Things

Things are on my mind. And things are sitting on my counter. I realized as I contemplated this post that “things” could be both literal, figurative, physical, metaphorical, thoughts, tangible. That’s more than “both” – sorry.

This all started the other day when I recognized that things – physical, tangible things – were all over the place, both literally and figuratively. (I got the “both” right this time). It happens. It happens that in the morning rush, the evening exhaustion, “things” get dropped where they don’t necessarily belong, left to be picked up later, begging to be piled up. And that drives me nuts. My Daddy would say, “short drive,” and the older I get, the more I agree.

I am no minimalist by any stretch, but I am a darn good purge-er. When the mood hits, if you even remotely want it to be kept, you better nail it down. Through the house like a tornado I blow, ridding the Barracks of anything that hasn’t been worn, touched, loved, needed, used, seen in the last 6 months. That’s the rule. 6 months. Well, maybe a year on some things; seasonal, you know.

Things on my mind are usually heavier than the things “sitting on my counter,” but the clutter goes hand-in-hand, and usually gets cleaned out in the same fashion – with great fervor. The mood is striking.

I learned a long time ago about myself that when I am very stressed or feeling especially guilty about something, or afraid I’m going to be in trouble, I clean. I also know that when my mind clutter is needing a good cleaning, I go for a run. Anybody seen my tennis shoes?

Now listen, I’m not in a bad way, there’s just a lot on the plate. Nothing terribly terrible, just cluttered, like my closet floor, and my storage closet and the kitchen counter. Did I mention my bathroom counter? I swear none of it is that bad, but it’s just enough to make my brain shudder. Time to clean house. And time to clean house.

Maybe the reason it’s so good is the rush you get when it’s done. What, you don’t get that? Just me? Oh. Ok. Well, either way, it’s going to happen. And it’ll feel great. Like it always does.

The best purging I ever did was moving six times in three years. I heaved belongings until all I owned fit into two 7-foot square closets, along with a couple of small pieces of furniture. That was it. And it was the most liberating, light, amazing feeling I’ve ever had. The stress of “things” was all but gone, and I was not needing to run ten miles a week, either. Bliss.

But, here I am, needing to purge again. I readily admit I’m like a goldfish – I grow to the size of my surroundings. I think we’re probably all like that. We’re going to accumulate things and fill up whatever dwelling we have, no matter the size. It has happened, and needs to be squeezed. I can’t wait. I’m ready to own a little less, and have it a little more organized. I’ll let you know how it goes……