the joy of less

I have this tree right outside my office window.

Summer 2010 (52)

And every fall, I watch her go bare. For all the world to see. Not ashamed of what she has shed. Or lost. No. She remains rooted. Unwavering. Solid to the earth.

Come spring, she blooms gloriously. First, green buds appear. Then, her promenade of white flowers. Generous. Abundant. And she is back. More glorious than the previous year.

In feng shui, when you clear the clutter + organize, one is encouraged to leave a few empty spaces. Signaling your willingness to be OPEN and FREE to new opportunities.

Since spring's first bloom, I have felt the urge to shed, too. But clearing any clutter or excess can be overwhelming unless you have a plan. My approach:

CLEAR 27 THINGS. OUT OF EVERY ROOM. IN 27 DAYS.

If you are regular here, you know the feng shui rhetoric:  move 27 things, change your life. While I'm not necessarily looking to radically change my life, 27 felt like a goal-worthy number. Not too arbitrary or lean…rather, it feels just right.

Since I've been thinking about this for some time now, here is how I've warmed up for this project:

{1} Brainstorm. As you move about your house, take inventory. Identify unnecessary surplus. And, then, go about your day. This gives your brain + subconscious time to detach so when you actually clear the clutter, you don't debate decisions.

{2} Purge EVERY room. My bedroom has a closet and a bathroom. Which means there are 3 rooms and 81 things to clear out. If it seems too drastic, remember magazines, pairs of old socks, outdated makeup, clothes that simply don't fit…all count. And it adds up quickly.

{3} Start in the rooms with the most stuff. They will help train your brain…and get you moving expertly around things.

Everything we own tells our story. Some things better than others. Living with what you love — and with what your family loves — is what makes a house your home. By ridding our spaces of disorienting excess, we make room for true comfort and satisfying joy.