Decluttering: Practical Tips Part I

Before we moved from Alaska to Texas, we decided we should sell most of our furniture and buy new once at our destination. We also wanted to sell items we knew we weren’t going to need anymore, such as our chain saw and log splitter. We were pretty sure there would be no more tree cutting and log splitting once in Texas. Plus we had more than 3,000 miles of Winter travel ahead and wanted to travel light.

We were able to sell everything we put on the market and were satisfied with the results. We sold furniture, gardening supplies, tools, and other items with ease and were soon ready for our trip. Or so we thought.

We loaded the remaining of our belongings into a large trailer we had purchased and began our trip. We were barely out of our drive way when we realized we had forgotten to check the weight limit of the trailer. After a quick stop at the weight station, we realized, to our dismay, that the trailer was considerably over weight! We had to empty everything and spent two days going through all of our stuff deciding what we needed to keep and what could stay behind. This time there was no opportunity to sell, so we donated everything to a community service center. Not an easy experience by all means. I still ache a little when I think of the treadmill I left behind, but the incident launched me into a journey to a more simple life, so it was worth it!

Since then, every time I go on a simplifying spree, I have to decide what to do with the items I want out of my house. Should I sell, should I donate, should I recycle, or just throw away? These are important questions and I want to offer you some guidelines to help you decide.

SELL
Articles such as furniture, tools, exercise equipment, gardening supplies, appliances, jewelry, big designer items, and certain baby equipment are somewhat easy to sell. If you’re trying to pay off debt, the time investment may be worth to get extra cash. So put your things for sale on Craigslist, Facebook, Ebay, announce it to friends and neighbors, or do a garage sale. If you have large items to sell, a garage sale may also help you sell smaller items that don’t sell as easily. What you don’t sell you can always donate. Keep in mind though, that selling requires your time and energy.

DONATE
There is great benefit in donating the things you decide to remove from your home. If you’re trying to get rid of items such as clothes, books, toys, and other small things, a garage sale may not be a good time investment, as the return is often pretty small. Of course, donating large items is good too as you don’t have to spend time advertising your things and showing them to people who may or may not purchase them. When decluttering, it is ok to donate most of the things as this will remove them from your home quicker. So choose your charity and take your stuff to them. Load as much as you can into your vehicle and take it to the donation center. Many charities offer to pick up the items from your home. You have many options. In donating not only will your remove the extra stuff from your home quicker, but will also help others in need. It’s a win-win situation.

THROW AWAY/RECYCLE
Articles that are broken, damaged, or in bad condition should not be sold or donated. These need to leave your house via the dumpster. Where I live we have two containers which items are weekly collected by the city: one for regular trash and another for everything that can be recycled except for glass. If the item is not in good condition, throw it away.

Which ever method you decide to use, keep in mind that as soon as you start seeing the empty open spaces in your house, the sooner you’ll begin feeling the peace that comes from a clutter free environment. Don’t just move your stuff around. You want it out of your house. Donate as soon as the boxes and bags are full. You know that a clutter free home will help you feel calmer and help improve your life, so dispose of your clutter as fast as you can. You’ll reap the benefits sooner and feel encouraged to keep going.

Happy decluttering!

Planning Tomorrow

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.”

-Karen Lamb

    If I had the chance to change the calendar, I would move January to the Spring. As we come out of Winter hibernation, nature and people seem to filled with new life. We have more energy, are a little happier, and plan all kinds of interesting things for the season - gardening anyone? It seems to me then, that Spring would be the perfect time for January and New Year resolutions.
   
    Yet January happens to be in the Winter. In the coldest and darkest time of the year. And this is the time when we’re expected to come up with New Year resolutions! No wonder so many of us don’t keep up with our decisions past a few weeks.

    However, I still believe this is a good time for general life planning. With the Holidays now pretty much behind, we can focus on the year ahead. And in the quietness of Winter there is a great opportunity for soul searching and reflection. To stop and think.

    Take a few moments to look deep into your life. Is it headed in the direction you want? As human beings with free choice we have, to a great extent, the power to decide where our lives are going to go. Think for example about your financial situation, your health, your relationships, your schedule, and your home environment as these have a big impact on your well being. How satisfied are you with these areas of your life?

