Survey #234 Response from Ginger
| Express your gratitude for something in your home that you plan to keep indefinitely. How does it support the life you love? | I’ve given this a lot of thought. I think I’d be fine with passing along almost every item in my home. Something I’d keep indefinitely would be something in which I place great sentimental value. I keep a list of those items. I visit it often and a few things get passed along. ▪️I’m grateful for the memories. They remind me I’m loved, cherished, respected and trusted. ▪️These support my life in that they help keep me grounded and to feel the connection to my husband and family. My husband and I are a team. We are still madly in love and also best friends. Always there for one another. My family is important to me. The roots are deep. We are like a tribe. No one is left behind. ✔️1. A business card with note written on the back. This was my first contact with my husband. He passed it to me in a restaurant. “Hi Beautiful. How about dinner sometime. If interested - give me a call.” It took a few weeks of pushing by my co-workers before I called him. We’ve been together almost 40 years. ✔️2. Jewelry pieces from my husband. Wedding ring set. Diamond heart cross. ✔️3. Photo albums. Archival safe materials in slipcases. I received a foot locker full of my maternal grandmother’s photos. I put them in albums. Toured Texas getting help from extended family to identify 98% of the subjects. I’ve shared many of them with family. But, I think I’ll want to make a printed book and pass these photo albums along. ✔️4. My genealogy research. It’s all in 3 ring binders by major family surnames. Some has been entered in a database. I’m thinking of a family member who may be interested in taking this over. Includes some family memorabilia such as my grandfather’s WWI diary. |
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| Describe someone or something that has helped you on your decluttering and organizing journey. This may be an idea, a story, a person, a book, a resource, etc. | ▪️My dear Aunt Donna. We shared organizing how-to books. We worked together in each other’s homes to get it all “under control”. We were both prolific list makers. Started when I was in my early 20s. I’m late 60s now. ▪️Authors Julie Morgenstern & Stephanie Culp. Organizing books. Morgenstern: Organizing from the Inside Out. Culp: How to Get Organized When you Don’t Have the Time. ▪️FlyLady. She gave me a structure for my day, week, month and helped me focus on one area at a time. She also introduced me to the idea “Set it free to bless someone else.” This was a major paradigm shift for me. ▪️Peter Walsh. Discovered him on TV’s Clean Sweep. He introduced me to the idea of “honoring” items you choose to keep. I loved his 31 Days to Get Organized - in January each year. I think the last one was in 2020. ▪️Marie Kondo. Her method opened my eyes to HOW MUCH I really owned. 17 flower vases. 50+ candles & related items. 70+ pieces of dental hygiene products. 14 bottles of body lotion. 14 bottles of perfume/scents. I began my quest to decide how much was ENOUGH. ▪️The Clutter Fairy. Gayle & Ed. I feel like I get a weekly boost with our zoom meetings. And, when I’m cleaning or working on projects - I’ll listen to a mix of episodes on YouTube. Truly helps keep my energy up. Thank you for that! ▪️A variety of online FB groups and YT channels to provide different perspectives and inspire me. |
| Describe something that you’re grateful for having been able to declutter and release from your life. | So very grateful to release clotges that FINALLY became too big to justify keeping. I’ve lost 70+ lbs.since 9/9/2023. (Low carb, ketogenic diet.) My sister just gave me some of her clothes. She’s lost weight also. I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been in at least 15 years. More to go. But, it feels totally doable. |
| Identify something in your space for which you feel grateful, but which you’d consider releasing so that someone else can enjoy and appreciate it. | Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer. And, a Cuisinart Food Processor. Their season with me is over. |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | Do you have a favorite YouTube channel or 2 related to organizing? |
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