Pack Rat FeverI had all the symptoms of an unashamed pack rat. I kept and collected every little thing that I thought would be useful and save me money someday… when I needed it. I have always liked to be organized and prepared, but sometimes it seemed to be only "in theory". It didn’t bother me to have so many things around me and packed up that had no specific use. They just gave me a teensy weensy idea for their future function or stood as a tangible representation of a loved one or past experience. One thing I found in a box just recently was my old neck brace. When my husband and I were dating, we got into a bad auto accident. Although I was wasn’t badly hurt, I ended up with a “souvenir” neck brace. I decided that after 10 years of keeping it, it was time to get rid of it. A similar problem is compulsive hoarding which affects people who find it difficult to throw away or otherwise get rid of things that are of no use or are excessive. Facing the Truth: Decision-Time When changing my pack rat ways, I had to face the truth. If I had it in a box for 10 years, and I was going to have it in a box the rest of my life, was it worth the space it was taking up? I came across it maybe once every three years or so when we moved or had a yard sale. Did it really give me that much pleasure to briefly look at it? Or, was the memory enough… I had to decide if this thing is really that important in the long run? It was the moment of decision. Do I want be a pack rat or be clean and organized? Honestly, I can keep things from every experience, but should those things be my source for comfort? Many “keepsakes” are simply trash, pieces of paper, like a movie or theme park ticket stub. When preparing for decluttering and clearing out items that I still had an emotional connection to, but knew I should get rid of, I gathered my courage and said goodbye. Not goodbye to the memory. However if I forgot it, I wouldn’t remember that I forgot it anyway. But goodbye to the clutter that represented my memory. Don’t be afraid that you are not going to remember something as often as you should. That's one of the fears, I believe, of a pack rat. The thing about a good memory is that if you spontaneously remember it after a long time, it’s a treat. Something you didn’t miss until you had it. As far as purposely keeping certain good memories alive, by all means, do keep something tangible that means a lot to you. I have had many life-changing experiences and have keepsakes to show for it, but they are either displayed, in use, or are packed until I can take the time and energy to decide what to do with it. Keep it simple: Focus on your vision It’s a process that takes time and energy. When there is an overwhelmingly strong emotional or habitual attachment to something that we realize we shouldn’t keep anymore, it’s okay to give ourselves time to get used to the idea of not having it. Meanwhile, work what you are ready to tackle. As time goes by, as your vision of organization and living a simple life comes into clearer focus, and as you get more anxious to meet your goals, it will get easier to let go. Depending on how much work there is to be done, it may be a long, challenging process. But, YOU CAN do it. Just start somewhere. There will be days when you feel like it’s insurmountable. There might be days when you even feel so driven and motivated that you feel like you won’t stop the decluttering until your house fairly sparkles and there is not a speck of any unnecessary thing in any room, any closet, any drawer, any pocket. Then, you realize that’s unrealistic after so many days of hard work. BE ENCOURAGED. Ebb and flow with the time and energy you have to focus on decluttering for the day. If you don’t want to focus on it one day, don’t worry about it. When we get set on applying all the home organization tips we've learned and to “deep-clean”, we may blur out during our emotional and mental pep rally that we still have to take care of the kids, cook, clean dishes, do the laundry, and clean the floors. The important thing is to make organizing your house and life a way of life. Send the pack rat packin'. Don’t stay in the overwhelming mode of looking at the big picture of what all needs to be done. But, DO think often about the end-goal. Picture or visualize what you want your house and life to look like and then take steps to make it happen. Positive change is coming. We are capable of so much if we: Get Inspired Learn
how to get motivated
Get inspired and stay inspired. I'm always inspired by the Little House on the Prairie television series. There are many 19th century ways portrayed by the Ingalls family that I am not ready or willing to adopt like wearing the same outfit to church every week (your “Sunday best”) and not having TV (how would I be able to watch my beloved Little House DVD’s that way?). :) But I am increasingly inspired to live in a way that is more like Little House and less like the current system and ways of the culture and society — the world. I have heard other people say that they were born in the wrong century, that they should have been born 100 years prior. I feel the same way. I have learned to depend on electricity, technology, and convenience, but my heart and passion is for the pure, simple, natural, and genuine lifestyle of
voluntary simplicity.
For three years I saved almost all of my daughter’s clothes, toys, and baby gear/equipment. I felt good about it because I was preparing for the next child. How wonderful would it be to already have all these things when I needed them again? It wasn’t long after we opened the store that I went through what I had stored away and began to sell and donate it. My conclusions were 1) My next child may not be a girl and I only have girl clothes. 2) I don’t plan on having another child any time soon. 3) I can easily replace all the things I will need when/if I do have another child. Meanwhile, I don’t have to have so much stuff in storage. 4) The longer items are kept in storage, the more susceptible they are to getting ruined. A real pack rat might find its way in and help itself. My determination now is to not be ruled by clutter, but to manage and organize my home and life in order to live a simple and fulfilling life. I have found that being a pack rat has its reasoning behind it. But if I want to live a simpler, more organized life: I have to use more scrutiny with what I keep (and with what I buy). I have to focus on what matters most. Living with purpose and passion. Being free from high stress and heavy burdens. Enjoying my God, my life, and my loved ones. Return to Decluttering from Pack Rat Fever
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