Less clutter doesn't mean keeping nothing (are you breathing a sigh of relief?)

Growing up, my parents kept EVERYTHING. As it piled up, we had a difficult time just moving around the house. My mother convinced me that if we lived in a larger house then we’d be organized.
I believed this until I was well into my 30s.
Sadly, I’m naturally organized and so I was always trying to straighten things so it would all look neater. But, let’s face it, too much stuff is too much stuff, and I was making it worse by hiding everything in boxes (because now we were looking at walls of boxes!).
After my mother died and my father went into assisted living with Lewy Body dementia, I cleaned out the house. Can I say STRESSFUL!!!
Then, while rolling my eyes at all the stuff my parents held onto, I started looking at my belongings. Oops. I was using my organizing powers for evil and keeping things like clothing that didn’t fit, three years of magazines, and more art and craft supplies than I had time to use.
I started decluttering my own stuff which eventually became the catalyst for me segueing from being a nature educator and art teacher to becoming a professional home organizer.
I believed this until I was well into my 30s.
Sadly, I’m naturally organized and so I was always trying to straighten things so it would all look neater. But, let’s face it, too much stuff is too much stuff, and I was making it worse by hiding everything in boxes (because now we were looking at walls of boxes!).
After my mother died and my father went into assisted living with Lewy Body dementia, I cleaned out the house. Can I say STRESSFUL!!!
Then, while rolling my eyes at all the stuff my parents held onto, I started looking at my belongings. Oops. I was using my organizing powers for evil and keeping things like clothing that didn’t fit, three years of magazines, and more art and craft supplies than I had time to use.
I started decluttering my own stuff which eventually became the catalyst for me segueing from being a nature educator and art teacher to becoming a professional home organizer.
Clutter (or decluttering) aside, who is Susan?
I live along the Charles River in Massachusetts, USA with my husband and a fluffy calico cat named Biscuits. I crochet, love reading young adult fiction and self-help books. I volunteer for my town's Garden Club and Friends of the Library groups. Oh, and I love personality tests (no, I don't know what Disney princess I am...I'm not into that type of insight).
I am...
I live along the Charles River in Massachusetts, USA with my husband and a fluffy calico cat named Biscuits. I crochet, love reading young adult fiction and self-help books. I volunteer for my town's Garden Club and Friends of the Library groups. Oh, and I love personality tests (no, I don't know what Disney princess I am...I'm not into that type of insight).
I am...
- An INFP (The mediator)
- Adobe Creative Type - The Dreamer
- Values in Actions Character Strengths
- Love of Learning
- Forgiveness
- Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
- Kindness
- Creativity
- Clifton Strengths (they charge for this quiz)
- Learner
- Intellection
- Strategic
- Input
- Restorative
- Enneagram Type 2: The Helper
- Rubin Tendency: Rebel (not as exciting as it sounds)
- Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw