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Assignment 1 - part B - "Cleaning my room!"
I've been processing this one mentally for a couple of weeks. That's no good - stuff that stays in my head doesn't get sorted out very well. So....
Finally, last night putting the pen to the paper, I came up with something a little off the beaten path for what I would like to 'see'. The story unfolds rather differently when it's looking back at you in black and white.
The deal is, I'm pretty content with who I am on the inside. There are absolutely areas to grow in as far as my spiritual self but as a person I believe I have come pretty far from who used to occupy this skin suit. Pro-action time on catching the doom/gloom thoughts is pretty good most of the time. I’m happy. My family is happy. Kids like me (most of the time 
). Relationship with my spouse is coming along. Each day is a gift I'm happy to receive, with all its challenges. Things are moving along in this area and have not become stagnant at all.
While all this would have had me tossing my hands in the air, whining and complaining about a setback resulting in the 100% extreme outcome of quitting (sigh), I know now that it's temporary. It's also an opportunity. An opportunity for growth; to get to know myself and actively engage in finding a solution. It's something I do not like, so I get to look for a way to like it. The solution thus far is an appointment with a personal trainer/physical therapist June 22'nd to find out what exercises are off limits and how to work the ones that are safe to do. Most definately not giving up. I will continue with a physical exercise plan at my unique level once I learn what that is!
What I realized in putting the pen to the paper is I feel good! I have much more energy and am much more active in every-day life. This summer has been thus far about working on little projects, building things for the garden and taking care of chores outside that have been put off - either from being too tired, believing I was incapable or just scared of making a mistake. I realized the long drawn out process of thinking (ok, worrying) how to do things has been absent. I've been just going for it – Figuring things out, trying to do the things I want and not freaking out or throwing a fit when something messes up or doesn't go the way I planned and it’s off to the hardware store, again. This is huge!
Considering all of this I decided that it is my physical space in need of work right now. In the 9+ years in this house, there is a lot that has not been done. There are piles of things everywhere. Furniture, boxes, and "STUFF" I've not dealt with. Nothing is organized and everything is scattered. Oh, and the stuff multiplies, BTW, when we don't address it! Though the stuff doesn’t bother me to the boiling point of paralytic indecisiveness anymore, it is something affecting my well being. Coming home day after day and seeing the chaos beginning in the garage and compounding through the house is something I don’t like that needs dealing with.
The solution? Hmmmm..... Let me see… Wait 'till all the kids leave? No, then there won’t be any living space left. Burning? Too drastic. Let someone else clean it up? HA! HA! HA! Ahhhhh, I know! Ignore it and it will go away! Nope, tried that – not only doesn't the mess go away, it doesn’t make me feel better either, and it creates even more internal chaos. (see end of paragraph aboveJ)
How about I do something to learn to like my physical space?
How?
Come up with a plan and deal with it.
I feel good; have more energy, no longer worried about “failure” (bah!), or doing it “wrong”. Goodness, it’s just stuff! This is something I can control. I can take on this chaos!
The plan?
Take an inventory, figure out what I want to see, de-clutter, organize, toss, let go, give away, and clear the air. Set a deadline to have this done. A date to look forward to!
Hmmmm, kinda sounds strangly similar to what I did with my life the first time through the challenge.
So, here it is. A picture of my junk. Starting with the garage, I will work my way through this environment (Yes, I'm combining assignments here!). This is the 2-side, the view we see when we arrive 'home' after the garage door opens. AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
This is the view from the house looking out to the third part of the garage. 
UGH! It pains me to post these as much as a bodily ‘before’ picture! Showing all of t.com what a MESS our physical space is! The pile to the left is ready for donation….. it’s been ready for months and months. Why, you ask, is it still there? Because I’ve not penciled it into my life to deal with it! Not anymore! This space will be lighter! I will see a clean, peaceful, organized and welcoming space! I will see the cars parked in the garage with space to move about! I will have this part of our space taken care of by July 15th or sooner!
Sharen
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Was listening to you share about this on the radio show. We had a professional "de-clutter-er" come to our house for a week. Her question to ask for each item was 1) Is it blessing you? If no, donate or toss. 2) Is it sentimental? If no, donate or toss. That was it. Her theory was if it's not blessing you then bless someone else or toss it! You will rock this just like your own physical transformation. You can do it!
Sharen, thanks for posting this! You have inspired me to do something about my clutter!! I too put things off because I'm afraid I won't do it perfectly or "right." How silly are we??? Thanks again for sharing.
Thats awesome. I cant wait to see the results of this transformation. I dare not do the same (post pics) of my before I clean house - Way to go. Excited to see the clutter gone. Kim, : )
Sharen, Your story, these pictures, and you on the radio show last week gave me an awwh-ha moment. I knew it before, but I know it stronger now---Transformation works in ALL areas. You are such a humble example. There is power in throwing it all out there!
