Welcome to day 12 in our Clutter-Free Challenge. Today we get to talk about my favorite room in the house – the kitchen. And it’s actually a room I spend most of my time in now that I purchased a laptop computer and started working at my kitchen table. I get to stare out the window and rest my brain periodically. Here’s my view:
Actually there are also some pretty pink roses in front of the bird feeder that aren’t shown here. And this was taken last spring, so the grass isn’t green right now.
I’ve discovered many of life’s blessings happen in my kitchen. This room unites the values I hold dear: home, family and community. This is why keeping it organized and clutter-free is a top priority for me. It’s not so I can boast of my alphabetized spices or labeled storage containers. An organized kitchen helps keep me focused on what’s important, instead of mentally drained by a mess.
My kitchen also needs the most work to stay organized. Right now six of us live in this house, plus my husband and I both work here. My front door should be a big hotel revolving door with the flow of people in and out all day. As my loved ones move through the house, personal property gets set down in the most convenient spot … convenient to them, that is. This normally means a kitchen counter. Can you relate?
Here’s the problem with a disorganized kitchen as I see it. When there’s no room to work, I’m discouraged from starting anything. Instead of making an affordable and healthy dinner, I am tempted to pick something up. Instead of being creative in the kitchen, I choose something simple. It just takes too much mental energy for me to overcome clutter.
Not only does clutter drain energy from me, but there is no room for anything beautiful. It’s hard to appreciate a bouquet of roses from my garden if it’s set on bills, report cards and dirty dishes.
So, in order to bring in more beauty, peace and order, I have declared a war on clutter. If that appeals to you, here are some suggestions for how to de-cluttering the kitchen. First, gather some boxes to store items that will be removed, whether to sell or give away. Next …
1) Sort through and remove all clutter from on top of your counters.
Put away, recycle, toss and file those items you know what to do with. If you don’t know where to start, pick a spot and work your way clockwise. If you need to make decisions on other items, put those in a large box for later decision making. Wash and put away dishes. Clean your counters and sink. Now stand back and survey your accomplishment with joy! (clap, clap, clap … that’s from me).
2) Move many of your kitchen appliances out of sight (toaster, bread maker, waffle iron, etc). Clear counters will refresh you, and give you a clean palate for creativity. You might need to work on step 3 at the same time so you have room to store these items. I know this is optimistic, but use it as a goal.
3) Eliminate extra, unwanted, broken, chipped and incomplete items.
This will take time, but start with one cabinet or shelf at a time. Completely remove every item from that shelf or cabinet. If you don’t use it, make a decision on what to do with it and put it in the giveaway, sell or garbage can. Be honest and ruthless. I know this will be hard, because many of us are well intentioned. I really intended to make fondue for my family … someday. But I had to be honest with myself.
Clean the shelves with warm soapy water and return the items you want to keep, including those items that were previously stored on your counter.
4) Store seldom-used appliances elsewhere.
Can you store larger items outside your kitchen? If you are holding out hope that you will start to use your waffle iron, then consider a shelf in an outside storage cabinet, extra bedroom or linen closet. I have a shelf in my garage for larger items I don’t often use. Another option is to purchase extra kitchen storage, like a free-standing cottage-style pantry or rolling island. Consider buying something with doors to reduce visual clutter.
Here are a few of my favorite random kitchen de-cluttering tips:
1) A bread box. I have a charming bread box that does not hold bread. Instead, it holds vitamins and medication. If you’ve got lots of little bottles in view consider repurposing a bread box. We store bread in the refrigerator.
2) Message center. Most of us have phones in our kitchen. Make sure you’ve got a pretty holder for notepads and pens. It can also be a temporary holding place for invitations, directions, etc.
3) Bulletin board. I put a bulletin board in my laundry room to keep coupons for restaurants or activities. I put them here instead of on my refrigerator.
Here's what I have on my counter right now.
Once you’ve got your kitchen de-cluttered, put together some charming displays. Do you love coffee or tea? Create a hostess station with pretty mugs, tea bags, and a cream and sugar bowl. Are you a flower gal? Splurge and buy yourself some flowers from the grocery store, or better yet, plant some and harvest your own blooms.
