We got everything packed and moved this weekend.
It wasn’t fun. At all.
Today I was going to write all about the chaotic challenges of packing and moving. But the words just wouldn’t come. So I’m going down a different path and sharing a revelation I had after the move.
I need to simplify my life.
I have way too much Stuff.
This dawned on me as I watched box after box go into the uhaul truck. We use 20% of our Stuff 80% of the time. Just like our clothes. And frankly, I just don’t have the time or energy to take care of that other 80%.
Stuff to dust. Stuff to clean. Stuff to store. Stuff you put on top of other Stuff. Stuff to find. Just way too much Stuff.
Of course, a lot of our Stuff is seasonal or holiday, just like clothes.
But a lot isn’t. It’s just . . . well, Stuff.
Lots and lots of Stuff.
One of the basic tenets of feng shui is that everything has a vibration, and that vibration affects you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said this in classes and written it in articles.
That’s why it’s so important to only have things in your home that
- you love, or
- you need
Otherwise, it’s just Stuff. Junk. Clutter.
After I closed the door on my favorite house for the final time, I wondered how I got so much Stuff.
I blamed it on the fact that I’ve been living between 2 houses for 18 months. I blamed it on being a caregiver for 5 years. I blamed it on not having enough time to stay on top of my house.
Then I quit blaming. I decided I just need to move forward. I need to simplify. I need to either love or need the items in my home and get rid of the excess Stuff.
And that’s not easy for me. I’ve justified it by saying I’m a creative person. I’m an artist. I work out of my home.
But it’s just justification for too much Stuff.
Don’t get me wrong – I realize I can’t simplify my life overnight. Otherwise I would’ve gotten rid of all the excess last weekend when I moved.
It took this emotional move for me to realize how cluttered my life, my home, my thoughts have become.
I now realize that it will be an ongoing process.
A journey.
That’s another thing I always tell my feng shui students. It’s a lifelong journey.
Now it’s time me to open a new door and start a new journey.
And remind myself that every journey starts with one step.
Of course, I’ll share each step here.
Preach it! I have half a garage going to a yard sale this weekend full of stuff we have kept for some reason or another that we don't use! Good luck on your new journey!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you posted about this! We recently moved into a house MUCH bigger than our last, yet I still have too much stuff for it! It's unreal!
ReplyDeleteI've also liked reading your stuff about feng shui. I seriously need to declutter and make my house full only of things I love and need!
Good for you!!
ReplyDeleteWe moved about a year and a half ago, and we threw away a ton of 'stuff'. Well, gave it to goodwill. My house might be empty, but I'm not just buying 'stuff' to fill it...I'll wait until something speaks to me or I can make what I want.
Good luck with your journey!
Thanks for the support! It's not easy, but I'm committed!
ReplyDeleteJess - I actually did a garage sale a few months ago - but not nearly enough sold. While we were packing, a lot of people drove up, thinking we were having a sale. I told them to Take It All!!!
Whimsy - I'm working on a 'follow-along' feng shui plan. Maybe once a week, I think. Where people can make simple adjustments each week.
Kara - sounds wonderful! That's what I want to do too! Only have things around me that I truly love!