I enjoy being in homes that are neat and orderly and pretty. Then I go home and I am in a mess. So I start looking around for things to get rid of. But I don’t want to get rid of my stuff!

Lately, I’m having to pare down some things cause of some changes in our house. I’ve spent time going through my pattern books (No!) and my yarn (NO!) wondering why this process is so hard.

Psych students pay attention… Why do I have all this stuff?

My stuff is raw material for creativity. I have a cabinet full–and then some–of craft supplies and random odd items and I see potential in all of it. For example, I have been saving wine corks for years. Years. I’ve had ideas floating around my head about what to do with them, but haven’t had the time to implement anything. Now, I’ve found a super cute pattern that I will make time for in the next few weeks.

http://www.simplynotable.com/2012/pint-sized-pines-in-a-cork-forest/

My stuff is reminders of people and times I love. Talking to friends whose homes I admire, they get rid of things with no second thought. But I keep things cause I have personal attachments. Looking around, my shelves are overflowing, but as I look at items individually, I am happy thinking about whatever attachment I have to it. I’m happy to keep anything I feel that way about, and I’m happy to get rid of anything that has no personal significance.

My stuff includes a lot of toys. Curiosity feeds creativity, so I have a lot of toys, especially STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) toys. My designs sometimes stem from ideas developed from technology and engineering and the “What If” questions I ask.

So I have a choice to make. I can clean up my house and make it more pleasant to be in. Or I can keep my stuff that makes me happy and drives creativity.

Please excuse my mess. I think I’ll keep my stuff.

Above: My craft room in the midst of an overhaul
Below: 33 gallon bag of yarn to donate