When I get stressed, I clean. It’s a sickness.

A sickness that uses to plague Kevin to no end. Once, I came home from a minor surgery and was still out of it from anesthesia. Kev carried me to my bed and quickly fell asleep. A few minutes later he woke up to hearing me cleaning the kitchen. Well… cleaning might be a strong word. Just imagine me half leaning on the counter with my eyes barely open and dangerously spraying Clorox. I thought he was going to murder me.

It’s just how I take control. If things feel like they are flying all around me in a tornado fashion, then I need to act on what I can. Usually, it involves cleaning.

 

This last year was such a year of survival. Things piled up all around me and I didn’t give a damn because I was thankful to just be moving. Clutter has a way of collecting when you are in this state of mind. You may notice it, but ya ain’t got the time nor the energy to deal with it.

Clutter can be more than just the crap laying around the house, though. There is also clutter built up in my mind. Bitterness, worry or hate. These emotions are cluttering up my soul. It is like I have been carrying around a 300lb elephant because it is just too much to deal with him.

I’m over it.

2016 is my year to turn off survival mode and switch on LIVING mode.

Here is the to-do list I’ve given myself (because yes, I’m a list person if you can’t tell by past blogs) to get my life uncluttered:

1. Let go of the crap.** No more storage unit because there is NO sense in paying for a room you do not live in. You have a lovely home now with no immediate plans of moving. Unless you plan on being on storage wars – get it out. Also, do you really need a broken pencil sharpener in your office??
2. Give your things new life. I may not need a dress that I’ve worn to every wedding I’ve attended, but someone else will. You are not simply getting rid of things, but giving them to someone who will use them. Buried in a box in your closet is not exactly of value.
3. Let go of your resentment.  People are moving on and that is okay. Yes, you may not be invited to the same parties you would if Kev was still here. Yes, you may hear from certain people less often as you would if Kev was still here. Yes, your traditions will change. That is okay. New parties, new traditions, and new people are not a bad thing.
4. Give appreciation. For as painful as it may be to see people move forward without you, remember the sweet souls that are still with you. They are the true gems that God has blessed you with and their love will fill you up. Never take them for granted.

**I would like to take this moment and publicly apologize to my family and Kev’s family for pushing my uncluttered mission on them over the holiday break. I’m sorry for singing Frozen’s “Let it go” when you tried to hold onto your stuff. Salvation Army and Waste Management probably know my name by now.

Here is to getting rid of the weight, the bitterness, and the crap.

Here is to making room for the light, the gratitude and the new.

Here’s to a year of LIVING!

Till Next Time.