Proof That I Was Right
February 06, 2026
I don’t show our family room often. It won’t win any beauty awards, but it works for us—a place to relax and watch TV, with our desk tucked in and toy storage for our son and, now, our grandson, who is a frequent guest.
In November, before the December gifts arrived, I asked him to go through the toys with me. To my surprise, he was perfectly willing to let most of them go. I knew he was done with many of them, but I didn’t expect him to say so quite so easily.
We emptied an entire double cupboard and consolidated what he keeps here into one bin under the TV, along with a few family games. We did the same with his craft supplies, which had been living in the drawers below. The decluttering went quickly, and the supplies he still uses now fit neatly into one container in a single drawer.
He seemed to understand—without much discussion—that there was no reason to hang on to toys and crafts he had outgrown. He was practical and almost businesslike about his choices, and the whole process felt straightforward. I was more proud than I probably should have been.
Yesterday it was my turn. I opened my own two “office drawers” and realized I was holding onto supplies from a home business I closed more than 20 years ago. Useful things, once—but completely unnecessary now. Those went straight into my cleaning lady’s arms, where they’ll magically find new homes with people who can actually use them.
So if you’re holding onto things that no longer serve your life—even if they once did—don’t keep them “just in case.” That time has passed. And if the need ever does return, you can borrow or replace.
Consider this your gentle nudge to let them go. They’ll be much happier in hands that truly need them.
The large room took me several hours, and I tackled it all in one go. I wanted it finished in a single day, since this is the last of my easy rooms. Still ahead are the laundry room, half bath, guest bath—and the real beast—the kitchen. I always save the worst for last.
My husband kept walking by, muttering things like “cleaning a clean room” and “making busy-work.” But when he saw me struggling to pull the sofas away from the walls and offered to help, even he couldn’t deny the dust bunnies and spider webs lurking back there. Proof that I was right! After emptying three buckets of filthy water, I’m officially done with this room—except for the rug.
One hot August day we’ll haul it out to the driveway, fire up the Bissell Rug Cleaner, and get ’er done.
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| I use these expandable mesh cutlery organizers for desk supplies. |
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| With a newly emptied drawer before me, I gathered every cord and charger, decluttered without mercy, and gave the survivors a new home. To keep the cords tangle free I corral them with toilet paper tubes. |
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| This mesh file organizer has kept my desk tidy. I used to let paperwork pile up because putting it away felt like too much effort. Now I just drop papers, receipts, and mail into the folders, and the mess never starts. Once a week I open the temporary files and take care of the papers in one shot. |
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| I decided to get cracking on the redwork tablecloth and will make a step by step post on it when I'm finished. |
FIELD TRIP! Last November we spent a week in Savannah, GA, and Charleston, SC. We loved everything about those two beautiful cities: the history, the food, and the people. Whenever we arrive in a new town, my husband checks out the restaurants and I always look up local knitting shops (there were none in either city), but Needlepoint.Com popped up on my phone. I knew them because I’d ordered from them before!
They’re huge, well known, and—dangerously—just a short walk from our hotel in Charleston. I was in absolute heaven. The shop is a needleworker’s dream, and I happily came home with the Americana Cottage shown above to celebrate the upcoming U.S. semiquincentennial (a word I had to look up). I also couldn’t resist this Santa in his plaid pajamas. They had a finished version in the shop, so I snapped close-up photos to help guide my own finishing later—research, obviously. Click here for a $15 off coupon.
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| I bought the canvases only and found the threads at home in my stash. |
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| They had so many darling little houses. |
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| The thread selection was phenomenal. |
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| A patient hubby. |
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| They had so many FOs to view. |
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10 Comments
I love how you weave your cleaning and decluttering stories into everyday life. Decluttering is a constant for me. I'm not ready to give up things quickly and keep things for way too long. I don't have the room to NOT be selective and your posts always help me push through. I agree that Charleston is absolutely charming and I'm sure finding the needlepoint shop upped the charm!
ReplyDeleteThe big realization for me was that I was keeping things that I couldn't reasonably fit into my home, everything got crowded, therefore I wasn't able to find them. When I finally got things under control and where things fit comfortably, I went even further, getting rid of things that I had room for but didn't use. I'm now at a comfortable place with my home.
DeleteI would love to see more of your needlepoint!! I am a knitter since I was a young girl and said I would never pick up needlepoint. That all changed 6 years ago and now needlepoint is my main craft. I love all of the decorative stitches. I also sew quilts when there is a new baby on the way. I guess I am like you and love creating:)
ReplyDeleteI don't use too many decorative stitches but I really should incorporate that into my needlepoint. I find it's much easier for me to do when I have natural light so I'm limited to when I can do it. I will show more! Thanks!
DeleteThank you for the toilet paper tip! I’ve realized that in my youth it was so much easier to walk away from Everything as events in my life changed. Whereas now I cling to almost every belonging that was ever acquired in the last 20 years. They are symbolic, merely useful, or intensely sentimental. But now to save my daughter all that work one day, I am gingerly eliminating the truly extraneous at least. Clothes are among the hardest because I’ve seen through experience that I will often return to certain pieces 5 years or so later when my weight or situation changes. And now those similar items are more expensive and less well made - an L.L. Bean heavy weight zip up hoodie for instance. And as I’ve gotten shorter hip-length clothes have become tunics and may even be more flattering. So for the time being at least I am clinging to classic pieces and only rejecting impulse buys. Although I am older than you I am still quite active and love having options. In my “declining” years, I know that Goodwill will be thrilled by my donations. Of course, I am ignoring the fact that space is a consideration. Something I need to tackle Now. So thank you, Kristen for your example, tips and gentle persuasion. I’m sure that I can find at least a drawer’s worth of items that no longer bring me joy:). Every nook and cranny counts. Chloe
ReplyDeleteThank you for your inspirational comment. I too get motivated when I think that others (children) will one day have to do something with my stuff. It's a morbid thought but necessary. I feel like I'm not going anywhere anytime soon but I've always been a person who likes to be prepared! Since we have not yet downsized, I still have the room, but I can tell you, having empty drawers and shelves is an absolute blessing.
DeleteAnd what's the deal with shrinking? I've got no inches to spare but I've recently lost an inch. I almost wanted to take the poor office clinician to the mat after she announced my "new" height at my last check up.
P.S. Love Charleston and hope to visit Savannah soon! Chloe
ReplyDeleteLoved them both! We have great cities here in the US. We just need to visit them!
DeleteThe toilet paper cord holders are a winner!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I don't know where I saw that idea but I use it everywhere!
DeleteYou make my day when you make a comment!