I wrote this a few years ago and it is time to post it for all to enjoy. It is sung to the tune of the Christmas Song "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow."
“Let It Go, Let It Go, Let It Go”
Well the piles inside are frightful
Acquiring was so delightful
No place for the chi to flow
Let it go, let it go, let it go
I’ve squirreled away so much it’s scary
Now I want a home that’s airy
I’ll have to train myself to throw
Let it go, let it go, let it go.
Bridge:
When I’ve finally gotten rid
Of the things kept since I was a kid
There is plenty of open space
Room if I wanted to pace
Emotional attachment is clinging
But I’ve set myself to flinging
There someone who needs it mo’
Let it go, let it go, let it go.
My memory’s not eternal
So I wrote it in my journal
My keepsake pile is dropping low
Let it go, let it go, let it go
Bridge:
I’m afraid I have been obtuse
I thought someday this might find a use
Embarrassing, it appears
That was thought twenty-some years!
There’s stuff I’d thought I’d try repairing
There’s so much, I’m despairing
It’d stretch out in a mile-long row
Let it go, let it go, let it go.
I’ve finally stopped delaying
I’ll stand no more “some-day-ing”
Stop shifting stuff to and fro
Let it go, let it go, let it go.
Bridge:
There are projects I just might do
Talents in me I just might pursue.
Just because I give this away
Won’t mean I’m blocked from essay
These knickknacks sure were pretty
Before they broke and got dirty
There’s just too many to show
Let ‘em go, let ‘em go, let ‘em go.
Bridge:
When I toss a gift from a friend
I’m afraid that they’ll note and contend
But it’s not like it’s theirs, it’s mine
If they’re kind, they won’t malign
Well, the heirlooms that I inherit,
Unused, they lose their merit
Antiques they are, but even so
Let ‘em go, let ‘em go, let ‘em go.
Bridge:
When I come to what I collect
I must pause for a sec’ to reflect,
“Discarding it all’s a beast;
I’ll part with what I like least!”
We’ve finally cut the clutter
And put it out by the gutter
If it happens again I’ll know
Let it go, let it go, let it go!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The charity box in the garage
When professional organizers work with people to help them declutter and get organized, a very common practice is to keep a box nearby in which to put things that will be donated to charity. The problem is that once the job is done, the now decluttered customers tend to think that there is no longer a need for a charity box. They think the charity box is a tool used only while decluttering with a professional organizer. But it isn't. It is one of the best tools for staying decluttered in the long term after the professional organizer has left. In short, every household needs to have a charity box.
Now, allow me to digress just a little bit with a story...
When I was going to BYU, it fascinated me that every dorm laundry room on campus had what was called a D.I. box. (D.I. is short for Desert Industries, which is the Latter-day-Saint-run second-hand thrift store.) When students wanted to get rid of perfectly good clothing, they could put it in the D.I. box, and every so often, the box's contents were taken to D.I., donated to charity. I made use of that box, and I came to consider it a convenience.
When I got married and established my own household, I found that I still needed something to store items that I intended to take to charity. It would be silly to make a trip just to donate one thing, so I began using a cardboard box as the D.I. box for our family. When it got full, then it was time to make the trip to donate it. I kept it in the garage so that when it was full, it was very convenient to just put it in the car trunk. (And then I put "Donate stuff to charity" on my list of errands.)
Keeping a charity box in your garage will do several things for you. 1) You can get an immediate lift by removing clutter from your living space, with a set place to put it. 2) It will help you become reconciled to letting go of things by giving you time to discover you don't miss it. 3) It institutionalizes charitable giving in your home, which builds the character trait of generosity little by little.
If you want to remain decluttered over the long term, keep a charity box around and add things to it from time to time when you find they aren't being used.
Now, allow me to digress just a little bit with a story...
When I was going to BYU, it fascinated me that every dorm laundry room on campus had what was called a D.I. box. (D.I. is short for Desert Industries, which is the Latter-day-Saint-run second-hand thrift store.) When students wanted to get rid of perfectly good clothing, they could put it in the D.I. box, and every so often, the box's contents were taken to D.I., donated to charity. I made use of that box, and I came to consider it a convenience.
When I got married and established my own household, I found that I still needed something to store items that I intended to take to charity. It would be silly to make a trip just to donate one thing, so I began using a cardboard box as the D.I. box for our family. When it got full, then it was time to make the trip to donate it. I kept it in the garage so that when it was full, it was very convenient to just put it in the car trunk. (And then I put "Donate stuff to charity" on my list of errands.)
Keeping a charity box in your garage will do several things for you. 1) You can get an immediate lift by removing clutter from your living space, with a set place to put it. 2) It will help you become reconciled to letting go of things by giving you time to discover you don't miss it. 3) It institutionalizes charitable giving in your home, which builds the character trait of generosity little by little.
If you want to remain decluttered over the long term, keep a charity box around and add things to it from time to time when you find they aren't being used.
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