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It's About Time
Ruth Wong
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Put a plan together for de-cluttering and purging
Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places at unexpected times.
One day as I was eating lunch and watching HGTV, I caught the tail end of a decorating program. The homeowner was showing his small condo, which was beautifully and tastefully decorated in contemporary style. What impressed me was that it was small yet totally de-cluttered. He commented, "Although my space is small, there is nothing that I'm lacking."
The words "nothing that I'm lacking" really exploded in my mind, summing up what my objective should be as I de-clutter and purge!
Instead of "How many of these do I need?" or "It's still good" or "This might come in handy one day," my determining question should be, "If I give this away, will I lack?" Most of the time, the answer is, "No, I won't lack, for I still have more than enough!"
Inspired, I began sorting my excess, and with what I thought would take weeks to plow through, I was able to make decisions in just a few hours!
I ended up with a pile of things to donate and a small pile of things to keep. What a good feeling it was to be free of the excess yet know that I was not lacking!
Having this new frame of mind made it easier to part with clothes, for even when I gave away quite a bit, I still wouldn't lack.
This new frame of mind will also help me to purge the abundance of Christmas ornaments and decorations that I've collected through the decades, the contents of my bulging linen closet, extra kitchen utensils and gadgets, and even videotapes.
If you're among the many who have too much and are tired of living in clutter and chaos, this is Get Organized Month, sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers.
But because one month passes so quickly, and many of us have so much to sort and organize, I'd like to propose this be Get Organized Year!
If you've tried unsuccessfully to purge and get organized, I encourage you to make a renewed effort. I plan to de-clutter and organize one room per month.
Whether your challenge is in getting organized or in another life area, embracing a new frame of mind could make the difference between being stuck and moving ahead.
See you in two weeks!
"It's About Time," by
Ruth Wong, owner of Organization Plus, runs the fourth Friday of each month. Contact her at "It's About Time," care of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; or e-mail
features@starbulletin.com