31 Days of Clearning: Day 4

Day 4:  It's just stuff

Continuing on my clearning quest, today I got rid of some miscellaneous items from a couple of places in the house.  I will have more give away items by the end of the month, so by 'got rid of' I mean they're going in a give-away pile to be taken to the Good Will as soon as this month is over.

A couple of months ago, just in time for the new year, I discovered The FLYLady.  FLY stands for "Finally Loving Yourself" and her website is chock full of tips for cleaning, organizing, taking care of your home, finances and body. I discovered her through KLOVE and she has been introducing us to one habit each month.  The first habit in January was to shine your sink.  It didn't matter if the rest of the house was a war zone or the counter tops around the sink were cluttered -- the only thing we were tasked to do was to shine our sinks every night before bed.  Then, upon waking up in the morning, we don't feel like we are already behind the eight ball with dishes to do.  It feels great to wake up to a clean and empty sink.  Also to keep a clean dish towel by the sink and dry it out every time you run water in it.  This way the sink stays clean.  So in January, I bought some nice new dish towels. My kitchen drawer was getting too full with older, dingier looking oven mitts and towels so I pulled some out to give away.

February's habit was to declutter for 15 minutes a day, but with all that was happening in February, and all the paperwork I had strewn about, I didn't fully embrace February's habit.  This 31 Days of Clearing should help me get back on track.  Today I also pulled out a lamp that is going in the get rid of pile.  I had this lamp  in my previous home at least 16 years ago, and I think I even had it in my apartment before that.  It's just too big for the spaces where I need lighting and a bit out of style.  The pack-rat in me has been saving it with the thought that if I ever finish the basement, it will need lighting.  Well, I've been in this house since September of 1996 and still haven't even gotten a garage door opener.  The chances of the basement getting finished are slim to none.  And if I have the money to finish a basement, I'll have the money to buy a new lamp.  So, bye-bye lamp.

And this might seem trivial, but I threw out a partially used candle.  If there's life left in something I usually save it.  I have a drawer full of partially used candles for when the electricity goes out.  Why waste something?  Well, it's that struggle between not wanting to waste, and not wanting clutter that I have to battle.  And I need to move more to the side that allows me to let go of unwanted and unnecessary stuff.  So I pitched the partially used candle.

Today I also let go of the idea that the stupid expired Dell gift card would ever come to any good.  It's not serving me, it's expired, it's a lost cause, get it out of your house already.  So I did.