Clutter's Last Stand

Clutter is only clutter if you call it such.

*Writing Prompt November 5-18

Are you an overbuyer or an underbuyer? A minimalist or a maximalist? Do you collect treasures or ruthlessly purge? Where do you land in the debate of more or less? State your case and share your thought process.

What some call cluttery feels cosy to me. I want to be surrounded by stories, enveloped in inventory! But yet I do not want to be suffocated by stuff! I must have a completely clear surface here and there to give visual respite (and a place to make pies.) And when I make pies, I’ll be so happy to pull out the pecan pie plate from my themed collection. When strawberries are in season, I have the perfect plate for that flavor too! The people who say money can’t buy happiness must not have ever found a good score at an obscure thrift store! My brass mouse near me on the book shelf knows how much magic he bestows. To me, even inanimate objects feel like close friends. How could I ever decide to declutter them?! Only if they are deemed UGLY, that’s how. Clutter to me is a thing of no beauty. I can cast off an errant power cord with no remorse even if I may someday need it. (Also I know I can go get a cord from my father who has a large tub aka the Grave of the Unknown Cord, should the need arise.) When it comes to deciding how to do – to declutter or not to declutter - I choose live by this wonderfully wise quote by William Morris.

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

There you go, Marie Kondo! I have LOTS of stuff that I feel is useful and beautiful. How about that?! Loads of little things and big things spark joy for me. Let’s not even get started on books and all my loopholes for buying more even though my bookshelves are overflowing. But when something starts to spark disgust, I am able to quite easily discard it. I love to have yard sales and shop yard sales. It’s the circle of life. I have befriended the basket, I mostly conform to Dana K. White’s “container concept,” and I enjoy organizing all my belongings. Even by colour, if it’s convenient. When it comes to cleaning, I do have times when I wish I had less to dust on, and over, and around. But most of the time I feel comforted by my so-called “clutter.” I have everything I need and then some for you too! When it’s time to plan parties and decide on décor, I always have plenty to contribute which makes me happy. A peek at my Pinterest boards further confirms my innate need for nooks and crannies crammed full of plants in odd pots, collages of carefully curated works of art filling all available wall space, piles of pillows, and surfaces brimming with books. Awww, what could be better?! No bleak rooms filled with sparseness and only a spare chair for me, please!

So to answer all the above questions of this prompt, I can merrily say that I identify as a Maximalist who overbuys; a Collector of Treasures who ruthlessly purges only what I consider to be trash! I’m a Soft Sentimentalist who saves more than she should, but won’t be shamed for it.

Clutter has had its last stand; renamed it shall be - only Collected Keepsakes for me!

These above > This below. Always.