Clearing Wannabe Clutter (And The Air)

“I may have had a negative reaction to some of the previous clutter-related articles. Now I get it. The author is writing from the perspective of someone who helps hoarders or shopaholics. And I found balance ages ago so I don’t get it. But ultimately the question is who gets to decide what is or is not clutter? Or what is an acceptable level of stuff? How about an article that helps people determine for themselves what may be signals that they have a problem rather than advising everyone to just get rid of possessions for the sake of getting rid of them?”- a commenter from my last clutter article

While I think those are valid questions, I was more than a little surprised to read that someone who’d been reading this series of articles on clutter didn’t already know the answers. First of all, it is not my intention to separate everyone from everything they own. Note the emphasis on everyone and everything. I mean, really? Who wants that job, even in this economy? Please allow me to clear the air…

Certainly you’ve recognized that I am not everyone‘s taste. I tell stories, sometimes painfully long ones, in a virtual world where I’m encouraged to be brief, redundant, and organized by bullets because you are supposedly busy, bored, and overwhelmed by people like me offering information about how to change your life. If I’ve ever had a “clickable” title on one of my articles it was an accident. I refuse to promote gratitude during November or fresh starts in January. I will not invite you to something useful and free just to follow up with an invitation to the thing you really need at a cost that I’ve dramatically inflated simply because “they” say that you’ll think it’s high quality.

I will not pretend I am something I’m not just so you’ll feel reassured about my professionalism, nor will I tell you that you need to hire me as a coach, come to one of my classes, or read my articles. (Yes, I’m aware that by many people’s standards, this means I suck at marketing. I’m okay with that… stay with me here.)

I trust you.

I trust you to know if your needs are in alignment with my work.

If I write something that resonates for you, I trust you’ll read it (again and again, if that’s what it takes). I trust that if you like what I’ve written that you’ll “Like” it and if you think people in your life would enjoy it, I trust you to share it with them. I trust you to get what you want and ask for what you need. I trust that you’ll hire me if you want to work with me. That seems like such a reasonable policy to me.

It is my intention to use whatever is within my means to be a major player in the loving transformation of the world. People are suffering, sometimes too stuck in the suffering to make the desired change, and my work is about cultivating freedom.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Elisa F.

2:24AM PDT on May 22, 2013

Thanks for the reminder. Need to clear out the garage.

May 22
send a green star

6:13PM PST on Nov 20, 2011

so true. thanks!

November 20
send a green star

Chris R.

11:47AM PST on Nov 13, 2011

Thanks Christy!~

November 13
send a green star

Holly L.

5:01PM PST on Nov 12, 2011

Great ideas - thank much!

November 12
send a green star

Norma V.

3:14PM PST on Nov 12, 2011

Clutter is clutter....thanks for reminding me that clearing out the physical clears out the mental as well.

Brian M.

10:32AM PST on Nov 12, 2011

When we recognize mindless consumerism for what it is and reject it; when we limit our consumption of goods and services... then clutter has a much harder time of accumulating.

Mandi R.

11:33AM PST on Nov 11, 2011

Thank you

November 11
send a green star

Michele W.

5:22AM PST on Nov 11, 2011

Linda H.

1:19PM PST on Nov 10, 2011

Thanks, this is a huge issue. In fact I can do lots of things but now after many years maybe I just don't want to any more? I have to learn to not feel bad about that. I like my cleaner simpler lifestyle. Thanks again for September. Things are not perfect yet but boy they are better and now I can see what more I need to do without a lot of panic. Haha, in fact I am writing this from a clean and clear entirely empty table! Kisses to you and your family.