Hello, It's your clutter calling....
This week has been physically demanding - I have been assisting a new client with moving out of her third floor walk up apartment. I put off going to the gym all week as I felt walking up and down the stairs numerous times was sufficient exercise.
I have been able to facilitate her purging old papers and clothes instead of moving them to her new residence. I joking refer to myself as a recovering hoarder. Acquiring 'stuff' can be a slippery slope to go down for those of us who find ourselves saying "I might need that someday." For example, I now have one drawer in my kitchen for plastic containers. If all the containers do not fit in there I toss some out. I have one bookcase, if all the books can't fit on there it is time to get rid of some. I am purging two feet of old magazines this month. Why was I keeping them? I couldn't tell you.
I find it important to pick small projects such as plastic containers or books otherwise the scope of the project seems so large that we get overwhelmed immediately and give up on doing anything. This of course is the vicious cycle that many of us get into with "projects". We give up and tell ourselves 'stories' about ourselves. We don't stop at "I'm feeling overwhelmed, I need help with this", we move on to "This is hopeless, I am a pig/slob/bad person". This toxic thinking eats away at your self esteem like a psychic staph infection.
I want to let all the hopeless hoarders know that there is no shame in asking for help. There are so many people in the very same boat as you. If you want to proof of this attend a Clutters Anonymous Meeting (http://www.clutterersanonymous.net). I am very sensitive to my client's needs and I will never demand that you throw things away. This friend had me in tears and I wouldn't do that to you or anyone else. Put me in your Rolodex for when you are having a clutter crisis and also check out other providers at the National Association of Professional Organizers (http://www.napo.net).
I would love to hear about your victories over the clutter in your life.
All the best,
Lori