    If you are content with the course your life is taking then resolve to make it even better. To grow and learn more. To deepen your relationship with God and become a better you. We all have plenty of room for improvement. At the same time enjoy the fruit of the much you have accomplished. It’s ok to sit back and relax. You should not be constantly on the go.

    If you examine your life and decide that is headed the wrong way, then it’s time to put on the breaks and make a U-turn! Time to take a different road. You can either start by making small easy changes, or you can take the bull by its horns and make it go the other way.

    Whatever the outcome of the New Year know this: God’s mercies are new every morning. Every morning! Not just once a year when we make New Year resolutions. Not once a month or every two weeks when we get our paychecks. No! His mercies are new every morning. This means that every day we have the opportunity to start fresh. To turn the page and write a new chapter. With God, every day is a great day for a new you!

    My plan for the coming year is to totally dive in into the abundant life God has promised. I don't know the details of this journey, but I’m trusting the Driver. As part of it, this blog is undergoing some big transformations that I just can't wait to share with you! In it I'll tell you all I've learned and will learn about abundant living and encourage you to join in on the journey.
    
    We were promised an abundant life. Not a mediocre or poor quality life. Abundant life! All of us. Let’s grab that promise and make it ours today!    

   Abundant life, here we come!

The People In Our Lives

 "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. 

We have only today. Let us begin."

-Mother Theresa

    This December has been difficult. Among other important dates, it marks my parents’ wedding anniversary. They would have celebrated 45 years of marriage.

    Would have…

    This year the celebration was different. I reminisced on their tender love story and remembered longingly the blessing they were in my life. The date now marks a day that was, a day filled with beautiful memories of the two people who gave me life.

    Then there are the Holidays. Like others around the world, these past days have been filled with many preparations. Because I’ve spent the last few years simplifying my life, I must confess that this season has been more enjoyable. I’ve been able to make my own Christmas greeting cards, spend time in the kitchen creating traditional Portuguese delicacies, read and re-read every greeting card received either via snail mail or electronically, wrapped carefully chosen gifts for those I love, and have enjoyed many quiet moments reading the story of Christmas. What a love God has for us, I just can’t comprehend it. But it has been nice to just enjoy this season without the usual stress.

    However, in the midst of all the joy and cheer I also feel sadness. Sadness that for the first time in my life I don’t get to share all of this excitement with my mother. Living countries apart, we would spend hours sharing every little detail of our days with each other, and Holidays were an exciting time. What an unbelievable emptiness her death left in my life, words can’t simply explain.

    My first Christmas as an orphan of mother and father...

    But God, who does not waste our pain, has been helping me see past my grief into deeper truths. And from where I stand I am strongly reminded of what is most important in this one life we’ve been given. So I see an opportunity. An opportunity to once again learn that the most important in this world are the people who were given to be part of our lives. An opportunity to learn and put into practice what I’m learning.

    You see, tomorrow the greetings cards will have been read, the food will have been eaten, and the presents unwrapped. Christmas will have come and gone and our attention directed to the next big thing. Time constantly moving forward causing tomorrow to become yesterday.

    What hopefully won’t have changed, though not guaranteed, are the people with whom we share all of this with. The people whom God placed in our lives to shape us and be influenced by us. In the midst of all the activity of the season, the people are what truly matters.

    Take a moment to think of your circle of influence. Who are the people in it? Your spouse, given to be your life partner and best friend. Show them how much you appreciate them. Your children, given for you to guide and love. Show them how proud you are of the persons they are. Your parents, given to guide and love you. Show how much you love them by giving them your time, attention, and respect. Your family and your friends, incredible blessings from God. What about your enemies? Used by God to teach you grace and forgiveness. Forgive them. Or perhaps you’re the one in need of forgiveness. Ask for it. How beautiful are restored relationships. What about your neighbors and the stranger you see often in the street?

    Remember also yourself, uniquely created by a loving God. Blessed with life, talents, and gifts to be used in the service of God and of others. What a treasure you are.

    How often we ignore others and ourselves.

    We won’t be in each others’ lives forever. That is the reality of life in this world. So let’s make the best of the time we’re given together! What about beginning today, now, by closing your computer and all other electronic devices and go spend precious time connecting with your loved ones? Show how much you love and appreciate them.
    
    I’m going to do the same.

    Merry Christmas!