I loved this story from one of you!
Hi there!
Just wanted to take a minute to share while my toddlers are asleep.
My clutter has always been a major source of shame. As a kid my nickname was “Messy Bessie.” Sentimental stuff kept piling up. Things I didn’t use but thought I should. It lasted through my college years. There wasn’t a visible surface anywhere.Marriage? Same problem. When hubby & I moved from our 1st apartment to our house, my clothes piled up at least 4 feet high the whole length of our guest bed. We travel with hubby’s job & trying to pack all of our stuff into motel rooms or apartments was a pain, not to mention packing. I was constantly seeking help & growth. I hated it. When I read your container concept something clicked. I started applying it & a selling/donating/trashing revolution began!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. We decided that since travel is part of our lives we might as well buy a camper. My friends panicked. How would the girl with all the stuff live with 2 kids in such limited space?! Last night I took pictures for a virtual tour for curious folks at home. I realized we are only using about 75% of our available storage! This is with buying things like diapers & paper towels in bulk! I know I still have a lot to learn & a long way to go but the realization that I could even BEGIN a 3 month job situation with this small amount of stuff amazes me.
My container is smaller than ever but the concept still applies. Thank you so much for spelling out such a simple but profound concept.
Signed,
Beth. Just Beth. Not Messy Bessie anymore
In a follow-up email, Beth shares more:
Our house at home still has a long way to go but it is wonderful to see tangible progress that I am changing how I think. Every time we go back we find more to tweak. Sometimes I look back and remember feeling people may be thinking “you aren’t good enough. You are a bad person. Whatever else you accomplish, whatever honors you achieve, you are STILL horrifically messy.” Thank you so much for helping me laugh at myself & to realize that being a work in progress is perfectly ok.
Dana here: I love this so so so much! Viewing a home (ANY home) as a container is such a game-changer. (Oh, and this isn’t a picture of their camper, just a picture of a camper.)
Speaking of game-changers, have you pre-ordered How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind yet? It comes out in less than 7 weeks! In it, I teach all of the game/home-changing mindset changes and strategies I’ve developed for getting my home under control. Go here to find out more.
Yay Beth!
I’m so happy for her!! Once we all rewrite our “I’m so horrible because______” tapes in our heads, we will all feel so much better!! God wants us to live in freedom, not fear!!
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.