The Art of Simplifying!

Why is it so difficult to simplify?  Oh, the need for this and that!  How did we get to this point?  Really?  Cell phones, computers, Bluetooths, Kindles... and  here I am blogging!  Other things in our homes like stacks of magazines, papers to save, trinkets, clothes and shoes falling out of our closets, and televisions in all rooms with most of them in the kids rooms.  I am the first to confess, we have television in our bedroom, cell phones each, and enough clothing yet I complain of having nothing to wear.  So how do we simplify?  One of my biggest motivators is thinking of what my poor husband and daughter will have to deal with if God should see fit to relocate me (as in permanently).  How much will they have to filter and decide what goes where and such? A list of the bills, account passwords, investments, etc. Oh and a Will.  Finally, I have checked all of these off of my list. Done. Finished. Relieved! Now to clean.


My parents have just installed new kitchen cabinets, finally!  But talk about 46 years of kitchen contents... Ugh! My head spins. Wedding china, baby cups not worth keeping, years of reusable plasticware, a collection of coffee cups, an over abundance of casserole dishes and cookie sheets... the list goes on and on! So, if it's not broken, don't throw it away and don't give it away?  The rationale? Depression era. And here we are, all of us, with our own senseless clutter of collections, attachments, and securities. Why do we do this to ourselves?  My generation is about instant gratification. We want, we buy. Forget the analytical examination.  We just fail to focus. Priorities as my mother would call it.  I'm guilty. We are all guilty for the most part. 


So! I am officially cleaning, weeding, and simplifying.  I have two stacks:  donations and trash.  I will make a second round to double-check the necessity of my keeps. It's not about having a "Better Homes and Garden" living room or a "Southern Living" kitchen. I don't have to display a sink with the "bling" sparkle when you scan my kitchen, or the bedroom with the tray of oranges plopped in the middle of the perfectly folded linens. Don't get me wrong, I admire people with the ability to maintain well manicured and picture perfect homes.  That is truly a talent in my opinion.  Queen of multi-tasking. It's just not part of my repertoire when it comes to housekeeping and time-management skills.  I have dust-bunnies that visit regularly, windows without the sparkle (like my sink), and a full-time kitchen table.  I am improving at multi-tasking and prioritizing. In the end, I know this will help me to master the art of simplifying!


How do you organize, prioritize, sort, and clean?  Any ideas and shared stories are welcome!