There are lots of other organization tips I could share for the kitchen, but I want to stay focused on de-cluttering. Once you have trimmed and slimmed down your kitchen, research great ideas for organizing your cabinets, drawers and pantry. I hope you’ll be inspired to keep going.
And I also hope this sparks your creativity for cooking and enjoying more meals together with friends or family. If your schedule is crazy, try aiming for one night a week to reclaim as your own.
Tomorrow we will address bedrooms and baths. Then day 14 we’ll tackle our closets. And on Friday I’ll wrap up this challenge with general tips on managing clutter and some encouraging words.
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
My trouble starts when I bring the mail in. It is then saved for Hubby to look at. He will pick out what he is interested in and that then tosses the ball back into my court! I will push what remains over on second counter, under the phone and on top of my monthly calendar where I am sorry to say it begins to procreate! What a cluttery mess it eventually becomes where I have to sort through it once again. A never ending battle. I read once that we need to sort through mail immediately upon setting eyes upon it. Pull what is important to be kept, and toss the rest away either in trash container or take to shredder and shred. This all takes organization and most times I will be dual tasking while getting mail and taking dog out. SOS–Help Glynnis!
Jaiann, I learned a mail-handling tip long ago, and now that I am once again the one to bring the mail into the house, I have restarted applying it — only touch each mail piece once. Distribute what’s not yours (and encourage the same tip with other household members – good luck
) and put each piece of your own in its appropriate place immediately. It sounds like a time consumer, but the few extra minutes spent upon bringing it into the house will save an extended amount of time going through large piles later. Not to mention the clutter it keeps from forming in the first place.
Thanks Nancy for the reminder of the, “only touch each mail piece once” tip! I’ve suddenly realized that I’ve never really defined appropriate places for the mail! Need to put my thinking cap on and find a more suitable system. Had a conversation with my husband this morning as I made breakfast and asked for his help. I explained that I had a good grip on the organization of the rest of the house, but that this one area, ‘mail and papers’ was my stronghold. Part of the problem may also be an insecurity-control issue, not wanting to miss anything important. Today is a new day and I am going to attack this stronghold with a totally new attitude and view point! I appreciate your words of wisdom and encouragement!
that is the problem with me too—never just going in or out but multitasking or rushing on to the next task so not really finishing the first job fully
I have been a table clutterer for years…years!!!! Even with a pretty basket for mail, even with an entry way console for keys and outgoing items….
What finally “broke” me ( I still have moments…) is always having a tablecloth and a pretty centerpiece on the table so I want to avoid cluttering it.
I found that placemats divided and added to the clutter so I got rid of all of them and read somewhere that tablecloths actually send a message of unity and togetherness. Its helped me!… now if I can just tackle the gadget drawer…
I really like this idea PattiJo!!! It would definately give me the proper message to not use table as a clutter dump!
Maybe I need to think about doing similar on my kitchen counter (as Glynnis suggests), making a pretty display of flowers, etc. 
Since I have been on this journey of decluttering, I actually (mostly) decluttered my kitchen last Sat, and I loveee the suggestions!! Looking forward to getting more done! bedrooms and closets.. ugh… may need to fast and pray before this one! lol
Well, I had success #1 last weekend. I had a dreadfully disorganized and overflowing pantry where I stashed just about anything to keep it quickly out of view (in addition to food…kids craft stuff, serving dishes, candles, unused items of every class, etc.) or b/c I didn’t know where else to put it b/c all the other cabinets are just as bad. I finally had the energy and motivation while my 3 yr old was napping to start. That’s it, I was just going to start, maybe one section or shelf, but that soon turned into the whole kit and kaboodle and I even added contact paper!! Threw out/added to garage sale pile- probably half and relocated some items and now it is beautiful and even has extra room! I did google “organizing your pantry” and came up with some good tips and categories to organize with. Thanks to you Glynnis and everyone for your encouragement. Now when I pull something out, the chance of a huge (sam’s club size!) glass jar of strawberry preserves will be less likely to fall and and break on my tile floor!!
Good morning Glynnis! I have really been enjoying these posts but to be honest I was only half heartedly(sp?) reading them. I got up on Saturday morning and without even meaning to my whole family went on a de-cluttering spree!
