077 - A Whole New Perspective

Today’s episode is exactly what it felt like in real time. A ramble. A purge. A stream of consciousness from a woman who is deep in a two-year mission to finally declutter her home and reclaim her space. This conversation came out of something that’s been pressing on my mind for weeks. It started with TikTok, then a quote, then a shelving unit that has sat unopened in my garage for over a year. And it all spiraled into a much bigger question.

Why am I keeping so much stuff that isn’t serving any purpose in my life anymore?

What I Talked About in This Episode

My Long Decluttering Journey

I’ve been working at decluttering for about two years, and it feels like every time I make progress, I discover another corner, another shelf, another drawer full of things that have no real home or purpose. Growing up, clutter was normal. Kitchen counters were permanent catch-all zones. And I carried those habits into adulthood without even noticing.

Moving into our current house 11 years ago, we swore everything would have a place. Over time, that went out the window. Between raising three kids and running a business from home, the accumulation was inevitable. And now that the kids are grown or gone, I’m seeing every object with fresh eyes.

The “Hiring” Philosophy That Changed My Thinking

The big shift happened when I heard a TikTok clip quoting someone who said this:

“We don’t just buy things. We hire them to serve a purpose. If they’re not doing the job, there’s no reason to keep them.”

That quote made me question everything in my house.

The shelving unit I bought in 2023 that’s still unopened because I mis-measured? It’s not doing its job. It’s just sitting in the garage taking up space.

Watching Cliff Declutter Sparked Something Too

Cliff has been on his own cleaning spree in his studio. While helping him break down cardboard for recycling, I realized how much unused potential space we actually have. Closets. Shelves. Corners that could be functional if we only stopped throwing “miscellaneous stuff” into them.

His progress made me want to push harder on mine.

Re-evaluating the Big Bedroom Furniture

When we built this house, one of my biggest dreams was a real bedroom set. We’d been married for nearly 20 years with mismatched pieces and no headboard. I finally got my big furniture… and now this version of me doesn’t want any of it.

The dressers hold stuff we never use. Our closet remodel means they’re basically redundant. I’m ready for lighter, simpler, smaller pieces. Cliff is not. So that’s a longer-term play. And yes, I fully intend to win this one eventually.

Letting Go of Past Hobbies

Once upon a time, I was deep into wreath-making. Now my hands cramp too much to keep it up. I’ve accepted that, but I still have a stack of finished wreaths taking up space. I’ve been telling myself I should sell them, but honestly, I just want them gone.

I’ve already given some to McKenna. I’m offering one to my mother-in-law. And the rest? Someone else can have them.

Small Projects That Have Been Lingering for No Reason

Like the router-hiding book project. I bought the books, the glue, the supplies… and then stalled for a year because I thought I needed a clamp. Today I saw someone do it without one. Turns out, I could have done this last fall.

Now it goes on the to-do list—not as an urgent thing, but as something I can finally move forward on.

What Do You Do With All the Stuff?

This is the question that keeps me stuck.

• I don’t want to throw things away if they could help someone else.
• I don’t want to do more yard sales.
• Clothes are easy to donate.
• But what about the random items? Craft supplies? Décor? Half-finished projects?

I found a woman who works at a senior living facility, and donated bags of craft materials to her. That felt good. But so much remains.

Living With Clutter Interrupts My Peace

The clutter distracts me. It keeps me from focusing. I walk into a room and get visually overwhelmed. Even the readers on my desk. I don’t use them anymore, they need to go.

But where?

That’s the question I keep asking.

The Questions I Ask You in This Episode

• Do you declutter regularly?

• Do you live in an orderly home?

• What does that peace feel like?

• And most importantly…

  What do YOU do with the “stuff” that isn’t clothes, isn’t trash, but isn’t needed anymore?

If you have ideas, I really want to hear them.

You can email me directly at [email protected]

Closing Thought

I’m still on this journey, working my way back through the house, starting with the open common areas. Some days it feels endless. But every drawer I empty, every box I clear, every object I let go of… it all brings a little more clarity and breathing room.

If your purpose right now is to clean, then let that be enough.

Live your life with purpose. And let the space around you support that purpose too.