Housekeeping is not one of my fortes, but keeping three bedrooms, a
bathroom, kitchen, and living room staged for perspective buyers for seven
months has taught me a few lessons.
I found it almost impossible to empty the
windowsills of statuary and mementos I’d received from friends and giveaways
over the years. I delayed the process
until after I’d sorted through the pottery collection and sold or gave away
various pieces I hadn’t used in forever.
Then the thought came to me that I hadn’t used all the candle holders
displayed here and there. I decided to
store away my very favorite ones and pass out the remaining 'chatchkees' to friends
who visited. The women of my New Moon
Circle received crystals and once I got into the swing of it, I enjoyed
watching people discover their own treasures among all that had been mine. Lesson: Less is more
That clearing of the surfaces is what led me to feel the spaciousness of
my living room. Removing all the items that
had been hanging in the windows let in more light too. The increased light and space led to another
level of calmness to the point now that a bit of squirrely energy sits in my
belly when too much is left on the kitchen table, the side tables or the
dressers. I even have to restack piles
into better order in my office these days, rather than let papers just hang
out. Lesson: Clean horizontal surfaces reduce stress.
With my mind having its bright and dull patches, I discovered myself
agreeing with me on permanent homes for, not just the keys, but thimbles, sewing
utensils, my hair brush, purse, and bills.
I can find most things again, although shoes are rascally fellows who
don’t seem to want to stay in their corner of the hall or bedroom. I have to work harder on them. Lesson: Use
it and put it back in its place
I’ve found my various enterprises like to hang out together. Knitting likes its own bag as does the scrap
quilt project. Each writing assignment
feels more complete when all the materials are in one folder and a three ring
binder. When a piece of paper surfaces
with writing for the health center newsletter or one of the several novels or
shorts stories I’m working on, I don’t shuffle it anymore. It goes with its friends, at least by the end
of the day. Lesson: Don’t hide it or let it
slide
I have several paper bags for those items I used to puzzle over. Now each item has five seconds to identify
itself so its destination can be judged: thrift store, packing box, transfer
station, burn pile. No more saved round plastic tubs from the grocery store,
either. I’m using canning jars of all
sizes as refrigerator storage. Lesson: A Little consciousness goes a long
way
When the bags are full, they are transported out to the car for
distribution. I don’t set aside the questionable
anymore or put them into a corner or let them take up residence in a
drawer. Lesson: Keep it moving out the door.
The overall teaching is simple. “I’m
moving on” and so is all my stuff.
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