We worked on our spare bedroom (we have an evangelist that will be staying with us in February), both of our kids rooms and we have a large closet in our hallway that use to just hold blankets. NOW…it is a reading cubby hole for my kids! 
Thanks for your patience with us through all of the clutter! 
Ohhh, one more thing I forgot about…our taxes “to do” list has never really been a list. It was something we put off and put off until we couldn’t put off anymore. BUT, yesterday, I made a master list that then broke down my projects into smaller tasks…it worked wonderfully!!!! I thought of you the whole time I was doing it!
Have a blessed day!
Thank you for letting me know about your successes. I know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed. I go through cycles too when I don’t have the energy – mental or physical – to make changes. But it’s always interesting what happens when I determine to just start – I get so much done. I’m so glad you are hanging in for the ride on this de-cluttering journey.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who intended to make fondue for her family! My fondue pot has a new home somewhere now and I hope someone is using it. When our house was on the market I got into the habit of keeping my appliances and spice rack off the counter. I’ve kept that up with the exception of the coffee maker and a toaster oven because I found I was bending down to get them out too often. Now its just those two items, sink accessories (paper towels, soap, etc.) and a huge bowl of fruit I never had room for before.
Love it! Thanks!!
Once you’ve decluttered someone always comes along &…well, you know. When I home schooled our home’s dining area was in the center of the house w/all the rooms radiating off of it like the hub of a wheel. EVERYONE set stuff on that table & it was the first thing you’d see upon entering the house. I made up a little sign that said “No trespassing. Violaters will be fined 25 cents per item.” I removed items AND charged all offenders, even my mother & mother in law! It cut down on clutter without turning me into a screaming meany & I spent the money on stuff I wanted for the house.
Love this idea! Could use it for my kitchen island
THANK YOU for this topic today. I have 3 great teenage boys and my wonderful husband so my kitchen is busy and always seems to be cluttered! We do not have a lot of counter space but I try try try to keep a handle on it. It seems as if I ALWAYS have dishes in the sink. Since I work from home, I try to keep it clean but once the boys come home from school, they DROP everything. I have decorative plates on the table by the front door for keys and glasses and that seems to work, but nothing has worked in my kitchen. They bring the mail in and plop it goes on the counter, backpacks on the floor, etc. Any advice for this tired of kitchen messes momma???
Anne – if you saw my house at 4:30 you would see the same thing. There is a transition time of a few hours when my kids come home, pull stuff out for me, and then either start homework or get ready to go back to school for practice of some kind. Then the mail comes in at that time and sometime a bit later, I start dinner. This time of the day comes for everyone with kids in school. When I worked outside the home it was around 5:30.
However, after dinner, there is a clean sweep time again. Whoever is home works together to pick things up and restore the kitchen to rights.
It’s kind of like a grace period for everyone. I don’t know if this would help you or not, but it has reduced my stress quite a bit. Thanks for asking.
I’ve really appreciated all the posts so far. De-cluttering my home has been a much needed project that I just kept putting off. I totally relate to the idea of all the clutter taking all your mental energy – I’ve just had too much to do to even know where to start! Today’s tip about using a bread box for medications is really great for me. All my husband’s many bottles, packs, etc. are on the kitchen counter. One thing I constantly struggle with, though, comes when I try to get rid of items (of ALL kinds, in EVERY room!) that are no longer needed. We are in ministry and I am a stay-at-home mom. God always provides what we need, but finances are always tight. Since I don’t contribute financially to the household, I always seem to be torn between giving away items that are still in good shape or trying to sell them somehow so we will get some return on the items. I constantly struggle with whether I’m being lazy and trying to just get things out of the way the quickest and easiest way possible, or is getting rid of the clutter more of a priority? Am I NOT being a good steward if I just give things away, or am I not trusting that if I do, God will provide what we need, when we need it. I’m hoping maybe you might touch on this subject in the next few days with bedroom and closet discussions (since clothes seem to be something everybody has to sort through from time to time), but if not, any thought you might have on this stweardship vs. trust issue would be wonderful! I’ve spent time in prayer about what God would have me do, but have felt no clear direction yet. Thanks so much for all the help so far!
