Decluttering

It was the perfect time to continue with the program. I had signed up for Organize Like a Boss (OLAB) over the last few years. A five-day program for decluttering. Many things had stuck! Then another and even another. Free!

One I didn't do the whole thing as I scheduled it and then couldn't follow through as I wasn't home. It was okay as it didn't cost me anything.

Then, I signed up for the 28-day reboot for March of 2024. I am in week four as I write this. This time I was ready, and even though I knew I would miss half of one of the weeks, I was still hoping to get it done. I didn't get much done in week three, but something is better than nothing.

The biggest surprise of that week was that my hubby cleaned the fireplace mantel as I requested. I was telling hubby about my having to miss most of that week as I would be working out of town, and I asked him to step in for me thinking he wouldn't want to.

He just laughed and then he did it! What a great surprise. He cleaned the fireplace mantel off.

He did a great job. He dusted, organized the photos, and took some things off the mantel that needed to go elsewhere and he put together a small pile of photos for me to take care of. He cleaned the mirror that hadn't been cleaned in a very long time.

When I told him I had signed up for a month at a time, there was no objection from him. I was shocked! He then said, "I have never seen anything like it!!" I said, oh, so you noticed! He looked at me like I was crazy!

I guess it shows! And I don't feel like I have been overworked in the least. Yes, there is much more to do. I have not been able to get much done on my own, so having the encouragement and support of a program is exactly what I needed.

In week one, I cleaned out the utensil drawer and after taking out all of the items in the drawer, the bottom of the drawer was covered in bread bag ties. Not mine. He quickly came with a small box to collect all the ties he could fit in the box.

That was so much fun as he had enough bread bag ties to fill 3 or 4 boxes that size. I'm not sure what he uses them for. As with every bread bag, there is a tie.

I decided I would probably not show him any other spaces I clean out as if there is his stuff or stuff he would use then he may be looking for a place for them.

He did take a full container of heavy-duty bags out to the shed for his use. I am not sure how many years they were taking up space in my recycle bin.

For the 28-day reboot, I was expecting a boot camp of sorts. Go until you drop and then go some more. My grandson explained boot camp by saying, "You learn and you do if you don't want the Sarge stepping on your head or back while doing pushups! Or if you don't want to get a kick in the a--"

Anyway, it was fun, kind of, and something I hope to continue to enjoy. At age 70, I need to downsize. I won't worry about hubby as he doesn't think he has a problem. Maybe he will get involved as he watches me. It is most often him telling me I need to get rid of my piles of stuff!

This year, in 2024, I hope to have most of my decluttering done.