Hi, my name is Sarah and I'm a pack rat. Yes, it's true. I have issues (which all of you already know, but I'm about to add to that list). My mother will testify to the truth of the pack rat statement. Unfortunately I inherited the "I-must-keep-everything" gene from one of my parents... for the sake of my inheritance I will not be admitting which one. I look at a piece of paper, that at one time was slightly important and I think, "What happens if I need this next year? I must keep it!" I must keep that 2 feet of leftover yarn, I'm sure I'll need it for something important. Or I begin considering donating one of the 3 garbage bags of stuffed animals hidden under my bed (it used to be 5 bags so I'm making progress) to D.I. and then I think, "It will hurt that cute teddy bear's feelings! I must keep them all!" WHAT?! Since when do stuffed animals have "feelings." Yes, definite issues....
Luckily I have a good roommate who was well aware of several of my issues when I moved in with her. She cheered me on a few months ago as I gave away 2 bags of stuffed animals, but was also very understanding when I felt a little bad. She thinks my yarn store in our office is funny, which is lucky because I have visions of yarn taking over the house. I like yarn. She quietly tucks away my random piles (maybe she complains to other people, but she has never scolded me). When my room is a mess she just closes my bedroom door when someone is coming over. Maybe someday she'll smother me in my sleep and then call in a dumpster and the hazmat team to clean out all my crap, but for now I am grateful for her willingness to put up with me (especially since I plan to stay awhile).
The last few days I have felt completely BLAH! Just yucky. Almost meltdown worthy, but since I haven't had one of my famous meltdowns for awhile I didn't want to start again. I figured it was time to do something productive. What better than to clean up 2 of my biggest dumping grounds: my purse and our office.
I dumped out the contents of my purse and look what I found! Holy smokes! As I sorted through the debris I found about a month's worth of receipts, 12... yes folks 12 pens, a book, gum wrappers galore, my ticket and program from Tarzan, my long lost earrings and ring, gift cards, and then the usual purse residents. I think it's time to go purse shopping. I can fit WAY too much stuff in this current purse. I need something smaller.
Next, I attacked the office. I really love where I live. Kandus did a great job when she bought this house. I have the perfect size bedroom, my own bathroom, and a fantastic walk-in closet. I really love our room dedicated to craftiness. We are both so busy that the only time we really visit this room is to use the iron, but it's still a nice thought. Between Kandus and I we have enough scrapbooking stuff to supply a small store, and I get a little more every month at my card class. The problem is, how in the world do you store all that stuff neatly?! Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated!! Because I make regular additions to my scrapbooking and yarn supplies I end up just dumping it on the table, futon, or ironing board. I've got to get better. So, this evening I cleaned. It looks pretty now and I'm actually inspired to sit down and work on my scrapbook. Who knew that cleaning that space would make me actually want to scrapbook????
It only took me an hour to get to this point!
Moral of this story.... Well, I don't know for sure. Maybe it is that I need to learn to part with unimportant things. No, that's not it..... ;) 
2 comments:
I totally understand the teddy bears under the bed...I'm not sure how many boxes/bags of bears that I have...only to realize that Brian probably has more than I do. Luckily his are all at his parents in Alabama still. Teddy bears could take over the world, but seriously you can't get rid of them. Its mean to ditch a loyal friend like that! :) We need to get together sometime this summer while you have a break from pesky teenagers! :)
I totally understand being a packrat. That used to be me. But slowly as I watched my granparents and parents and all the crap they've kept over the years and then having to muddle through it. I urge you to stay strong and continue to declutter. When you think about taking those stuffed animals, think about the kid who will love the bear instead of the bear's feelings. (I have been there so I totally understand.)
Keep on keepin on. Looks like a fab summer project of cleaning!!
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