I personally think that God blesses you more when you give stuff away than trying to sell it. Especially when you give it to someone who really needs it. I only have one girl and there are no other girls in our extended family, so I gave her clothes to someone who could really use them. I feel God blessed us because someone else came along and gave us some girl clothes that she could wear now. Also I we will in a small town so yard sales don’t bring in a lot of money anyway. I think you are being a good steward when you give to those in need. Keep praying, God will give you direction and peace!
Blessings,
Thanks, Michele. Yard sales wouldn’t work well where we live either. I’ve had some success finding resale shops, but not much. I’ve been leaning toward the direction you mentioned. I certainly have plenty of options of where I could donate to people in need. Your words of wisdom have been taken to heart. Thanks again.
Just a thought on the giving versus selling. We moved this summer and I did both. I was fortunate enough to sell a LOT of stuff at a resale store where they split the amount earned with the seller. Then last week I got a 1099 from them for the income! I never thought about that. I don’t have receipts from purchasing any of that junk (excuse me, for those wonderful treasures). I might have been ahead to give it to a charity that would give me a receipt for my donation.
Thank you Carol! I have never even thought about the idea of income tax on resale items! Definitely food for thought!
I’ve done everything from giving to friends to donating to selling. I’m in a large city where garage sales are well attended. Many neighborhoods do them twice a year. We have a local website where you can advertise what you will be selling and I am specific about clothing sizes so people who are in need of those items know where to look. I don’t pre price things and let them go very cheaply, sometimes almost giving them away. I think this can be a blessing to the people who buy the items because they get a great deal but aren’t accepting charity. Also, some local churches organize huge baby/children’s consignment sales where the seller gets a percentage, the church’s children’s ministry gets a percentage, and sellers can choose to have their items that don’t sell donated to local charities. So many people benefit from that arrangement. I’m getting items ready for one tonight, and looking forward to purchasing some needed things for my kids as well.
Glynnis,
This entry excites me the most. My kitchen/dining area is were all the action happens in my home. I can not stand the vitamins and meds being out on the counter, LOVE the breadbox idea!!! I can’t wait to get home and get this started!! I am so inspired by this challenge. Although I feel like I’ve got things under control in some areas, others are greatly lacking. Thanks for everything Glynnis.
Oh my goodness…the breadbox idea, genius!! Thank you
Thank you so much for the kitchen de-cluttering tips. My problem is that I share a kitchen with my landlord. I currently live in a duplex home and my side of the house does not have a kitchen. The landlord does not have the money to finish the remodeling so I’ve been kitchenless for over 2 years. I’ve been blessed with a nice home to live in but I definitely miss my kitchen =( The kitchen was my favorite place to spend time cooking, baking, and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate on the counter while I read standing up. I really miss seeing my husband face light up when he sees me cooking. It has definitely been difficult using my landlords kitchen because she likes her things a certain way. All your tips for kitchen de-cluttering can be use in my landlord’s kitchen. What can I do or go about in organizing her kitchen without offending her? Please pray for me… I have a 7 month old baby and it would really help if I’m blessed with a kitchen so I can host events in my home and cook meals for my family.
Hi Tammy – God has you in an interesting situation right now. I’m curious what He is teaching you in all this. If it was me, I would tell her you read a blog about making some changes in the kitchen to help with make things more comfortable and functional for everyone. Perhaps tell her it motivated you to spend more time in the kitchen. I wouldn’t say anything about de-cluttering because that might hurt her feelings. Then ask how she felt if you helped out with some deep cleaning and sorting.
Without knowing her personality, it’s hard to suggest the best approach. However, I can tell by the kindness of your comment, and with God’s direction, you will know exactly what to say.
I hope it goes well.
Thank you so much Glynnis- I know the best approach is to buy your book and share it with her =) I really wanted to get your book and this will be the best time to get it so I’m not only de-clutter my home but at the same time help my landlord get organize as well. This way I can eliminate her from reading this blog =l
Glynnis…. Thank you for what you do… especially for God! It is very inspiring!!!
