For our family there are a few factors as to how we accumulated so much stuff. When my dad passed away about five years ago, I ended up with half of the furniture and "stuff" from his house, plus my own stuff! I have gotten rid of things here and there but held on to many things out of sentimental attachment. Letting go in that sense is definitely a process which takes time. The memories will not die, bottom line.
Now let's throw in that we, together, have five children, and all of their STUFF. As I downsize their stuff, people give them more STUFF. I have tried many ways of organizing their stuff with beautifully thought out procedures on how to keep it that way. It turns out that the kids are not as enthusiastic about procedure as I am, none of them, ages 3-12. Party poopers!
Having a two story house makes it just a tad more irritating trying to keep things where they belong. The kids being stuff downstairs that should stay upstairs, and things get lost upstairs that should be downstairs. After having hip surgery, there are only so many times I can go up and down those stairs in a day without wanting to hurt someone, and then have an adult beverage.
I am an organizer. I feel good when things are organized. I get happy just looking at organization. I have trouble relaxing if the view around me is unorganized. So bigger measures need to be taken to really simplify. It's no where near something you would see on Hoarders, it's just too much for me. I feel smothered and weighed down, plus it's important to me to instill in my kids that less is more, because it really is.
It's been baby steps leading up to bigger steps. Months back I got rid of most things that usually sat on the kitchen counter tops, they are gone or put away somewhere. Major difference in how I feel about my kitchen! A good friend, Missy, had talked about how cleansing it felt to get rid of something you are attached to. To just do it! I did that in my kitchen and it was liberating. Thanks Missy! On to the rest of the house!
Our huge pieces of furniture are for sale. There is only one cube of toys and a castle allowed downstairs for play. Other than that, play in your room!
We are still in the middle of it, but it already feels freeing. I will not miss all the STUFF crowding my thoughts and mood. I will no longer have to spend so much time trying to organize STUFF. There are 7 people who have stuff in our house, it's hard enough to handle the laundry, so I say, kiss it STUFF!
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