The world took one significant pause these past months with quarantines and stay-in-place orders. Each day we lived with a continually changing landscape, uncertainty, and stress. Some of us became ill, lost loved ones, or jobs. Some of us retreated and hoped that things would return to normal soon. Some of us did our best to keep it together because others relied on us to teach, lead, or comfort. We lost track of time and found it hard to remember which day it was. 

There have been inspired ways we’ve chosen to use our time, even with the hardships we’ve faced and difficulties we are still navigating. Because all of a sudden, we had time to spend in ways that we never expected. While there were the binge-watching-chocolate eating-no-showering days, we also crawled out from the covers to experiment. We created music, baked bread, knitted, made masks, gardened, wrote, invented, and delivered groceries to those in need. We Zoomed with loved ones near and far. We slowed down. From this pause and interruption, some of us found time to reflect and create. Some positive and unexpected outcomes emerged.

In recent posts, I’ve written about some of my calming and creative outlets like mindfulness meditation, yoga, walking, baking, writing, and photographing.  Something else surfaced for me during this time. Many of my friends are gardeners. I’ve always admired their ability to plant, nurture, and make things grow. I have vivid and happy memories of the few times in my life when I picked fresh fruit and vegetables. Yet in all these years, I convinced myself that I couldn’t grow stuff qualified by a host of good excuses. So, aside from one failed attempt at planting tomatoes over three decades ago, I never tried. How sad is that?

“This time of the pandemic has been fascinating because experimentation feels less scary.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®

This time of the pandemic has been fascinating because experimentation feels less scary. There is a feeling of “Why not?” or “Things are already so strange. What do I have to lose?” I noticed that my thoughts about gardening kept surfacing. My internal musings became impossible to ignore. So I began discussing with friends that I was thinking about making an edible garden. They were so encouraging and had many great ideas.

Now here’s where things got tricky. While I was thinking about all of the delicious vegetables I could plant, I started feeling overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure if it would work, if it would be too hard, or if I’d enjoy the work. I thought about the advice I share with overwhelmed clients when their organizing goals feel too big. Start small and build from there.

“I thought about the advice I share with overwhelmed clients when their organizing goals feel too big. Start small and build from there.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®

I took my own advice and decided to begin with a few herbs (and one tomato plant) to grow in our greenhouse. How hard could that be? It turns out that it wasn’t difficult at all. Not only that, but I loved digging in the dirt, arranging the plants, smelling their fresh scents, and watering them. I’m excited about my tiny, doable, not overwhelming garden. It might be a stretch to call it a garden, but I’m going to anyway.

I recognize that to some, especially the seasoned gardeners might think my story sounds ridiculous. Perhaps you’re thinking, “What’s the big deal? She just planted some herbs in a pot.” I get it. But to me, it represents getting over myself and being open to something that, for years, I convinced myself I couldn't do. I figured out how to create a garden on my terms. Perhaps it will stay small. Maybe the plants will die. However, this also might be the start of a new passion. Time will tell.

With so much destruction and strife in the world right now, it feels good to focus on growing and creating. Has the pandemic inspired you to use your time differently? Have you been experimenting more? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

It may surprise you that many organizers are also collectors. I’m one of them. I collect many things including Pez dispensers, cobalt blue glass, trinkets, floating pens, sparkly things, and beautiful Pinterest images. I no longer collect rocks, cat-related objects, pins, or leotards. Tastes change. Focus changes. Letting go happens. I was interested in knowing more about organizers’ collections, the influence it had on their organizing work, and letting go issues. To understand more, I reached out to several of my colleagues (Janine Adams, Ruthann Betz-Essinger, Nancy Borg, and Karen Fulks.) They shared a range of perspectives about the “stuff” of life, collecting it, managing it, and letting go of it. My deepest gratitude goes to each of them for exploring their collecting and letting go experiences with us. Keep reading for some insights about the path of our possessions.

I asked my colleagues . . . 

• What do you collect?
• How has your organizing work influenced your collecting habits?
• What letting go challenges have you experienced with your collections?

Contained Collections

“When I was in my twenties, I traveled internationally for my work and I started collecting fountain pens, which were abundant and affordable in other countries. I added to the collection for a few years and when I stopped traveling so much, I stopped collecting.

The collection lives in a fishing tackle box in the basement. Today, I literally had to dust off the box before opening it (for the first time in probably 20 years) and inside I found 43 neatly stored fountain pens. 