I completely know how you feel about getting rid of things you no longer need when you are on a tight budget. I also struggle with it for a really long time. May I suggest garage sales!!! I love garage sales. My husband and I have them 2 times a year. We started doing garage sale because we needed to raise money for my husband’s tuition for Bible College. Since we were in such a tight budget we couldn’t afford his tuition but to sell things we longer need or use. This includes all items in our home. From clothes, appliances, baby items, frames, to even items that I wouldn’t think people would buy like old cassette tapes. Just on a personal note… be generous… get rid of thing you haven’t used in 6 months, encourage your friends to de-clutter too, and when you have your garage sale… price it where you are pretty much giving it away. For example… a picture frame for 50 cents or even 25 cents. The purpose of my garage sale is to bless others, get rid of things, and making a little bit of money to replace financially on areas that are needed. My first garage was horrible because I got anxiety when my husband priced things so low that he practically giving it away. I cried because all I thought was how hard we had to work for the things we were selling. But I didn’t realize that everything at the garage sale belongs to God. It wasn’t mine to begin with. I had to be in prayer and God showed me that the garage sale was an opportunity for me to share His love. I had the opportunity to pray for others and blessed people by charging them really cheap. Who doesn’t like a great discount even when it comes to garage sale. Sometimes I give things away too. I remember a little boy who was playing with a teddy bear and his mom told him to put it back but I said he could have it and that “it is from GOD” the mom smiled, the little boy smiled, and my husband and I smiled. That’s what our God is like. A day filled with JOY! So Andrea… getting rid of your things is being a good steward. I hope this helps. I’m excited for my next garage sale because I look forward to spreading Gods love by using the things he provided once in my home as a tool to share His Love.
Thanks, TN! It was good to get reminded that no matter what I decide to do with my extra stuff, it’s all God’s anyway – whether in my hands or somebody else’s… We are like Michele who mentioned above that she is in a small town and garage sales don’t really work well. We have done a few of those when we were in more populated areas. It is great when God lets you use that to meet neighbors, etc. and minister to people you might not have ever met otherwise. As far as selling things to pay for Bible College…had a friend a few years ago going to seminary. He and his fairly newlyweded wife sold almost literally EVERYTHING to get there. She said that he told her, “it’s just stuff. We’ll get it back when we need it.” God blesses that kind of faith for sure! Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Glynnis!
thank you so much for your help. I have just done my kitchen. Packed up all the extra dishes that are taking up space. All the plastic containers that are not being used.
My kitchen is very small so I don’t have the room for a lot of things.
I have been sick for some time overcoming cancer. Everything really got on top of me and I was so depressed that I couldn’t cope. I prayed that the Lord would help me and here I am. God is awesome. I am actually getting excited about throwing things out.
I will send useable things to the Cancer shop.
I am finding that I am not so overwhelmed now. I just needed to know how to organise things. Wow! what a help it has been. God bless you Glynnis.
I should mention that I have a wonderful husband that helps me a lot even though he had been coping with cancer as well. We are both on the way to recovery with God’s help.
Hugs and blessings Maz
Hi Maz – thanks so much for taking the time to write me a note. I’d give you a high-five if I could! I’m praising God for His healing of you and your husband, and for bringing you help and hope. I’m very happy you are joining me on this de-cluttering journey.
My kitchen is a dumping ground for everyone…the kids, the hubby, even the dogs as they leave their toys in the floor. Today talking about decluttering my kitchen gives me hope that it can be clean. It does not have to be a home for everyone else’s stuff…I am going to go and declutter, give them to people in need (via our church or the thrift store that is supported by United Way). I am inspired. Thank you so much for blessing me with this series…it has been a huge help. Be blessed because you are a blessing,
Smiles, Robin
Thank you. You are so sweet.
I feel almost more overwhelmed now than ever. I love this de-cluttering idea and all you’re teaching, Glynnis. But My problem lies elsewhere. I Absolutely HATE HATE HATE clutter, esp in hidden areas. I want to scream when my closets are messy, so they get cleaned out a lot! But where i struggle is in the kitchen and with papers. But my Kitchen is so little that i CANT empty the counters enough to have room for any thing. I love baking and my husband likes the old fashioned home cooked meals, baking and all that. With the space i have, i have no ambition to bake, and cooking is a drag, because if i don’t clean and put my dishes away, i don’t have the space to finish my meals properly, but finances don’t allow me to get , for example, an island, or the like, and my husband hates the house full of storage things. And as if it isn’t obvious enough, it seems like the kids think the counters are the place to put things that need a place. I’m trying to teach them to put things in their place right away, but honestly, i don’t feel successful. I find my little girls clean WHITE shirts on my dirty counter. I’m not sure where to start. What advise do you have for me? Oh another thing… will this course be available on your blog for a while after we’re done yet?
