From Deseret News archives:

Don't become immune to clutter

Published: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 1:10 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
When was the last time you sat down to just color, draw, play music, sing, paint or whatever your talent is?

When our homes are cluttered and CHAOS reigns supreme, we don't have time to do the things that fulfill us.

So that gets put on the back burner and the flame begins to die!

That little flame is the passion that is inside of you! How sad that we have hidden our little light under a bushel basket all because we don't think we have time!

So what is your talent? I never knew what mine was until I got my home in order. I always knew I could do anything I set my mind to do, but I never knew my talent was in writing and motivating. It was only four months after I started my routines that I began writing. It even shocked me!

At that time I was still caught up in my perfectionism and wanted it to be just perfect before I would let anyone see it.

It is much more fun now! I write to my heart's content and give it to the world every day! It may have mistakes, but no one is perfect, and I feel great about the message.

Clutter does not bless our homes.

Story continues below
It is a villain that comes to rob us of our passion, love, money and time. Let go of your clutter and find yourself with more time than you ever dreamed possible. It is hard work organizing clutter. That is why I say that you cannot organize clutter; you can only get rid of it! (That goes for the clutter in your brain, too.)

This villain comes into your home and holds you hostage forever unless you get wise to his evil intentions and toss him out on his ear! Clutter slips in unexpectedly and slowly adds more clutter to your home. It robs you of your energy.

Oh, let's do a little test!

Just clean off the coffee table in your living room. Go spend five minutes doing it.

Now make it completely clear — no whatnots, just a clear space!

Feather dust the table or wipe it down. Has it been a while since you have seen that surface?

Now, stand back and look at it! How does that make you feel?

Next, start putting stuff back on it till it begins to feel uncomfortable!

I wager that after about three items you stop yourself because is doesn't look good, but the truth is how it makes you feel inside is why you stop!

We become immune to our clutter! We don't think our things are clutter, but if your spouse piles the dining table up with something they are working on, it is clutter.

Our stuff is a project that we are going to get back to.

Practice picking up after yourself and putting things away when it is time to stop working on it. You can get it back out later.

Recognize your clutter, release it and find your passion again.


For more help getting rid of your CHAOS; check out: www.flylady.net. Also see Cilley's book, "Sink Reflections" and her new book, "Body Clutter." Copyright 2006 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Letters: Preclude the ugliness

Who cares what that blow-hard, over-the-top, hateful egoist Ms. Rand had to say?

You folks that are not happy with Bronco. You are right and utah should get...

Letters: Founders not extremists

Our founding fathers could have easily mandated a national religion. They...

U.N. demands removal of poster

Well, the UN can focus on non-issues like this since it can't accomplish...

Letters: A plea to senators

Actually the majority of Americans voted in Obama on the platform of 'he's...

Clarification: BYU: Ranked in the top twenty by college coaches and...

Jazz notes: Young bigs ride bench

It is definitely in the "minority" You can be a "sloanaholic" but I want to...

Bluefin tuna quota too high?

Collect and freeze as genetically diverse bluefin fertilized ova as possible....

Obama to China: Take global role

So good of you to sign on as Anonymous.....sure tells us who and what you...

Lessons from tempting the universe

Anne, you deserved it! You've kept me in stiches for years!

Advertisements
Advertisement