1,000 Items

I completed the 1,000 item purge on Dec 31 and it was awesome! I ended by going through the last decade's worth of journals. I sifted through them for their irresistible bits then burned them in a fire. To revisit certain periods of my life was a little burdensome but the final effort was entirely cathartic. The purge was such a rush that I've instituted a new ongoing purge: 50 items/week. The goal for this purge is to keep the flow moving, moving, moving!

Happy Solstice

It's the solstice and I've been purging. I'm up to 645 items so far and I intend to have 1000 purged by the start of 2011. Tonight, we'll burn financial statements, life reflections, and health records in an effort to symbolically transform the state of each of these areas.

Finances: It isn't likely there will be an increase in Bill's income this year but from my end, we could improve our financial situation a bit at a time. As I advance in my passion for photography, generating revenue could be icing on the cake. I am committed to playing the business game big as EKP takes ground.

Life: Life is good - ours works. That said, there's still always room for greater sharing and fuller loving. I know I want to be vulnerable and courageous in my sharing and I have actions to employ to that end. As a mother, daughter, sister, partner and friend - I am committed to being more open, compassionate and considerate.

Health: I'm always interested in achieving optimal health for our whole family. We could eat better, rest enough, and laugh more. I am committed to reinvigorating our family's habits to improve health for all.

I am making more physical room in our home to accommodate abundant and loving energies. I don't intend to fill the empty space with material goods and can already sense the revitalization of the space.

100 items

I reached 100 items today!

Pulling from an article by 2 of the leaders of the voluntary simplicity movement, Elgin & Mitchell, I am applying a quick rubric to my living space: Does what I own promote activity, self-reliance and involvement or does it induce passivity and dependence? I am also applying this question: Does what I own promote consumption?

These questions have made a tremendous difference in how I see my things and while I still have 400 more items to go, I know I can easily distill our living space further. I already feel a newness starting to open up in my home and it's invigorating!

Energy

I am starting a new 500 item purge to ring out 2010. I feel that we may be living beyond the means of our home. I feel as if the home is bursting. In order to accommodate fresh abundance, I need to make room for it. This purge's theme is all about ENERGY. I am committed to unlocking what my life's momentum is directed toward and creating a material world that supports those energies. So far, what I've come up with are: connectedness, courage, love, clarity, contribution and joy. As I unearth more of how these energies propel my life, I will share.

500 Item Purge

Finally it's complete! With the help of craigslist, goodwill and the "circular filing systems" (trash & recyclables), I finally completed the latest 500 item purge. It took longer than anticipated but it was well worth it. I got a little extra cash and a lot less cluttering energy. I've undertaken a series of aesthetic projects including hanging paper birds, making a closet "door", painting a fan, and painting giant flowers on our block walls. So far I painted a couple of flowers on the back porch and sketched out the flowers for the walls...I am so excited about dazzling up the place a little.

The Energy of Things

I believe everything has energy and as I continue my 500 item purge, I'm assessing the energy of things. One of my favorite ideas is http://www.postsecret.com/

I bought one of the books a few years back and have often marveled at the intensity of the secrets and the perfection of the cards. I realized today as I considered whether it still held a place in our home that the momentum behind most of the secrets is less than inspiring, in fact, most of the secrets, as secrets are wont to be, are downright depressing.

I'm donating the book to Goodwill and already feel a lightening of energy in the house.

500 and 50

The 500 item purge is slow going right now. I have 2 days to purge 447 items and may not be able to to pull it off. I will be addressing the file cabinet next. I got caught up on the 3 day weekend and found myself having fun with the fam which was, as always, perfection! We went to parks, the zoo, swam in the pool and celebrated the 4th.

I've been inspired by the reminder that simplicity, for me, involves being engaged in adventure and fun. Sometimes all my ducks aren't in a row but what I've found is that the return on adventure and fun is almost always more than having everything be a certain way. I just got to keep practicing giving up what gets in the way.

We hit Freestone and Tumbleweed Parks this weekend so summer destinations number 20 now. We also went to the zoo but since I've already banked it, I won't count it again. 30 places to go!

500 Items

I just started a new 500 item purge and this time I am taking inventory of everything. I am down 55 items so far and have consolidated storage locations for several things already. I have enlisted Adele's support by asking her to choose her favorite things over all to keep. When I ask her to choose what to donate, she suddenly chooses to keep everything but when she's asked to choose her favorites, the outcome is revealing. This technique has made a difference for both of us - choosing what we love to keep and donating what's left over.