Are all these topics in your book?
Hi Emily, to answer your last questions first, I’ve created a category on my blog called “Clutter Free”. You can find all the posts there, and I have no immediate plans to remove them. And yes, these are topics in my book. I’m giving away a lot of content, but this series also has some new ideas in it as well, and there’s lot more in the book. Thank you for asking.
Now to your small kitchen situation. I can almost picture your kitchen because my sister had one that had no counter space. And what space she did have always had a dish drainer on it filled with dishes that didn’t fit in her cabinets. This issue involves taking a bigger look at your storage availability in your home and moving some things around. Is there a shelf someone else you can claim for kitchen items? Can you install extra wall-mounted shelving somewhere?
I also wonder if your kitchen table could be used as a prep table for cooking/baking. Depending on the surface, you’d probably have to protect it.
It’s easy to be so discouraged and overwhelmed by the limitations that it’s almost impossible to see other solutions. I know – I’ve been there too. But I’m always inspired by pioneer women who had nothing and somehow still managed to made thing works and add touches of beauty.
You’ve come to the right place for encouragement. Just don’t let any condemning thoughts take root. We’ve all been in hard places. Maybe you can just make one small change at a time. Pray for God’s direction and trust that He will give it. Moving forward will be your best motivator.
I’m praying for you.
Thank-you Glynnis
I keep a small pendaflex holder (coupon size) in my car. Whenever I run across a restaurant coupon, or a coupon for some fun family activity, I put it in the holder in the car so it will be with us if we decide on the spur of the moment to use it.
Glynnis,
Thanks to you I am organizing my recipes. I have a great three ring binder with dividers for each type of food (dessert, appetizer, etc.) the dividers have pockets so I can put index cards or magazine clippings in them. I am typing up my favorites and putting them on the hole punched recipe pages that came with the binder. I originally bought this binder to put aside for a shower gift, but after shuffling it around during a move, it just didn’t look gift-worthy but its great for me. So, I gave it to myself (yea!) – and I am loving the space its creating in my kitchen cabinet that used to hold lose recipes in a folder. I also decided I have way too many cookbooks so I am typing up my favorite recipes from each one and then the books will go in my next yard sale. Of course I’m keeping a few but the new space in the cabinet is great! Thank you for giving me the courage to try this. Oh, and by the way, anyone interested in doing this would not need to have a this notebook – it could be recreated with a plain three ring notebook. You can get pocket dividers at any office supply store.
Glynnis – on Day 14 of your De-Clutter series, you said something that really stuck with me “I want to live open handed, not closefisted. For if my hands are closed, it’s very hard for God to place something new in them.” It’s the same thing you are talking about today for some of us and our relationships with things and people. There needs to be a balance. Even if there are “things” I want to save – if they are stored properly (so as not to clutter) there can be a balance. But the first step in all this is an awareness…am I trusting God and opening my hand?!
I totally agree with your comment on how clutter can stop relationships. I remember when I would not invite people over my house when my baby boy was born because of my clutter. I hurt some peoples’ feelings and certainly missed out on great support and love because of my clutter. I have learned not to do that by de-cluttering a bit and not allowing the clutter to stop my friends. Still can be embarrassing at times, but I learned the hard way. Wish I could take that time back but I am living in the present now.
I have taken a few steps toward decluttering, but still a long way to go. Keep the ideas coming!
Hi Glynnis,
Thank you for this post. I never looked at keeping things as relational, but of course it is!
All those souvenirs from weddings, baby showers, parties on through the years are from family events and if I threw them out, well I just couldn’t ! I am now looking at all my closet clutter in a new way, and with the Lord’s help, getting rid of alot of it! Thanks for the insight!
Thank you for all the de-cluttering ideas. Sometimes I think I have trouble de-cluttering because I remember such little details about things that happen and where I got things. I’m afraid I will loose some of those memories if I don’t have the reminders around.
