Creative Cleaning

So I won’t mislead you that I’m going to talk about a creative way to clean.  Although if you find or have one, I’d love to hear it!

What I am going to talk about here is how cathartic cleaning has been for me this week.  It’s like the dust has been clogging me up.  I read recently that “clutter” comes from the Latin for “to clot.”  Yes, I’ve clotted my life with stuff– and it blocks me from thinking!  And creating.

I’d love to live more simply.  I’ve come to realize I probably never will.  My mother is a streamlined person who “packs light.”  Her only vice when it comes to stuff is her book collection as she is an avid reader (and a good writer too– she’s planning on joining wordpress soon.  When she does, I’ll post a link!).

I, on the other hand, take after my grandmothers.  I love shoes.  I have many hobbies– most of which require some kind of paraphernalia like crochet hooks, or instruments, or colored pencils.  I’ve tutored.  So I see no reason to get rid of books that are too young for me.  I have flashcards.  I even scrapbook.  Thus seeing a need to keep some magazines or catalogs around.

Now, I’m not a mess.  I’m fairly organized, actually.  Maybe more than most (thanks to the influence of mom).  But in my accepting that I will probably not be able to live more simply by getting rid of things, I’d like to settle for living simpler in that my things will be controlled and confined instead of controlling and confining me.

There is something comforting about shaking the dust off of clothes in the warm sunshine.  Gauzy summer dresses, soft cottons, fuzzy fleece sweaters.  Texture.  Color.  Pattern.  It’s inspiring.

Finding my yarn.  Putting it in a place where I can use it more often as it’s been months again since I’ve crocheted.

Problem-solving and brainstorming new uses of space and storage containers.  Baskets, bins, boxes.  Furniture that does double-duty:  storage ottomans, shelves that are also decorative.

I’d challenge you to pick one thing this summer: your bedroom, your car, your email inbox– whatever.  Envision a new way to use the space.  Clear out the cobwebs and feel the extra space you gain– inside your head!  And feel free to tell me about it.  Cleaning can suck, but the results can be exciting (My trick is to put on a good cd or movie to sing along to or watch while I’m cleaning.  It makes it go so much quicker and even, dare I say, enjoyable?).

Happy Summer!

Oh, readers.  If I have any left, that is, after my two week hiatus, here at the beginning of summer after just thanking you all for reading.

I’ve spent the last two weeks recuperating from my busy semester while starting to put some new habits and routines into place.  I’ll give a synopsis of what I’ve been up to, then maybe give you some less self-centered thoughts before following up with more regular and topic-related posts.  I’m back, I promise.  I’ll admit I’ve been on here once or twice in the past two weeks, mostly reading, and seemingly unable to write.  I’m hoping that feeling has past– the feeling being total exhaustion, with so much to say and no words to say it in.

The past two weeks have found me:
-writing out thank-you notes from my graduation party (and straggling birthday gifts)
-dance class: I’m auditing ballet up at school, despite the fact that I’ve recently graduated.  I’ve wanted to take ballet since I was a child (I took a year of tap somewhere around age 6).  I’m not fond of the rigidity of the style (I much prefer modern) but I think it’s good for me right now.
-organizing my room: coming home with the contents of my dorm room has left me crowded and messy, but I’m working to slowly marry the two styles I’ve created.  Which seems to be involving totally reworking my existing organization and room decor.
-seeing friends: I’ve turned down quite a few invitations over the past year (or seven…) while in school.   The past two weeks have consisted of two days worth of graduations for me, my own graduation party, a barbeque, and my first trip to The Witches’ Brew (which really makes me want to drink tea).  Sadly, I got sick with some kind of crazy stomach bug and have had to miss two parties this weekend– my friend’s graduation (master’s degree) party and my cousin’s fiancée’s bridal shower.  I was so looking forward to both of these and love these two people so much.  I am therefore hating illness right now (more than the norm with which everyone hates it).
-spending time with mom:  Gilmore Girls marathons, the OWN network and a couple of Hallmark movies have been watched.  Not only the past two weeks but some of this weekend as we have both been sick in bed.

Some of the upcoming posts I’m working on are about graduating, thoughts on women/society, and finding my place as a new graduate.

I think we need to remember- no matter what your age- that it’s important to remember yourself and not let yourself stagnate.  Find a new recipe and cook it.  Get active (lots of dance/music/yoga studios will let you have a free lesson or have a reasonable rate for a one-time drop in).  Audit a class at a local college or university.  Check out your local library: they’ll often have lots of cool (free/cheap) events and also free movie rentals!  It’s summer and many communities will have concerts, carnivals, street fairs, or farm stands (check your paper or watch your mailbox!).  Give something a try and see what fits you!

This is my goal for this summer.  In fact, all of the above.  My next two endeavors will probably be the cooking as well as gardening.  I have a little patch of dirt in front of my house and I’m thinking of tomatoes and red peppers (both of which I love).  I just read that red pepper plants really shouldn’t be planted until after Memorial Day anyway, and I just saw plants at a local supermarket the other day.  I’m planning on weeding and going back for some plants this week.

What are you doing this summer?  Why not share a post to tell me what you’re doing to spice up this season? 🙂  I’d love to hear!