organizing

i dropped julia off and had an hour and a half to wait.  after cursing myself for not thinking ahead and wearing athletic shoes rather than flip-flops (so i could take a walk)…and not bringing a book (it was early!), i found that the only place open at that hour was the container store.  i used to like that place…and hadn't been in one for years…so in i went.  it didn't take long before the whole place just seemed ludicrous to me.  row upon row of items meant to make us feel good about all the crap we have…and enticing enough to buy more (the bins, boxes, and baskets)…so that we can buy even more (stuff).

when furnishing this home from scratch, i remember numerous times having to tell myself not to buy storage containers (they're pretty!).  i had read that if one had to buy organizational items, maybe one had too much stuff.  :)  i successfully resisted all those times and only bought a few bins when i had specific needs (like organizing my shopping kit and finding an indoor recycling collection bin).  i also bought a couple see-through bins for the girls to keep in their tiny closets, so that the contents would be visible from the outside.  hidden = forgotten = unnecessary (for the most part).  we have a few other baskets scattered here and there, but only a few…with specific, useful purposes.

i love this quote from the minimalists, "ultimately, 'organizing' is nothing more than well-planned hoarding." eek!  this kind of severe thinking is what keeps me from unnecessary purchases.  use as needed.  :)

love,
jane

​p.s. i loved this month of minimalism.