“Simplify, simplify” is a quote from poet and author Hendry David Thoreau.  And that simple word is probably the root of what we should be doing in our homes because Americans accumulate just too much stuff.  We have storage containers piled high as well as overcrowded closets, attics and garages.

And it has been discovered that stress can be caused by too much clutter.

So what do we do with all this stuff?  Donate!

When we donate, we can get instantly happy – we have reduced our clutter as well as helped others.

“When you purge unnecessary possessions and open up your space, you feel more energized, focused, and motivated,” said Peter Walsh, organizing expert.   “And when you transform the lives of others in the process by donating, you are doing a wonderful thing.”

“Not everyone can afford to write a check to charity,” says Walsh, “but everyone has clutter. Knowing your excess will be used by someone else is a great motivator to get rid of it.”

Action Plan

1. Plan a yard sale, neighborhood garage sale or even a larger church-wide or community-wide event.  Plan beforehand where the  money will go, as to a shelter or food bank, which will help motivate others to contribute.
2. Or, find an organization that you want to donate to.  Many have trucks that will pick up your items.
3. Take time to schedule multiple days for you to go through all your rooms and closets to clear out and get ready to donate.
4. Be ready to delegate or to ask for help.  If you haven’t purged in a few years, you may have an overwhelming task ahead so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
5. Ask your children to also go through their clothes and toys with the goal to give some away to the less fortunate.
6. Once you have gotten rid of clutter and stuff, use this opportunity to clean out and re-organized your space.  New shelves and extra organizational items can really make a difference in your home and closets.

Statistics worth pondering

Our nation’s trash could be put to much better use.  Look at these numbers:

Only 38% of the computers we disposed of in 2009 were recycled

More than four million eyeglasses are trashed annually.

22.3 billion pounds of textiles, including clothing, were thrown away in 2010

1.3 billion pounds of tires wound up in landfills in 2009

152 million cell phones were thrown away in 2010

Each year, 350 million pairs of shoes are thrown into landfills; 20,000 tennis balls

Millions of CDs and DVDs annually end up in the trash

Over ten million bikes are dumped into Americana and European landfills yearly

15.8 million tons of reading material (books, magazines) and other paper products were trashed in 2010.

Perhaps you and I could start donating rather than trashing and helping others.

Manna from Heaven

 “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16