It is finally here: the first day of our purging project…hip hip hooray!
Thank you for all your encouragement and excitement. It really delights my heart to know that I’ve struck a cord with a few of you with this wild endeavor, and can’t wait to see what we accomplish, as a group, in our own homes, across the globe {yes…31 Bags has gone international!}.
Cleaning up has never been much of an issue for me…I thoroughly enjoy it, but maintenance, on the other hand…as evidenced by the horror below…not so much.
I can spend hours working on a project, simplifying and massively reorganizing a space, only to have it return to complete disarray within a matter or weeks. It’s pitiful.
Maintaining order is insanely hard for me where it matters most…behind closed doors.
Too much stuff can only be well organized for so long before the quantity of something overwhelms the area’s capacity to contain it in an orderly fashion. I’m trusting that not just reworking an area – but actually getting rid of a substantial amount of excess – with aid in correcting this problem.
As I start working through my designated areas during these upcoming 4 weeks, I plan to do three things with the stuff I weed out:
- Recycle: pass along to others in need, either by donating to Goodwill, or by directly finding a new home for a practical item I no longer need.
- Resell: we plan to have another garage sale this summer, so some stuff will be stashed for cheap resale.
- Rid: some of the things we’ve acquired just need to get tossed out, like toys with missing or broken parts, expired toiletries & cleaners, or stained clothes & linens.
Remember, too, that the size of the bag you plan to fill on any given day will vary greatly depending on the space you’re working on. Some areas could easily be decluttered into a garbage sized bag {think clothes, linens and toys}, while other areas {like stationary drawers or jewelry boxes} would use a zip top baggie.
The most important thing to keep in mind during this time is to be flexible. 31 days is a long time, and things will inevitably come up. Family obligations, health complications, etc. Work with what you’re able to – have grace with yourself {I am so very much speaking to myself here too}, and get back on the ball if you fall off. If you happen to accomplish this massive undertaking in 40 days instead of 31, who cares! It’s still an incredible, exhilarating accomplishment, and completing it is reward enough.
Life happens. Work with it. Don’t let minor obstacles knock the wind from your sales. Keep in mind that this project is intended to bless your family and home, not burden it.
If you’re apart of this project, you can post your BEFORE and AFTER pics, questions, encouragement, and the like…right here on our 31 Bags Facebook page. It gives you a little more input and control without the filtered/singular input of this blogging platform.
I don’t plan on posting every day of this project, but I do have some more printables, tips and ideas to share with you along the way, so check back often.
Without further ado, friends…it is officially May 12th, and we most definitely have our work cut out for us.
The clutter awaits. The chaos beckons.
Simplicity woos.
“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity”
~ Henry Wadsworth