Oh, I can sooo relate! I actually live with someone who has major "hoarder" tendencies ("MUST we keep 15 identical inurse trolls???") I have started decluttering but still have such a loooong way to go. Thanks for the re-inspiration,Sharen! -Karyl
Sharen...I love it...and you have encouraged me to not run away from other things (all things) that weigh me down :-)
Your inner house sounds peaceful and content. I get the cleaning thing--it's weird but sometimes if I clean a room, I feel like I have more control in my life--little strange. I'm sorry to hear about your injuries. I'm right there with ya--I can't do what I used to but I can keep going and not quit. As always, you are an inspiration and so grounded. Have fun cleaning--well, as much as you can....TTYS--Carol
Thanks for your welcome post. As far as the garage and other piles and such, try to do 10 things a day or an hour. Just put the stuff for donation in the car and go drop it off. Just 1 thing right?, or just 10 smaller things in a day. I like to pull out a whole bunch onto the driveway and make one area organized with some shelves and that always gets me motivated. I am looking forward to the 'after' pictures! Patti
Sharen, you will feel so free when you clean your garage and house up! I LOVE to organize, wish I was closer, I'd help!
Everything you said seems like you wrote that with my thoughts in mind - perhaps save for the physical injury LOL ... I wasn't courageous enough to go for the whole house - hense the photo of my bedroom/en suite ... and at first i made it SO transparent that no one would have known what it was - WAY more harder to post that than my 'before' photo LOL .... I'm watching your home space clear up as will mine :D ~*Cherish Yourself Always*~ Kelly x-x-x
oi vey!! I look at the task you had in front of you and I see last month's visit home to clean out the family home flash before my eyes!! I so so so delight in throwing stuff out ever since then!! My sister said that when she opens her closets now, all she sees is junk! After seeing what can happen after decades of hoarding, you never ever ever want to see that happen to you!!! It feel so good to let go!! love you! MaryPat
Way to go! I find that decluttering and donating is always uplifting.
great work here! things are really a burden simplify!
Love this, Sharen!!! A House Transformation. ;)
Ahhh decluttering the home is something I love to do! It always brings instant peace to me. I get stressed looking at messes everywhere. My family cringes when I get the urge to declutter though...pack rats run away!!! This is so great that you found the answer and are working on things.
Last challenge I decluttered my apartment. I got rid of 4 boxes of stuff!!! It was great. Paul Walsh has some great common sense books to help.
I love it! We've been in our house for 17 years and have collected SO much stuff. De-cluttering is part of my goal as well. Go Sharen, Go Sharen!
Great job Sharen...Transformation can apply to every area of our life!!!
Nice blog! Quitting NO. Modifying YES! And worry is a misuse of imagination! (I'm good at this one.) A site that I love as far clutter, chaos, etc is Flylady.net. YOU ARE AWESOME! Keep going!
Sharen! I am the same way. We have lived here for almost two years now and there are a few boxes we never even bothered even unpacking! We never throw paperwork away and it all ends up in big piles on our counter or tabletop and then we get frustrated when looking for something because the important paperwork is mixed in with papers that probably could have been thrown away. Our garage and laundry room are scary. These past few days i've been on a cleaning kick and I decided to run with that. I got the living room, kitchen, dining room, bedroom and my son's room all spotlessly clean and now we just have the laundry room and garage to clean. I'm not the best housekeeper so it's huge that i've gotten so much of this done and am on a roll with it. Now it's at a manageble state and just needs the normal upkeep of the day so it doesn't get in a horrible place again.
You amaze me Sharen!!!!! You are working around injuries and pushing yourself in new areas... very inspiring!!! Keep moving forward and leading the way :-)
What a great twist on the assignment. You...yourself....you sound like you're in a great place. I'm sure that was hard to post those pictures. But just like your body befores, it's ever changing! Because of what you are doing!!! Have a great day! -Angela
This is great! You should see my school room. I would make you feel good about your garage. ;) Today I am dealing with my desk! Happy transformation!
Great plan, Sharen! And you started with posting a before picture! Way to go! I purged 3/4 of my things last spring and it still feels great. I filled a 10 yard dumpster and MANY trips to our local recycle drop off! You will feel so free, light, and proud of yourself around July 15! ~~Holly
i just finished doing that and still have just a little more to go, it is such a good feeling to see the piles getting smaller and then gone. Mona
Glad to hear you're feeling great. Do take it easy with the injuries (I'm telling myself the same thing :)) Oh, and when you start sorting you can call upon my cleaning mantra I've used through 26 years of army moves - IF IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT. :) Gaye
This is outstanding! Fantastic plan. Love, Jane
I've been told to 'clean out the basement' -- I'd NEVER have the nerve to post a pix of it, haha. I'd rather post my swimsuit pix, than you seeing THAT mess heehee. I'm sure you'll get it done. Take Care and GOD Bless (and enjoy your journey) Kathi
You are on the right track! I often find that when my environment is clean and clutter free, my entire life soon follows! March on!
Congratulations Sharen! The wheels have set in motion, and so be it! Clutter begone, life be good. I love this, and of course you too! In light and love JeffSBrodie Jeff
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