Thursday, October 15, 2015

Day 1 - It's Garbage Day! #cgsc2015

This is a 14-day challenge, not a 14-minute challenge, so the pace will be more of a marathon than a sprint. How long you will need to work on each day's task is entirely dependant on whatever is needed for you to get 'er done to YOUR satisfaction and/or ability (strive for better, not perfect).

Sometimes we look around our house and we see treasures, other times all the clutter just feels like junk. I'm willing to bet, like me, you have a decent collection of both. One of the first things we need to work on is which is which and as easy as that may sound, it is anything but. When we factor in dollar value, sentimental value, one-day-I-may-need-this reasoning, and one-day-these-clothes-will-fit-again (too big or too small) it becomes a monumental task to decide. What do I keep? What do I toss in the bin? Where can I share some of my blessings? And, of course, can I make a buck off this?

Day 1 is entirely dedicated to the obvious, in plain sight, junk. Absolutely NO diving into closets or junk drawers or kitchen cabinets folks! Now, let's grab those garbage bags, our blue bags and a bucket or empty kitty litter box to collect the dangerous goods. For the City of Edmonton, they have a "What Goes Where?" pdf to post in our homes. It's a good guideline but if you can find one specific to your area, definitely print it out and either post on your fridge or wherever you sort trash. I've finally printed a copy because as much as it irks me, there are things with the recycle symbol that are still not recyclable (what is with that anyway??). I've been rebelling by still placing those items in the blue bin but alas, I do have to admit I'm likely being a pain in the ass for the city workers having to sort that crap out anyway.

Stand at your main entry, if you have a porch or front step you can start there. Outside, are there any piles of papers that are "waiting" to be recycled? Hanging planters that have hit the end of their lifespan? How about those well used flip-flops sitting by the door? You know, the $3 ones from Walmart you tried to make last two seasons. From this point we are going to take a little tour of our own homes, and I repeat, stay out of the fuckin' closets people! ;) You can do this in any manner you like, personally, as I'm releasing I like to work my way through the house Widdershins (counter-clockwise), banishing the unwanted junk both physically and spiritually. But if that's a bit too woo-woo for you, by all means, just huck and chuck at will *big grin*.

At this time you can mentally make note of areas that will definitely take extra time and maybe even areas that will require no attention at all (only in my dreams here!) but do not deviate from your path. If you can see it without opening doors and drawers and it is garbage or recycle, toss it. Piles of magazines, empty envelopes and inserts from opened mail, the styrofoam container from last week's take-out, dead batteries laying beside the TV remotes (note, these require separate handling - use your dangerous goods bucket/box), cardboard from that new juicer you bought two weeks ago, ratty blankets that even the dog won't use, that broken snowglobe from a trip barely remembered. You can do it!

Take a photo or weigh the garbage then you please post either the picture and/or the weight of how much you have just released from this one little task. This is your reminder to yourself of how good it feels to just let it go! Feels good, doesn't it?! See you tomorrow xx

Love & light,
~Síonaínn **  ƸӜƷ  **

Ps. I may occassionally use sarcasm and swear. Consider this my blanket apology if this offends. ;)
Pps. I like postcripts. Likely this is needless to say, but pointless rhetoric can be fun too. 

6 comments:

  1. I'm totally cool with your sarcasm AND swear words! And thank you for not making us go through drawers, cabinets and closets. I'm not ready for that yet.

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    1. Good to hear, I'd hate to alienate anyone but I gotta be authentically me ;). And you're most welcome, I'd like to say that part isn't coming, but darling... it is, sorry (not really lol) xx

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  2. southern hemisphere, is that why we walk widdershins?

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    1. Hi Ngair, Both northern and southern hemisphere attendees will be walking widdershins as we clean. It is traditionally the direction of releasing and banishing so we are lending the energy of the same to our decluttering and sending out the old year :). Hope that makes sense x. Cheers!

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  3. Gings Ive just done some tidying up like you said to do and its made a difference already!!! Please dont worry about the swearing and sarcasm. Thank ?You for a nice easy break in to the clean!!! Love H xx

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    1. Wonderful to hear you are already seeing a difference, Hazel! I'm looking forward sharing this challenge with you :) xx

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