After reading Don Haskell's clutter book I feel I am doing very well at "dejunking" as he would call it. I laughed out loud for several chapters-he is so funny. I liked how he got into all the things people buy for various holidays-although I don't do that. But since moving upstairs I realize how much I like it. I feel like I am sleeping in a hotel and that is because there is nothing in the room except the bed and my clothes. There isn't even anything on the dressers. Yesterday I decided to attack first my closet, giving away several pairs of pants that don't fit right and never will, then went after the closet in the downstairs small bedroom. Threw away a lot of old school papers from my youngest preschool days (he knows how to read and write now so I don't need the evidence), I did save the nice books that the teachers put together, they're more like scrapbooks. Then into the other kids bedroom where I threw out "Trivial Pursuit" it has been sitting in that closet since we moved here and that was in 1993, I feel bad that it was in my son's closet so long and he's now 14 and moving out of the room. I also went under the bed and found a huge box of school papers, including a lot of 3rd grade math (he's in 9th grade now) WHY was it there, I don't even know. Then onto the leappad box. Brought them so much joy in their early school years. Again, memories of oldest son using the little music program when he was 5. Unfortunately could not get the thing to work. Did not throw that all out since I thought my students might like it if I could get it to work. Still doesn't belong in their bedroom. I "gifted" all kinds of preschool games, art supplies, etc. to husband's job where they have a family visiting room. I do much better with clothes and things than I do with my own papers, but it is liberating to actually toss the bags in the garbage, and give other bags to people who might get joy out of them. I liked the Haskell book because it was not so depressing, you could see the humor in your actions.

determined to eliminate paper

Last night I said "throw away 10 pieces of paper" today I said "throw away 10 more" but it is hard to keep up the positive feelings when I see that is not getting me too far. At the same time I feel a certain motivation because if I just do this maybe it won't hang over me for the rest of my days. Clutter prevents you from enjoying anything else. Right now I have rearranged the piles to the floor of my bedroom never a good thing. So I must get them into file folders and into the file box asap.

Seeya!

Would having more time make a difference?

This year I am working part time (not my choice) but yet I have accomplished less. I thought in September that working part time would enable me to completely get the house in order. Not so, because I am living through a construction project that will never end. I have actively avoided being in the house most afternoons because I can't stand to be there with the workers present. It feels like I am living in their house. If I go home and they aren't there it feels strangely deserted. I need uninterrupted time-no kids, no workers, no place to go-in order to really get organized. At least that's what my mind says. But can I change my thinking to take advantage of 15 minutes here or there to do the real organizing? Not the daily cleanup-I am capable of that. I'm talking about organizing the monster-which is really, if I narrow it down, one area of my life. The paper. Yes, that's really it. Why do I have such a mental block against the paper? I should just do one box at a time. I have completely stopped buying anything unnecessary in the past few years. So all that I really have left is the things that accumulated "before I saw the light"
I will try to tame the paper monster. Really! I'll report back to see how I did.

According to a book I'm reading you either are a cleanie or not. (Her term) She compares it to having an innate talent like singing. You can improve most things if you practice but some things just come naturally to certain people and others have to work harder at it. I know that's true! Last night I conscientiously put away all the clothes, did the dishes left over, put things away that were out finished up and folded laundry only to find that this morning it looks like I have to go around and do the same thing again. Now if I was a true cleanie, I would be doing that instead of writing about the process. Some may say this is a waste of time but tracking the process is keeping me motivated. One problem is I have not taught my children properly but it is not their fault. I feel hypocritical to criticize them when I have not shown them the way. So I must now show them the way by my actions and hopefully they will also learn from my struggle that some things are difficult but we can work through that. I can't take back all the times I yelled and moaned over the mess and their lack of help. I feel guilty about that because I have not given them the tools to manage their belongings. But I'm trying and it's never too late for that.