“Please don’t take this gift as a hint. This is merely a book that I am enjoying reading at the moment. May it spark joy in your life too,” my card read.
I gifted several copies of the best selling book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo for Christmas this year. (I knew better than to gift a copy to my mom who would DEFINITELY take offense! Admit it, mom.)
An avid reader and inspired to further simplify my life in 2019, I read FIVE decluttering books over the holiday break!
But reading overrated.
It’s taking action on what you learn while reading that will change your life.
And so my renewed decluttering frenzy began.
Boxes of clothes, household items, and books were donated to Goodwill.
Several trash bags of paper were either shredded or thrown away.
Boxes of continuing education materials were sold.
My husband, jokingly I believe, says he feels like he’s living in a sterile environment.
I respond that I cannot stand to be around “visual noise.”
Always the wise guy, Andrew quips that it’s too “quiet” in our house.
The overriding theme of every book I’ve read thus far is this:
The purpose of purging your belongings is not to have less “stuff”.
The purpose of owning less is to free space in your life (figuratively and literally) for the things and activities that really matter to you.
Here are some suggestions I found particularly helpful in deciding whether to keep or discard particular items during the “great purge” at our house:
Speaking of free, although Family Succession Planning isn’t free, we do offer a great value on our Family Succession Strategy Sessions at only $197. You can book yours today here.
Kristen “the Anti-Hoarder” Marks
P.S. Check out the latest video I’ve posted on our website to learn how to avoid ten common estate planning mistakes to save your family time, money and headaches when you’re gone.