Growing up in a generous family there were gifts for every holiday. More was always more! I carried this mindset into college where I met my husband Steve. After graduation, we got married and moved to Washington DC. We were checking off all the boxes: fast-paced careers, new cars, travel and buying a house. All part of the American Dream right? Or so we thought for many years.
The Famous Clutter Comment
I’ll never forget Steve’s comment as we were packing to move into our ‘starter’ home. The Clutter Comment as I’ve called it for over 20 years. It would eventually be the catalyst for my desire to embrace a simpler lifestyle with less.
We owned a large display of 20+ picture frames that showcased our life together. Photographs of family, friends, pets, and travel were neatly arranged (or so I thought) on top of our piano covering nearly every square inch. Steve commented, “It looks so cluttered.”
I Don’t Have Clutter!
WHAT!?! “I don’t have clutter!” I was defensive and embarrassed in my response. I thought of myself as organized and meticulous, but hindsight and old photos prove he was right. In fact, our apartment had stuff everywhere! Like many newlyweds, we thought we had outgrown the space.
Moving to a larger home only masked the problem as I could no longer see the volume of stuff we had amassed in two short years. We installed cabinets that neatly hid my clutter. Years later, I emptied and removed most of them. And I purchased furniture and fixtures I’d rather donate than dust.
In this former life of acquiring stuff, my weekends were spent purchasing, organizing and cleaning. I am now ruthless in my efforts to donate and remove unnecessary items. I’ve learned that the clutter detracts from the life I want to lead.
The Clutter Comment rang true again in 2006 with the birth of our son, but much louder this time. Shopping and organizing pulled my time and attention away from this beautiful little boy and it hit me.
“I don’t want to organize stuff anymore. I just want there to be less of it.”
Letting go of excess stuff freed me from the burden that clutter brings. It’s Simply Enough
In this one life that I get to live……I want less to buy, organize, maintain, clean, replace, and dust. So that I can have more time, space and money to live a life of purpose and intentionality.
Simply Enough is about more than helping you organize your home, it challenges you to live differently.
I hope you’ll join our community and learn to think differently too. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.
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