Clutter
I returned this evening from my trip to Boston to a condo full of clutter. I have had it on the “list” for awhile to take care of…and its been weighing on my mind. While I was away I was reading a great new book that I will probably reference a few times in the next little while. One of the things it said was “A closet with boxes and clothes that fall out when you open the door has no space for anything new. It can’t be used for its purpose – storage – because its already packed with stuff. You have to create a space, a clearing, and a sense that nothing is in my way so that you can put something new on the desk or in the closet.” The context in the book was relating a company with old issues, an old strategy with the same discussions over and over, leaving no room for new creative ideas. For me this was really about cleaning the closet.
I have had old clothes in the closet for years, I like to think I may wear them again….even after I have looked at them several times and thought, nah, I will go with the new stuff. A cluttered house/condo is a cluttered life. Especially in bigger cities we have a lack of space, and any inch we can gain back clears more space for fresh ideas. I was able to clear three huge garbage bags of clothes out and my surroundings already feel lighter, a weight off my back, creating new space for new things to come my way. As much as it pained me, I even threw out a couple new things I have never worn and gave away my favorite Helly Hansen fleece (that is 8 years old). Of course, its easier to do when I figured out I had some brand new stuff that could replace it from my Kilimanjaro trip.
Additionally, I had a good suggestion from a friend when evaluating whether to remove an item from the closet. He asked himself if he had worn this item in the last 6 months and pictured himself walking in Yorkville thinking if he would wear this item there…or it could be Yale Town, Jasper Ave, 17th Ave, St. Laurent or Madison Avenue. Luckily for me, our board invited Planet-aid Canada to put a bin behind our building, so it was literally steps away. But there are Goodwill, salvation army’s near by and other organizations that will come and pick clothes up. Lastly, I know there are organizations in most cities that are taking older business wear for those in tough times that need to dress professionally for interviews. Indeed a good cause. Its a win-win, helping put clothes on the backs of others, while taking the weight of those items off yours.
Tags: Creative ideas, Friends, Handouts, Homeless
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July 23, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Based on this post, my wife wants to know if you are single and are interested in a divorced mother of three with another on the way.
July 25, 2009 at 7:35 am
I need some serious help with my closet
I don’t feel like we have too much excess but I sure feel like I have had some things in my closet a long time that I can’t bear to get rid of!