Professional Organizer | Clearing Clutter | Motivational Speaker | Salt Lake City, Utah

Show ‘N Share Tuesday:
I get a lot of emails (thank you) telling me one of your favorite blogs is show ‘n share Tuesday’s as you like seeing the changes that getting rid of clutter makes. I wanted to show ‘N share part of my beautiful hike with you today.

This is just a fragment of the road we hike up before we take off up a narrow trail on the mountain. You can’t tell it in this photo but the green leaves have come out at different times. The mountain didn’t all of a sudden turn green. Each different type of tree turned green in its own good time and then other trees turned green until the entire mountain is covered in beautiful green trees and grasses.

We are like the greens on this mountain. When we are getting rid of clutter we work at it a little at a time and we get one area organized, then another and another. What a beautiful lesson from Mother Nature, to get rid of clutter a little at a time until we reach our reward of an organized home and life.

This flower represents our reward for getting rid of clutter—it is beautiful and happy spaces. (Does anyone know if this is Utah’s state flower–the sego lily?)
What is your favorite happy space? One of mine is cuddling up in bed with the electric blanket on under the flannel sheets reading a good book.

My neighbor shared this story with me and I have to say we had a good laugh. We were talking about our belief systems and what beliefs we hold on to even when they are proved to be false.

His wife was on some kind of a diet and he noticed she always put a lemon in the microwave before squeezing it. He asked her why she did this and she said because she would get more juice out of it. He thought that was ridiculous so he did an experiment.

He took a lemon and carefully cut it in half. One half he heated and one he didn’t. He then squeezed the lemons into separate glasses. (Is that proper grammar?) There was the exact amount of lemon juice in each glass—one half having been heated and half one cold. His wife’s comment was “we must not have heated it high enough”. That is too funny.

What beliefs about getting rid of clutter are you holding on to? Getting rid of clutter is not rocket science, but sometimes we hold on to beliefs that would make it seem like it is—such as, it is too hard, I don’t have the time, I don’t know where to put things, I can’t put anything away because then I can’t find it. Do any of those sound familiar? Is it time to update your beliefs about getting rid of clutter?

Referring to the Mayan Calendar…
“If this is the last year of my life, I’ve got to have a nice purse.”
—Reality Jayne

Did that make you chuckle like it did me? You know what “they” say because the Mayan calendar ends this year (2012) this will be the year that it is the end of the world.

I thought if we KNEW this was the last year of our lives would we still be getting get rid of clutter? Or what would we buy? A pair of shoes, a nice purse, or would you still want to live in a clutter free home?

Years ago I had some curtains custom made for my kitchen/dining area window after we had done some remolding. They were blue (my favorite color) and beautiful. I loved the way the sunlight came in through the window when the curtains were open and framed the window.

I was telling the curtain maker that it was probably foolish for me to spend the money on curtains as we would probably move someday; I could just go and buy one. She said something to me that I have always remembered. She said she wanted her home to always look just like she wanted it to look even if she wasn’t going to be in it very long.

I enjoyed that curtain for as long as I lived there. Even if I knew the world was coming to an end I would still be getting rid of clutter. How about you?

“If 1 red valentine equals 3 purple valentines, and 1 purple valentine equals 4 white valentines, how many red valentines are in 24 white valentines?”

I know this is Wednesday and it is the day I have a thought but because it was Valentine’s day yesterday I am shaking it up a bit as this was such a fun (did I say fun?) brain teaser. (I am math challenged; I am the person you can thank for calculators).

Do you look at getting rid of clutter this way? “If I put this here will I be able to find it, I will just set this down here for a minute (and before you know it has become a pile of clutter), I will keep this skirt because I am sure I can fit into it someday, I will keep this bowl because I may need it someday—AHHHHH before you know it you not only have a brain teaser but you have a whole lot more clutter to get rid of.

The answer is…(did you skip ahead for the answer?) 1 red=3 purple, 1 purple=4 white, 3 purple=12 whites=1 red, 2 REDS=24 WHITE

“Ninety percent of all who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit.”

—Paul J. Meyer

Wow—this really struck me. Never quit on de-cluttering your home or getting rid of clutter. Keep on keeping on. I work with many women who have become discouraged about clutter in their homes because of family, health or other reasons yet they never gave up. (They may have stopped for awhile but they never quit).

Life happens and our focus changes as things come along. Getting rid of clutter can seem like a thankless task sometimes but it is absolutely worth it for peace of mind and in the end it makes we feel better.

I always say go slow and take tiny tortoise steps. A friend of mine who had some health problems asked if there is anything slower that tortoise steps when getting rid of clutter. (That made me smile) I don’t think so as they are pretty slow—have you ever watched a tortoise? If you know of something slower please let me know so I can share it.

On the days you need to go slower than a tortoise just do it that is o.k. too.