Faith is taking one step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.
My garage has caused me much angst over the last several years. I would drive home everyday and feel overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” that was in my garage. Some days it would literally cause me physical anxiety. I often wondered why it caused me such discomfort; after all, it was my “stuff” right? I still hadn’t made the connection at the time, but I believe the “stuff” in that garage represented the “stuff” that I had to deal with in my life. The more I didn’t deal with “my inner stuff”, the more uncomfortable I got each time I pulled into that garage. I could not escape the “stuff”!
Over the last year, my world completely changed as I knew it, and I got so uncomfortable that I had to face some really tough realities. As my life began to change before my eyes, my external space didn’t change at all. However, the way my universe works is that when I get really uncomfortable, I have no choice but to take action, so before the New Year, I decided that my bedroom needed a complete overhaul. After all, that was much easier than dealing with the enormity of the garage. With the help of my amazing, talented, interior decorator in her next life, sister; my bedroom is now transformed into a tranquil sanctuary of peace. It actually feels like a big hug. So going into the New Year, after my company left, I felt better, but I still had to pull into that garage each day and that “stuff” continued to stare at me. I would try to look down and go straight to my tranquil bedroom, but it didn’t work. Until, finally I had a day off of work, had a cup of coffee, walked into that ( large three car) garage, and started cleaning out from one end to the other. Before I knew it there was a huge garbage pile, and next to that was two huge thrift store donation piles, and next to that was three gigantic bags to donate to Goodwill. About five hours later, not only was the garage clean and organized, but so was the storage shed that is attached to my home. I stood in the garage alone when I was done, and was tickled pink with myself. I looked something that seemed bigger than me in the face, and tackled it…ON MY OWN! I realized I could do anything I put my mind toward, but I also acknowledged that you can’t do anything until you are mentally, physically, and emotionally ready to do so.
Only you know when you are ready to clean out your garage :-)!
My take away(s):
- The space you live in is usually a reflection of your life. If your living space is filled with chaos and clutter, you are more than likely dealing with chaos and conflict in your life that needs to be dealt with or cleaned out.
- Sometimes things that appear to be insurmountable are really bigger in our minds than in reality. Whether it is a garage or even a bigger challenge, taking one step will lead to another and another…
- The universe sends us signs time after time, and our life will continue to be uncomfortable until we take steps to change…it took courage to tackle that garage, and it takes courage to uncover your truth, and then live it. So much was uncovered for me by the end of the garage cleaning…It was much bigger than the garage itself.
My challenge for you:
- What are some things in your life that need “cleaning out”? Whether it is a physical space, or inner conflict, what continues to nudge at you?
- Once you identify the areas of your life that need “cleaning”, what is one step you can take this month to get it going?
Please share your comments below
Simply: inspirational.
Thanks Londi…Means a lot!
This post will definitely inspire people to reflect on the things that are cluttering their spirit. This post conjured the many aspects of Danish and Dutch culture that I love (literal and figurative minimalism) and why the Scandinavian and Netherlands continously are ranked the happiest places to live. Many people hold on to tangible and intangible things that (unconsciously) suffocated their spirit and allow their fear of charge and/or the unknown to keep then from taking the steps to free their spirit.
Thanks so much for sharing Makia. I love how you added a global view to a concept that really is universal. Maybe my Dutch heritage influenced my writing without me even realizing it ;-). Please keep us all in the loop as you and the girls venture into a new world, culture, and life changing experiences.
what a great article and I really enjoyed and honestly related to the analogy of the cluttered garage and cluttered life. Me being a very organized and often called OCD person have falling into the clutter. but my reasons was somewhat out of protest. When you live with others and share space and they are hoarders and/or “cluttered” it becomes a horrible and exhausting task to keep “your” stuff and “their” stuff organized. And for years i just keep organizing “my stuff” and “their”. It was driving me crazy. Do you every clean before your house cleaners get to the house? Well, i’ve done it for year and wondered “what the…? Don’t get me wrong, it looks clean, but I was the one constantly hiding the clutter and it made me miserable. So one day i said to the cleaners “just work around that…”Your job is to disinfect and “clean” not organize or unclutter”. I say all of this to say… Sometimes what your permit you not only promote but become. So i vowed to keep “me” organized and uncluttered because I can be responsible for Me. I hope the others will follow my example. I still have work to do but I’m on my way.
Thanks so much for sharing Norma! Sometimes letting go of other’s “stuff” is part of cleaning out our own “stuff”! Love that you were able to see a different angle and yet it still really applies!
Hi Alicia, I love this article; very real! We sometimes have difficulty dealing with the “internal stuff” that’s sitting inside, festering, waiting for you to deal with it or resolve it or release it. It’s like you know it’s there, but you really aren’t ready to explore it or take that journey. For some people, it can be painful and there’s emotions like anxiety or fear attached to that “stuff” but you’re right, it’s all about that initial step; if you take one, you know you can probably take the second, and then the third, and so on. Love this article! I can totally resonate with it! Many blessings, Tasha (Nicole’s sister)
Thank you Tasha for sharing your perspective, and it is so true…The first step is most times the hardest, but once you get the courage to take the first one, the next will follow.
This has inspired me greatly! We are finalizing our basement remodel and we got rid of a lot of “stuff”. Now it’s time to work on the garage, my home office, and closets. My son are getting older and it’s time to donate clothes and toys. I need to dedicate one weekend a month to organize the chaos–I know with a family of four (and a dog!) nothing will ever be perfect but it can get better!
Thanks for reading and sharing Aliah. As you begin cleaning and de-cluttering, you will start to see all kinds of possibilities open up.
Very cool.
Thanks for reading James, and for sharing!
I saved this upon receipt to read when my mind was “decluttered”. I just read it and it’s simply amazing. Another confirmation that “you attract what you think.” Beautiful!!!! (Hope the water isn’t running down the hill onto the “real” porch.:))
Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.
Thanks so much Betty! I really appreciate your time and sharing your comments. No flooding yet…LOL!