Page 114 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2023

HOME
GOOD
CLUTTER
Near the top of every New Year’s resolution list, it seems, is the determination to declutter and organize our lives, starting with our homes. There is a whole industry that has emerged to help us do it. There are books, videos, and podcasts sharing the virtues of minimalism and suggesting we will be infinitely happier living with less clutter.
They say if we haven’t used something or worn
it in a certain amount of time, get rid of it. It suggests things automatically become clutter and that clutter is bad. “Less is more,” they say. But sometimes isn’t having more better? How do we part with all the things that are wrapped up in wonderful memories? These are the bits and pieces that make up our lives. They speak to us every time we pour tea from a hand me down pot or stop to look at a framed photo from a favorite trip. We find comfort in the things we cherish. And that’s where the better resolve lies, keep the things you love close and don’t hold on to the things that don’t bring you comfort and joy. It is ok to hold on to a coat you will never wear, just because you think of someone you loved every time you see it hanging in the closet.
Perhaps a better goal for the new year is to have a tidy house. Being messy is never a good thing and we agree a dirty house can cause unneeded stress. Stacks of papers need to go. Scan what you need to keep a record of and then shred, shred, shred. Piles of clothes, toys, and dirty dishes don’t work in any decorating scheme. Put things away and if some things don’t have a home, make a place for them. Organize your things and keep spaces clean and neat. Every January, big box stores stock up on containers in every shape and size for a reason. Don’t forget to buy the latest gadget to organize all the tangles of wires from your electronics too.
story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
114 | January 2023
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