Many homes have at least one “junk drawer” where things that may be useful but are not yet clearly useful get tossed. “Junk drawers” are periodically sorted out and decisions are made from a fresh perspective about what is and what is not now junk. But most things don’t make it into a junk drawer. Most things are, well, all over the place. Some remain useful and used while others drift into the realm of almost junk. At some point, difficult choices are made … or else they are not. If the choices are too difficult, they tend to be avoided, and as they are avoided, collections of almost junk continue to grow. At some point, accumulated almost junk becomes a visual problem reminding us of work that needs to be done, choices that need to be made, and decision that need to be faced. This is when things we once valued can lead to emotional stress, endocrine effects, and even social isolation. To put a short label on it all, at some points uncertainty feeds anxiety about the need to face the uncertainty.
For most of us, somehow we manage this stress, either by ourselves or with a friend or two. But many of us know of someone who, at least at some time, has struggled with and been immobilized over the challenge of “de-cluttering” their lives. We may have recognized parents trying to “down-size,” families separating after loss, of friends who simply have become overwhelmed. Helping someone through this crisis of immobility requires not only a practical sense of what is and what is not useful but also a sense of where and how to start and a sensitivity to the emotional needs of our overwhelmed friends. When we ourselves cannot help a friend “de-clutter,” it helps to recognize resources in our communities that can help. It helps to recognize what help is available.
Decluttering our lives makes space not only for ourselves but also for others.
LOCAL RESOURCES TO HELP “DE-CLUTTER” LIVES
Katie Annulli, Professional Organizer, 401-903-2704