Hi Glynnis,
I have so many “things” that “keep me close” to my grandparents who are now gone, notes and cards that my parents have given me thoughout my life, all of the relational things that are keeping me in a tail-spin. I become so overwhelmed with the clutter that I throw up my hands. It doesn’t help that my new husband is a pack-rat, too! Well, I’m tired of saying we will do it this weekend, and not getting even a room completed. It’s time to start! Thank you for the motivation! Please pray for me to Let Go and Let God help me to make the tough decisions. Thank you!
Thanks for the motivation! I decluttered my entire kitchen counter last weekend, and it felt great! I’ve got to stay with it, though, because already in the course of 5 days, paperwork is starting to pile up again.
I read with great interest the DNA/not-connector issue. Our pastor Sara is a connector of/with people. She not only connects with people, she connects people with people. I cannot understand why I cannot do that, too. She quickly discerns where there is a relationship in what they are saying or what they do or any comments they might make and she is ready to build upon that piece of information. I could meet the same people and chat about the weather or a Praise song or a recipe (nicely, of course), but miss the little clues and cues that are dropped into our conversation.
After reading your blog today I have a better idea of why this might be possible. Jesus looked into people’s hearts and saw their need. He saw a way to connect. That is what Christianity is all about…connecting with people. People are the BODY OF CHRIST. And even though I believe my DNA might not be “connector type” i still might learn a lot from the “people” people in my life.
Thanks Glynnis
I read your post to my husband today. Within the next few months, we have to move and will be going to a much smaller residence. We have to get rid of so many things and my husband is having a really hard time with this. It’s almost like he feels that giving some of the stuff away, is getting rid of a piece of himself. He is in his 60′s and has a sweater that he received when he was 16. Doesn’t fit, is out of style, etc., but he can’t get rid of it. The next few months are going to be so difficult for him and it breaks my heart. I wish I knew how to help him. He is a “connector” type person. I hope that he will think about what your post said today. Thank you.
Hi,
I Dna post and I think I’m a connection, stability, external person. I live in Okinawa, Japan and stationed in a military base. We’ve been here for 5 years and will be moving early Summer. We have accumulated a lot of items, but I’ve also been holding on to old items that mean a lot or remind me of something.
The main reason is that it’s hard for me to give up or get rid of items because of a past hurtful memory. My parents divorced when I was 2, and I lived with my mom. When I was in middle school my dad decided to fight for custody. Circumstances that are way too long to talk about created the custody battles, trips to attorneys, big rooms on my own answering questions about where I wanted to live and why. My father ended up taking custody over my mom and we went to live with him. After the verdict my dad drove us back to our mom’s house to pick up our things. My mom was so upset she did not let us take anything at all but the clothes on our back.
Everythings I’ve owned, collected, and loved was all taken away. I never saw any of those items and my entire lives memory until that point were gone. I think after that anything I would aquire was with me for good. I was not going to get rid of it that easy. I guess I still go back to that day when I lost it all.
Now I’m married with two children and have a lot of things. I do give away, sell, and donate items. However the connector items are way too hard for me. It is work in progress for me but have managed to keep my house in order and have no major piles in sight. My saving grace is that I like a clean and organized home. So my weekness is balanced out by my obsesive side to keep things in order and where they should be. It’s not perfect by any means, but with a lot of prayer and with the grace of our Lord, I’ve managed to work on my past memories, forgive, and move forward.
I think I must be a combination person. I have connections to some things, but I really like to get rid of things and make things organized. Is there a place to take this personality test?
I can identify with so many of these women. My elderly parents had to come from another state to live where we live. My father went into a nursing home because of advancing Parkinson’s disease. He was there for 5 years, and my mother lived with me for 7 years. I still have articles of her clothing hanging in the closet because it feels like if I get rid of them I’m losing her all over again. I have so many items like books, greeting cards, pictures, etc. that I feel overwhelmed at trying to decide what to do with all the paper. It’s so true that these items are related to the people we care about and so hard to part with. It’s a struggle to get started with sorting through all of it. I know that it will take a lot of time because it requires emotional decisions. I think the idea of giving things away to others who need them is great because that’s what God wants us to do. Not be a hoarder but a blessing to others. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas and personal experiences. My heart goes out to you Rosie and what you have gone through in your life. God bless you and all the women who are going through this decluttering process!