Emily had always been a collector. From a young age, she would pick up small trinkets and souvenirs from every place she visited. As she grew older, her
collection grew. Every corner of her home was filled with books, knick-knacks, and memories from her travels. She loved her stuff, but deep down, she knew it was becoming a problem.
One day, Emily invited her sister Sarah over for coffee. As Sarah looked around Emily's home, she couldn't help but feel
overwhelmed. Everywhere she looked, there was clutter. Piles of books were stacked on every surface. Souvenirs were displayed everywhere.
"Emily, your home is beautiful, but don't you think it's a little cluttered?" Sarah asked.
Emily brushed off the comment, even resenting it a bit. She replied, insisting that she was simply a collector and that her clutter was just a part of who she was.
But as Sarah left, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that her sister was right. She had too much stuff...it was taking over her life and it would definitely present a problem if it continued.
Over the next few weeks, Emily started to pay more attention to her clutter. She noticed that she spent more time cleaning and organizing than she did enjoying her belongings. She realized that she was no longer collecting for the joy of it, but out of habit.
And so, she decided to take action and begin downsizing a bit starting immediately.
Emily began by going through her collections and identifying the items that held the most sentimental
value. She picked out a few key pieces and placed them in a special display case. These were the items that truly brought her joy and she wanted to be able to appreciate them without distraction.
Next, Emily started to tackle the piles of books that had taken over her home. She went through each
one and separated them into three piles: keep, donate, and sell. It was a difficult process, but she knew that it was necessary. She didn't need every book she owned and, by donating or selling some, she could help others enjoy them while freeing up a lot of space.
Emily's progress was slow, but it was
steady. She took breaks when she needed them, but continued to return to her clutter with renewed energy. Soon enough, she started to see the results of her efforts.
Her home was
becoming more organized, and she was finding it easier to appreciate the items she truly loved.
The real breakthrough came when Emily realized that her clutter wasn't just physical. She had also been holding onto emotional clutter...memories and feelings that no longer served her. She had been
holding onto grudges and regrets for far too long, and it was weighing her down.
Emily decided to let go of this emotional clutter too. She reached out to old friends she had fallen out of touch with and made amends. She forgave herself for mistakes she had made in the past and focused on moving
forward.
With each emotional burden she let go of, her home became lighter too.
It wasn't easy, but Emily was able to overcome her clutter challenge. She learned that less really was more. By letting go of the things that no longer served her, she could make room for the things that truly brought her joy. Her home was still filled with memories, but now it was a place where she could appreciate them.
In time, she called her sister, Sara, and invited her over again. She could not wait to show her sister the progress she had made and thank her for being brave enough to say something about the clutter and to let her know she was grateful for the gentle push to
take on this worthwhile organizing project.
P.S. There are actually 4 different types of organizing clutter. Click here to find out what they are and how you can begin saying goodbye to it!
