Simple Focus--Kitchen Counter

I'm following Joshua Becker and "Becoming a Minimalist" on Facebook now. I think he's writing now more too--his full-time job. I think it might help me stay on track, although--need to be careful--too many articles even about this, can become clutter.

There was one article that he wrote or posted this week that jumps out at me, about kitchen clutter. I think I will make it my focus for this week--to read it a few times, get some ideas, and day by day, get rid of some kitchen clutter. I have stuff on my counters that doesn't belong there. I have stuff in cupboards that needs to be reorganized. Oh, my goal for this week is very small though--just the counters. (I think that was the focus of the article,)

So...this is where it comes from.

This article--7 Daily Habits for a Clutter-Free Home, includes one habit and the link to this one--with focus on the kitchen counter: The Helpful Guide to a Clutter-Free Kitchen Counter.

Back at it

Some energy has returned
My sisters are talking about the things they are doing
Another friend is helping to hold me to it
And I want to see this house (and life) changed

I don't know if this list, and what I've done these days is really about "simplifying" or just regular house work...but...well the latter has to be done on the way to the former, so I'll count it!

So...what has been done recently?

1. Today the guy came to measure--new awnings over the windows will be installed next Monday. I have been putting this off for 5 years, since the previous cheap quality awnings started cracking. But--no more!
2. A new little stand-up shelf in my kitchen. I've moved one of the little ovens on to there--clearing up some counter space. And I've pulled out another container to hold plastic lids--yes, putting them there will ease up space in the "container" cupboard. Oh, maybe there is somewhere else they can go eventually, but for now this is okay.
3. The packages that came from Amazon this week--the boxes have been taken out the door! 
4. I started looking around my office...and house...trying to think of what to do for organizing, making some things better...some half ideas came, but not enough to get going, to really envision and do :o(

And a separate category: Plants, balcony garden

1. Yesterday and today I re-potted a whole bunch, re-positioned some (i.e. tomatoes for more space, better caging), and planted some new stuff--trying one container with a shallow amount of dirt and two new types of lettuce. Also some more spinach and some other random greens. It will be nice when this is all growing, and I can eat it. However, I have also had the thought today--am I creating too much work for myself? Is this becoming burdensome?
2. I had a thought today...I could spend hours and hours and days playing with plants
3. Looking at those plants though--it's kind of nice now. Out of my study, then the living room balcony, then my bedroom balcony--lots of plants, some flowering, some will be fruits and vegetables. Pretty and happy it is!
4. Oh, and my peace lillies--almost all of them are blooming. Just one beautiful white flower pushes its way up, and opens...and they seem to be lasting white for quite a while this time too!

Crawling...

I need to pick this up again.
The  messes are still here, but I...have stopped.
This is not okay.
I will come back to this.
I MUST come back to this.

Plants?

I've been having fun learning and building my "balcony garden." Actually not much of it is on my balcony yet, mostly in my office (which I might turn into a sun room/solarium anyway).

But here's the thing--is this simplifying my life, or complicating it?

There is probably a little of both in there, and I need to be careful to keep the whole thing manageable. It is good to recognize the danger here.

On the good side, I think this fits with the "rational minimalist" philosophy in adding beauty, and causing me to spend time on some things that are life giving. And there is much to learn and ponder about life as I learn to tend these plants (the different environments needed for different ones, the length of time it takes for some to grow--and you just need to let them take that time, not keep messing with them and their soil!, etc.)

But every time, there can be a bit of a mess. There are extra supplies, and I need to make sure to keep them put away. When everything is in its place, there is beauty, and joy that comes from observing.

And, there is also the distraction. Sometimes I come in the office and need to work, but see the plants--it's where a lot of them are now. Hmmm...again, I need to figure this out. In some cases, it might be a good 'break from the serious thinking' I need to do, that lets me come back to the serious thinking able to do it better. On the other hand, it might just be too much of a distraction.

I'm hoping a rhythm will come. I've actually moved some of the plants outside now (between starting and finishing this post), they are not as much in my line of vision, and "out of sight, out of mind." Once things are growing, and I know what I'm doing, hopefully it will just be some daily or every second day watering, with only other set times for maintenance, planting, re-potting, etc.

Books out the door!

Wahoo! Some folks came to town today, and I remembered to show them things that I wanted to pass on--and a stack of books happily went out the door! The box is still half full, but there are others to maybe show it to. It kind of made me want to look at my shelves and find MORE to put in that box and move out.

And the shelf for over the washing machine came today. I put it together. Now my laundry soap rests there, and the mesh bags are hanging on the side. I added a plant there too--decided on the aloe vera, probably my most hardy plant, and it's been growing well. It can probably live on the low light and likely-to-be-forgottenness of that room. More plants in more places is always good, right?

A New Shelf

It's a 3-step shelf type thing for my plants, and I like it! It's not in it's final resting place yet, but it really does add a feeling of organization to the plants, and sets them out in different layers so they can be seen, or get sun.

