I loved this story that I was given permission to share. We chose to focus on the craft space in the title of this blog post, but there’s so much more here, including brain trauma.
Whatever your struggle, whatever the space, the five step No Mess Decluttering Process works. If you’ve resisted trying it, I encourage you to follow the process in a space that overwhelms you.
Hi Dana,I have followed your program for a few years but had never tackled my sewing and crafting things. My husband combined two bedroom upstairs for a dedicated space 3 years ago. While I am grateful for the money I have NOT had to spend on my hobbies, there is a lot of stuff. My stuff, my grandmother’s, my mother’s, my aunt’s, and then other people that knew people with stuff.In 2016 I had colon cancer and 6 months after surgery I drove home from work in hysterics; unable to stop crying and unable to recognize my house when I pulled in the driveway. My cognitive function . . . executive function . . . was gone. I couldn’t read, watch tv, listen to music, cook. I couldn’t recall while in the shower if I had actually already washed myself or my hair and would end up doing the same thing two and three times over again until it registered that I had already done that.Over the course of 7 years, I found I was able to have YouTube videos playlists on through the night so when I woke up in a panic attack (which I did every 20 minutes) there was a voice in the dark. I could watch something over and over again and relearn the things I had lost. I had people God put in my life that surrounded me and supported me through my broke brain. I discovered who I was isn’t what I DO. . . it is who I am when I BE. My life is as full as I allow it to be.You were one of those people, one of those voices in the dark. Your 5 steps work even with a broken brain. And when I forgot what I was doing because I left the room (out of sight meant out of mind for many years) I didn’t leave a mess. Most often the trash bag was left and when I would see it, I would pick back up where I left off. I would tell anyone that would listen about you. It made so much sense.But I could never make the steps work for my sewing space. I was constantly caught up in “I might need this and not know I need it” and “this was blank and it holds emotional value” thought processes. Therefore, I couldn’t get rid of anything. Box it up and find another space to put it until. . . whenever. Who knows when.When I came across the video of your craft room declutter with Cara I got excited. It made sense what to do in my sewing space. What to do with all the stuff I had that doesn’t fit in my space or in my life. And I started telling everyone about it, again. But this time it was my crafting friends that struggle with so much stuff. We are eternally organizing and reorganizing with nothing to show for our efforts. Well, my friends LOVE it and they have watched the videos, and bought your books. We zoom and facetime to sew and we all start showing each other what we have done in 15 minutes, or 30 minutes, or an hour. We are having so much FUN.All that to say thank you! I love that my friends are beginning to experience the freedom that comes from using your method. Your method resonates with the way we creatives think. I am grateful and thought you would like to know.By the way, 2 years ago my brain came back online and my cognitive/executive function returned. It just took a lot of time, patience, and perseverance.Thank you!
Here are a few resources if you want to dive into if you want to understand the No Mess Decluttering Process:
Decluttering at the Speed of Life: my book that teaches everything you need to know about the process.
Get My Newest Book about the Spiritual Side of My Deslobification Process:
Thank you for sharing this. I got goosebumps over the realization.
Such an inspiring and powerful story! Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially with sentimental items, but it’s amazing to see how the No Mess Decluttering Method made a real difference. Thank you for sharing this journey—so many can relate and find hope in it!
Brought tears to my eyes. Thank You both for sharing