by the Artist
"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
A quote I have on my personal email signature that resonates with me. Someone commented about it recently and it made me pause. I could not remember who quoted it. William Morris a 19th century author, designer and craftsman.
A few years back I dipped my toe into a bit of professional organizing. I loved it. It was always thrilling to see a space be transformed. It took work. For me to keep patient as we worked through "donate, sell, recycle or trash" for every single item. For the other person to stay focused and work with me through the process.
The thrilling part comes at the end when the room is clutter free. I love to "stage" the room, rearrange furniture, bring in some fresh flowers for a table that formally was completely covered in papers- coupons, bills whatever landed there. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. It's kind of like my own little "Fixer Upper" reveal. It is really a rush for this beauty bringer.
It's spring as I write this. The trees out my window have tiny leaves and buds waiting for sunshine and warmth to burst open. It's the season of new beginnings. More so then January 1 in my opinion. Who doesn't have a desire to clean something out? A drawer or garage. Organize the clutter and debris of those long housebound winter months.
Useful and beautiful. Sentimental? A good bargain? A later possible use? How to stay in control of all the things that flow into our lives. Coupons littered on the counter among the junk mail, receipts and store purchase bags, groceries that didn't get put away, old batteries and pens that don't work, paper clips and an old key (for what?). Life on this earth can and is extremely overwhelming. Just too much stuff. Stuff strangles and can own us. I've seen it shut a person down.
I know it is easy for me to say that. I am not overly sentimental. I keep heart memories over physical memory objects. Years ago I wanted to keep something from one of our dogs when she died. The Carpenter said..."let it go and keep her memory in your heart". Well that stuck with me.
These days I share my organizing gene with friends and family. Currently I'm driving almost an hour to help a friend who owns a farm and is recently remarried. We're making room for her new husband's belongings in an already full house with not the best storage. The hours fly by like minutes. It is intensely gratifying work and brings me such happiness to bring happiness to another person. And it doesn't hurt that it is a farm if any of you know me. ;)