As many of you know, I’m big into decluttering. It just feels so good to get rid of stuff. Stuff you don’t really use, anyway. Why not pass it on to folks who could? Plus, come this time in the summer, I gotta confess, I’m pretty much feeling like a slug. Cleaning out a drawer, or selling something we haven’t used in years on Craig’s List, makes me feel like I’m being productive, without working up too much of a dew, you know? Now, that’s a win/win.
I learned about decluttering from my niece Caitlin who, along with her job down to Mahoosuc Health Food, just happens to be a certified Feng Shui consultant. She has a great little decluttering exercise that makes it easy. She calls it, “Twenty–Seven, Feels Like Heaven.” I talked about this in my book, Finding Your Inner Moose, and was reminded of it the other day when I got this nice, little note from a gal in Rhode Island, saying she tried it and how it got her outta her funk.
Caitlin says, “If you’re feeling stuck in your life, and want to get the energy moving, try giving away one thing a day for twenty–seven days.”
Why twenty-seven days, you ask? I did.
“Well, Aunt Ida, nine is an auspicious number in Feng Shui, so we try to do things in multiples of nine.” (I don’t really know what “auspicious” means, but I’m thinking it’s some highfaluting way of saying “lucky.”) “Besides,” she continues, “experts say that if you do something everyday for three weeks, it forms a habit.”
“How did you get to be so smart, dear?’
“I inherited it from my aunt!”
Gotta love her. Then Caitlin goes on to explain that “Twenty–Seven, Feels Like Heaven” is a pretty standard Feng Shui exercise. “Lots of experts recommend it. That’s because its amazing what a little thing like this can do. As you give away the things that are no longer of any use to you, set the intention that you’re making room for new things you might want: new clothes, a new job, new relationship, happiness, you name it.”
Makes sense, right? One thing a day is manageable, and will keep you from getting overwhelmed. Me, though, I like to move things along a little faster. Besides, I’m not about to go to the Goodwill every day, and couldn’t stand driving around with a bunch of give-away stuff in my car moldering away for days on end. So, I do the “Twenty–Seven, Feels Like Heaven” thing in one day. If you’re speedy, you can probably get this done in an hour or less. Plus, it’ll count as your aerobic workout! How’s that for “auspicious”?
I call my version “Chuck it in a Bucket.” Get a big bucket, laundry basket, or garbage bag and quickly go around the house, your attic, your basement, drawers, jewelry box, whatever. Grab stuff you haven’t used in a year or more: clothes that don’t fit, things you never liked in the first place. When you get at least twenty–seven, stop and sort the stuff into throw–away, give to a friend, bring to a thrift store, or sell. Then put the stuff into your car and take it where it needs to go. Do not drive around with this junk for more than a week. That’s just moving the clutter from one place to another. Let it go! Be done with it! Make room for the new. Trust me: you’ll feel so much lighter. And liberated!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
HEAR IDA TELL IT: Chuck It in a Bucket
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