Inspired by Sasha and loved by friends

Change Sucks .. and my dear friend Faiza will tell you "Melanie hates change!" it's true, I do the process the waiting, it really is not the change I hate.Because once done, it is either good or bad, but it is done. It is the inbetween of A to B that can be a struggle.

So today while logging on to weight watchers (the dream of change here!) my iphone beeps and I see my dear friend Sasha posted -- it is time to clean up the house and prep for the big move, the new life, the different life... a future of greatness lies ahead. We, her friends and family see it.. she has to live between the A and B of it, deal with the messiness of life.. until the time comes and it is finally done.

So todays task she assigned herself was to look through and deal with the stuff that comes with having a beautiful baby, the awesome toddler and the soccer loving preschool kid. With JK on the horizon, her girl is growning up. With Emma being a couple of years ahead I know what that feels like, and what it continues to feel like with each new milestone she passes the days of the baby girl, the toddler, the preschooler are long gone in my case . My fireworks is what she is to me.. my light my bright boom in the night sky. Just like everyone else feels about the bundle of joy that begins growing up.

But the one thing, I long ago learned -- the year I was 28 to be exact, when what I thought my life was to be, took a (for me) dramatic  soul crushing (at the time) one eighty.. is that no possession, no object contains the memory or feeling of someone. We attach meanings to things, but people are what matter. Sure a beautiful picture, a warm sweater, or the rings of someone you loved who is now gone -- yeah keep. But everything else -- unless you honour it, look at it everyday a celebrate what it it means to you -- sell it, donate, refurbish it but don't keep it for one day when.. because we all know that just adds pressure, adds clutter and bogs you down -- at least for me it did.

So for all the spring cleaning junkies, or those whose lifes are about to change .. I have helped a few people through the de-cluttering of their home.. I am Ruthless, I am honest and I think everyone can handle it.. so here are are few tips.

For the furniture and other big items clogging up your rooms, and causing you to stub your toes..call a charity and have it donated to them or call your local community living, if it is in good shape someone who is moving into their first apartment or moving to a group home might have some use for it. Or sell it and then when the room you cleaned up ia sparkling - buy a frame and put pictures of people you love in it and hang it up, or put it in a dream jar so you can do what you always wanted. (this adds up over time!)

For your clothes -- for some of my friends the sheer idea of purging their closets give them anxiety feelings. Have a good, true friend over - put everything out , try everything on - get the truth. If it looks good and you will wear it keep, if your not sure, put a sticky on it if in six months that sticky is still there, out it goes. If your pal does the same and you are blessed to be the same size mix and match. Then donate to your local charity that supports individual of your choice. (Goodwill, Salvation Army or the assorted men and women shelters)

For your kids stuff, as I was well into the way of the annual purge by the time Emma came along, she now participates in the seasonal clean out of the bits that accumlate, clothes, books and the such. She packs them up and lets me know they are good to go. As for the clothes I either share or donate.

For the baby items -- every mom and dad remebers building the crib, the hours in the swing when you sang them to sleep or the baby rocking char no one has sat in in years.. let them go. Take pictures, tell the story of your child to your child. Saftey standards are pretty important, and most equipment now comes with an end to the certified safe. So, unless your next child is pending arrival anytime soon.. why not lend to a friend, sell, donate or create a different memory based on the love you saw grow in those items -- have your now big kid help you make the decision what happens to it. If they are long from the crib -- they will be "why do you want to keep it? I suggest if you continued to belong to a mommy group - this would be a fun this to do together.

And lastely -- this kind of stuff is hard for some, and if it is hard for you. Ask for help, I do recommend reading anything by Peter Walsh on this topic, but go with your gut.. because stuff is just stuff -- write a journal if your afraid to lose the memories, or take a picture a day.. whatever works for you.

So inspired by Sasha and her ability to keep being strong, bold and AWESOME. You can do it,  from what I hear ..when they become teenagers you beg them to toss their stuff out!