I have some other shelves coming too--one for over the washing machine--to hold laundry detergent, etc., replacing the one that used to be beside the washing machine, but died.

And then there is another shelf I am trying out. It might be used in the kitchen, or out on the balcony for plants as well. Thought of getting a couple of that second one, but decided to try one first. Good choice.

Yep, without going overboard about it, some organizational tools help in the simplifying and organizing process!

Must Keep Going!

I must keep going on this stuff!
It's hard to see any progress.
But I did go forward again today...a little.

What has happened:

• The pile of storage stuff on my bedroom balcony is smaller:
• At least 1 rubbermaid container has been emptied of all clothes. They are being washed and will be given away or thrown away. (Funny red spots that look like rust on some of them...that's not going to go over well.)
• A couple of other containers have been pulled out. I'm still working on getting rid of the stuff inside.
• From the stuff I've been finding, I have another box of things to take to offer to anyone who wants them at the centre.
• A garbage bag is half-full.
• I've labelled the Rubbermaid containers that are still there.
• I've identified one more container--the NEXT one, that would be easy to dig into, when I get around to some focused time on it someday. I see a fair bit in there that will just be thrown out.
• And I've started to work on my piles in the office again.
• there is a bag in the 'to shred' pile--that is a task I can give to a helper someday.
• I remember that I had a box I was using for temporary storage of things, or the immediate rough filing of categories. I have a sense, if I get into that again, I can remember where I was with that, and start working on this stuff in a more consistent basis. 
• I've identified some giveaway items with names on them, or to run by particular friends. 
• I started to now listen to the THIRD Joshua Becker book--Clutterfree with Kids. One beef--it IS a pain that his books are so repetitive. He retells the philosophy in every book. However one thing I'm looking forward to in this book is some of the details he goes into for certain kinds of stuff. I ran into some photos the other day--marginally sentimental. Some don't see valuable at all--that's easy, I should be able to chuck, but then those special things. Ah, I've thought recently a few times about the dolphin thing a former "small friend" gave me when she got older. I don't see her much, and she doesn't express much, but she gave it to me, said it symbolized a friendship. Was she serious? Where is she? Would it remind me to pray for her? Should I keep it? (It's in the give away box right now.) I can pray about this. God can lead in this as in all things, right?

I have a goal, you know. I'm starting this balcony gardening stuff, and I really want to make it happen. I want it to be functional and beautiful. I have an outside balcony that I'll use in the summer, but I might turn my bedroom balcony into what I use some of the time too.

OR, and I'm wondering more and more about this, making my current office into the main garden, perhaps a solarium of sorts. That would be nice. My desk and office could move to another room. This could be the room for reading, for quiet time, for coffee with friends.

Now, I need to get back at it. It would be good to have things also LOOKING a little better before I end this day, and perhaps this week's BIG work on clutter-busting. I need to move those sorting boxes out of the hallway where they've been for ease of access and sorting, move them into another storage area. And...the living room area, where I am currently sorting--get at it, make decisions, put stuff away...  And (#2) I think I can do some tidy-up of all the miscellaneous little plants I'm trying to get started right now--particularly clean up "the look" of my kitchen area.

Day 6

Mostly rested today.
Yes, half an hour of putting away some finance files.
And 15 minutes on dishes.
Otherwise, the only other things I did toward this simplifying goal is
--get a good night's sleep, and NOT nap in the day time to go for another one tonight (helpful for motivation!)
--Download Michael Hyatt's ebook about gaining 10 hours in your work week...might even read it before going to bed.

And tomorrow, another week starts...

Day 5--not motivated

So hard to get motivated today.
Oh, I know why...it's that to bed late again thing...

(Don't think I did anything this day...not in regards to simplifying and de-cluttering anyway.)

Day 4--Out the Door

Yes, I really sent some more stuff out the door today! Actually, I have been doing it every day. The hardest parts are the things that will seem to just get 'wasted' out there, when I throw them in the garbage.

Today just seems significant because there were a few more things that have been hanging around for a LONG time. 

Today, out to the garbage went these things that had been sitting around for ages:

• a set of speakers--the work off and on, maybe could be repaired, but I don't know where to go to repair, or, haven't bothered...I hope someone finds it from the garbage.
• Then some cloth, actually a kind of suit--skirt and jacket. I've never worn it, not even once, thought I would want to sometime...And there was another outfit in there too.

But the much more exciting "out the door" was the bunch of sweaters I took for some high school students to go through. I thought--they might be way too big for them, they won't want them. But, on the other hand--thought maybe they could give them to parents or a grandparents, or whoever. And, if they don't take them, I can decide on the next step later.

Guess what? Although big, they were trying on and taking the stuff! I need to keep going! (Found two more sweaters to take for kids tomorrow.) Now I'm feeling a little bad that I didn't send the pyjamas to this group--even if that cloth could have been ripped apart and turned into shoes...surely, among all these people there must be some that know someone that could do something with the stuff. Ah well...

