You know those game show money booths? The ones where they announce that the contestant will have one minute to be in the booth with 50,000 dollars flying around inside, and they get to keep as much money as they can grab?
That’s what my master bedroom feels like to me.
Not in the wow-if-only-that-was-me-in-there-I-could-buy-my-own-ice-cream-truck way it seemed to my 9yo self when I watched stuff like that (good old wholesome daytime gameshows of the 80s), but in the seriously-who-falls-for-that-stuff-they-are-obviously-only-going-to-end-up-with-a-few-twenties way that it seems to my 36yo self.
My master bedroom is finally starting to look nice. I’m in love with the fact that I can walk all the way through it, to either side of the bed, and back without tripping! And my heart still pitter-patters every time I see this scene:
Aaaaaahhhhh.
But even though the floors are mostly cleared, my dresser is back to looking like this:
OK, maybe not quite that bad, but I’m using the same picture from a months-ago-decluttering post. I do now push in my drawers, the floors are actually cleared, and perhaps the piles aren’t so high. But it’s close enough that there was no reason to take a new picture.
Sometimes it feels like I will never get the entire room clean at once. I remember seeing those contestants trying to figure out how to hold onto the money they already had while they tried to get more. The wind was blowing so strong that if they weren’t careful, they would lose their grip and it would rejoin the money that was flying around and eluding them.
Over time, the smart ones gave up on the dream of getting it all, made some adjustments, and decided to be happy with as much as they could get in the time they had. This deslobification process is all about me figuring out what adjustments need to be made. They had to stuff their shirts full of cash and be happy with 2,000 instead of the 50,000. But that was because they only had a minute. I have a lifetime.
Although it’s been a crazier week than I thought it would be, I’m still determined to continue working on the projects that I unearthed in the room’s clutter corners before I move on to things like decluttering those surfaces (again). If I don’t get those projects done, I’ll end up having to put them back in the master bedroom in a someone’s-coming-hide-the-mess moment of panic, and they’ll revert to clutter.
If I can keep the floors clear until I get the projects done and the dresser cleared, I might . . . just might . . . have a completely clean and presentable master bedroom.
Wouldn’t that be crazy?
MAMom says
We moved from a one story ranch to a 2 story volonial 8 years ago. I have never had both floors cleaned and decluutered at the same time. if the first fllor is spotless, the second floor is a mess and visa-versa…I know you've heard this before and you probably KNOW it at well but…if you got rid of half your clothes some of your battle would be easier. I think you found that out this summer when you cut down on the kids clothes. But it is an ongoing process, no. I'm in the treches with ya sister!!
Anonymous says
I am certain we are twins seperated at birth! My husbands affectionately calls our cleaning "swapping crap" because we simply end of moving stuff from one floor to another. I used to think if I started on the 3rd floor and worked my way down it would help… no such luck. I think the key is less stuff but I have yet to tackle that elephant.
Elissa says
Can I just say I love your bed side table! I have been working on my bed room also. Good Luck!
Nony the Slob says
Thanks Elissa, it's one of those garage sale finds that I've always loved and thought I'd redo someday.
MAMom and Anonymous, you are both so right about the clothes, and the stuff. Getting rid of stuff is the only to make real and lasting progress!
Beth says
I love your honesty and your candidness about cleaning/organizing/tidying… I can totally relate to you. Your dresser looks EXACTLY like mine. I want SO badly to have a clean and orderly house but it's such a struggle. It's a work in progess… good to know you are out there. :)… the laundry is calling me!
Margaret B. Higgins says
Your dresser looks exactly like mine. Which looks exactly like my Mom’s dresser. Which is one of the reasons I keep reading your blog and am trying to reform my slobbish tendencies. I don’t want to walk into my daughter’s home in 30 years and recognize the dresser. I’d rather fight this than see my one of my daughters struggle with it.