eightyith time I was trying to organize the same thing and realized I needed less stuff. As it turns out, when there was less stuff, it stayed cleaner and more organized longer (yay! Because who on Earth wants to/is able to reorganize all the things once a week). Again, not sure which thing I was going through when I had my aha moment, but it was real. And changed my whole perspective.

Now, maybe you are an organizing boss. ***Insert high-five and a scheduled coffee date so I can pick your brain and learn your magical ways, you kind unicorn*** But, if like me, growing up in a Pinterest-organizing-hac free world has brought about a few too many items weighing you down, I want to invite you to grab a cuppa joe and chat with me. This is a judgement free zone. I am not on the other side of this yet, sister, just maybe a little farther along in the journey.

 

Packrat of the Past

Now, I would not necessarily call myself a minimalist. But, when I cleared my kitchen counters of everything but the coffee pot and fruit basket, I had a dear, life-long friend over, and she saw my kitchen and gasped, asking, “What’s all this?! Where is the stuff? Are you a minimalist now?” No. I did not think I was? I did not feel the need to label my quest for less, at least. But, it got me thinking about minimalism and here is what I liked:

There is a Spiritual Component

Having less means wasting less. Having less means caring for what you DO have well. Fixing instead of replacing.

Less to clean. Man, I am pretty sure that is a mic drop statement and I do not need to say any more on that front.

You can give your excess away or sell it to help reach financial goals. I sold a lot of stuff, really cheap. Two massive yard sales and Facebook marketplace groups helped, and some just went straight to thrift store donation lanes.

I kept thinking of Jesus sending out his disciples with nothing. Telling them not to bring an extra tunic or walking stick (Matthew 10:9-10). Geez. Well, if they can travel by foot for long distances and only have the clothes on their back, I think my family can survive with fewer towels and I can surely ditch the damned candy bar collection that my fourth grade, chocolate-obsessed mind thought was, “like, the best idea ever.”

The Mental Side

After dealing with depression and anxiety with my pregnancies (you can read a little more on that here), I found that physically removing things helped remove mental baggage, too.

Since it lightened my daily chore list, I was less overwhelmed. I quickly began to see that at the end of this journey, I would be able to manage daily tasks with greater ease. I mean…I still have a sink of dishes and laundry to do each day. But, it is easier to clean a space because everything has a home and purpose now.

The reality of my lightened load helps me to release anxiety, feel more in control (which is NOT bad thing in this context, y’all), and provide a clean and organized environment for my family.

The Kids Liked It, Too

Like I mentioned, we only had one kiddo when my declutter-fest began, but we have since added to our tribe. Organizing the kids room or toys in new ways makes them feel like they are all brand new toys. This is every time, you guys. They ALWAYS play more when their stuff is organized and there is not as much of it. Go figure. The proof is in the pudding, though.

Minimalist-ish Superheroes

So, decluttering is one of my mommy goldmines. It is one of my woman of God goldmines, too. And if you have more than a few areas that are full and chaotic, start with one. Just move through one drawer or shelf at a time. Eventually, you will realize you did a whole pantry, closet, or room. You will feel your perseverance-Queen Cape flying in the wind. We shall wear our capes together and it will be glorious. Superhero high-fives all around.

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