Yay, more went OUT THE DOOR today. There is even more I could do, and these days are a unique opportunity to pass things on. Maybe I should see what else I can find...

Day 3--Discovery

I realized last night...
The only thing I've ever done 'minimally' before, is... sleep. :o(
I've had it all wrong.
And I've been real consistent.
And the minimal sleep, has consistently led to...
Well, it's just getting much more urgent now
I'm really feeling the effects
Really needing to change

This is about stewardship
Of life, and gifts and body
It's about using well
Not throwing away or wasting

So now...I go to bed

Day 2--a little more progress

(I won't always keep track of days...)

Did it--sent those pj's out the door. Gasp! Gulp! No turning back on those babies.

But I couldn't find that cell phone, and she went and bought herself a new one. (Obviously everything doesn't have a place.)

Today's new efforts--not a lot, but some. Working with someone else here, we:

• I pulled out one box from my balcony pile--fortunately it only had 2 pairs of sandals in it. Wahoo--good shoes to wear, AND got rid of one box in storage
• bought lightbulbs--replaced one just burnt out, cleaned the fixtures for two rooms
• mostly emptied the remnants of a bag I was sorting earlier
• Have made plans for tomorrow--to work on getting rid of STUFF. Will look especially for things that I can quickly and easily make decisions about--to give away, put away, etc.

Day 1--Making a Start

What have I done on today's journey?

1. I made a list--the reasons I want to simplify.

2. Off the internet...
And, as part of Lent, but it works here too,
I've required myself to be OFF of a particular quite time consuming social media website
for 12 hours straight in the day time, every day
I made a chart to track that I do it
(just 55 minutes to go now...I think I'll make it for day 1)

Then I ran into some opportunities
And felt the pull
Get rid of it or not
All those pyjamas that I haven't worn for AGES
It would be easier if I had someone I could give them to
Or something that could be done with the fabric at least
Worst case scenario--old ladies rip them apart to make up the layers of the cloth-soled shoes they make
But I was told--they aren't making them any more
All I'll be able to do is--dump them in the garbage
Ah...what a waste!
But...what a waste when they sit here cluttering up my closet
Taking time and space and energy

Then...she expressed her frustration with her cell phone
Her old one broke and someone gave her this one
But the ring is too quiet
And the characters are small
I...have an extra cell phone
Not even used that much actually
Before I switched to a smart phone
But you know, I want to keep it
It was really good for texting
And...
Just in case...
Ah, the excuses
All the reasons I get in such a mess

I must break the habit
Break the thinking
Break the ties
The selfishness
The worry
That I won't have enough
That I'll regret...
(Is that what it is? What am I worried about anyway?
What holds me back?)

So...
3. I'm junking the pyjamas (4 sets--we won't yet say this really deals with ALL of the pyjamas in my closet...no, not yet down to minimal, just get rid of the stuff I don't use)

4. I'm giving away the cell phone

5. Random Junking!
I'm going to go around my house, and pile a bunch of other stuff by the door too. Tomorrow someone is coming to help with the cleaning...she'll take it out.

• the pretty papers that wrapped the roses
• the great box that the cherries came in (must be good to story something?)--unless I can find an immediate use for it
• other junk and jars and useless things...let's see what I can find.

6. I started filing the finance pile. And I discovered something great--I had ALREADY significantly cleared out my filing drawers in the fall. There is a place already prepared for them. It's a good thing--there is more than a year's worth. A little more than just filing is needed--a little bit of printing and arranging, but not much...

Celebrate! 
I'm doing it.
I got rid of some stuff today!
I'm going to do this!

Rational Minimalism--Gotta Do This!

Two nights ago I started listening to Joshua Becker's book Simplify.
(He has a blog too, you know--Joshua Becker--Becoming Minimalist.)
Yesterday I listened some more.
And thought...

     I must do this!!

How much longer do I want to wait?

I don't want to wait any longer!

It's gotten too far out of hand

How sick and tired do I need to be?

Am I sick enough

of all the clutter

of not feeling like I can have guests because of all the messes and added stress

of feeling my life is out of control

This morning I started to write a list of why I want to simplify

Then today, I ran into two opportunities...to declutter, 

And I wanted to hold back

I want to keep these things that I've had for a while

In which I'm emotionally invested

Even though they take up space

And bog me down

A part of me knows that I will feel so free

When I get rid of the stuff

I must get rid of the stuff!

I must change my thinking!

So the idea of this blog

As a way to track, and 

     Celebrate!!

What I did

What I do 

What I get rid of

What I learn

How my thinking changes

I'm not going to post every day

Though I might, if it helps motivate

I'm not going to let this be one more thing that bogs me down!

I like his idea--rational minimalism

It's not a minimalism of following someone else's rules

It's a minimalism that works for you

I have a long way to go

But I need to make a start

I need to cut the ties

Between me and stuff

And between me  and lots of other things that pull

Let's begin!