Stuff

It seems to be my nature to complicate things. For some mysterious reason a previously tidy room is engulfed in books, papers and craft supplies after I've spent a few minutes in it. In a case of pure irony, the clutter often includes several books about simplicity, organizing and clutter control!

The idea of throwing out something that is still perfectly usable is distasteful to me, however, the concept of editing possessions makes sense. Thinking of my house as a box that can only hold a limited quantity of items helps me see the benefit of editing those items.

There are numerous ways to find homes for the "stuff" that no longer fits in my life, among them:

The Freecycle Network has groups around the world that provide a way to relocate items. As they say: "It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills."
eBay, craigslist and local consignment shops present ways to make a little money while opening space.
Local charities with thrift shops are also a source for new homes for "edited" things.

I keep an "editing" box in the garage so I have a temporary home for the things that no longer belong in my home. When the box is full, it goes to a new home. It is going to take some time, but I'm looking forward to "wide, open spaces".