A Life Decluttered: Keeping Busy

I implement the art of simple, stylish living because I love opening the door into my home and entering a serene space. If you've been reading along -- this you should surely know by now. Too much stuff stresses me out; I need a serene space to write; and the William Morris quote on my home page is truly my motto: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

But, friends, there is another reason I love cleaning out closets and decluttering cabinets. Sometimes I just need to keep busy.

I have so little control over anything. ANYTHING! So when life takes its twists and turns, I find comfort in decluttering. Some people take up exercise to quiet their minds. Others practice meditation. I give these both ringing endorsements. But for me, paring down also works wonders.  

Let me tell you a truth. When a loved one falls ill and you can't fix the illness (because you are not a super hero, it turns out), the stuff in your closet suddenly becomes wildly insignificant. Perhaps - because it is a difficult time - your mind races... and you just need to keep busy. It is times like these when decluttering has been a form of therapy for me. 

And the twists and turns in life aren't always difficult! They are joyous too. When I met my husband, I spun into love. I couldn't focus on my writing for the life of me. I was too busy living my own story. We were long distance at first and I didn't see him much. If I wasn't talking to him (or about him to my girlfriends), I needed to keep busy (while I daydreamed about him). 

My personal aesthetic loves the outcome of decluttering. But when life takes to swirling, my soul needs the activity of decluttering.