The organizer in me just had to consider letting go of the collection: I certainly don’t use these pens. Heck, I don’t even think about the collection. But looking at the pens, they bring back memories of my travels and, yes, of my youth. Should I let them go? Perhaps. Are they worth enough to sell? I have no idea, but it’s conceivable. Will I sell them? I sincerely doubt it, unless I find myself with a whole lot of time on my hands.

For now, I have plenty of room to store this small, contained collection. Perhaps I’ll give the pens away to a fountain-pen-loving young person one day. In the meantime, I appreciate the opportunity to reacquaint myself with these lovely pens!”

Janine Adams, CPO®, CPO-CD® – Professional Organizer, Blogger, Speaker & Blogger

Useful Collections

“I collect books and anything with Vera Bradley’s name on it.  Since becoming an organizer I have learned that the best collections need to be visible and/or useful. What is the point of something that is unseen or not used? Today, I give away any fiction books I have read, either to a friend or a library. I have also started buying more e-books.  My Vera Bradley collection is a little trickier, but I do rotate my purses and totes on a monthly basis. If I don’t use something within the year, it’s gone. I limit the number of Vera items to the volume of the storage container in which they are kept. Letting go is hard but the more you practice, the easier it gets. Also, knowing that another person might get the same thrill over an item that once thrilled you, makes it easier to give up.”

Ruthann Betz-Essinger, CPO®, MBA – Business & Residential Organizer & Speaker

Memories-Inspired Collections

“When my parents retired and downsized their “giraffe” figurines (both large & small), it was with great sadness that I watched them ‘let go’ of their lifelong collection. It was storytelling at its best. It signified wonderful days gone by and so it felt very heavy-hearted to bid them farewell.

When I married, while I loved the ‘idea’ of starting a collection of something, I understood that interests change and so too would our collections of ‘things.’  I recalled that my parent’s passion had faded though the years, and that those great long-necked treasures had eventually become even greater dust collectors.

35 years later, it is artwork, home décor, and treasured photo albums that fill our home and rekindle memories. We used to collect matchbooks from every restaurant, near and far. Although no longer an active (nor displayed) collection, I still delight in digging into a Ziploc and discover the favorite places that retell our stories.”

Nancy Borg – Professional Organizer & Blogger

Organized Collections

“Fact:  In our house, there are 40+ collections and 10,000 books. Working for years with ‘collectors,’ the easiest way to start with collections is to use the motto of Organizers worldwide: Like with like. And break it down again. For my/our obsessions: alphabetize books, put found money in by date, vintage knit potholders on kitchen walls, group cigar boxes by size, etc. But...snowglobes, the largest collection? After building narrow shelf units, groups formed – states, countries, animals, strange. The collection grew, as did the groups. We moved recently, (ok, 7 years ago), were undecided as to location, so all went to the attic and haven’t been looked at until…today, writing this – yep, still in attic, still undecided, and most fairly intact. I pretend I’m my client. I loved these unique snowglobes. Ha! Past tense & there’s my answer. Easy? No, but if I take pictures, I won’t have to dust them.”

Karen Fulks – Professional Organizer since 1984 & Collector since 1951

Passion, control, loss, and inquisitiveness reside in these stories. We experience unusual relationships to our objects and collections. How do we choose what to keep or to let go of? Our “things” can have a unique hold on us and therefore we create parameters and boundaries around them. These come in both physical and emotional forms such as fitting them into a specific containers or questioning the value of our emotional attachments. What resonates with you? Are you a collector, or do you know one? How do your attachments to “collected” objects influence your letting go habits? I invite you to share your thoughts about collecting, letting go, and boundaries. Come join the conversation!

It’s thrilling to begin our third "Ask the Expert" interview series! In the past few years we’ve created a monthly venue to connect you with industry thought leaders. We’ve enjoyed inspiring conversations with best-selling author Gretchen Rubin, productivity guru David Allen, organizer and future thinker Judith Kolberg, theory of Multiple Intelligences creator Dr. Howard Gardner, and many more. The 2014 interviews continue with another dynamic group of experts. I’m excited to start the year with author, blogger and minimalist trailblazer, Joshua Becker to share his wisdom about simple living and fresh starts.

While I’ve been a loyal @Joshua _Becker Twitter follower for a while now, we recently “met” while appearing in a Selfication blog post together about simplifying and organizing your life. Shortly thereafter, I invited Joshua to contribute to one of my posts about life balance. I asked him, “What do you want more of and less of to create your desired balance?” Being true to his minimalist philosophy, he provided an insightful and concise response, “More focus on the important things. Less distraction on the little.”  A few weeks later he contacted me to see if I’d be interested (and I was) in reading an advance copy of his soon to be released book, Clutterfree with Kids. The book is filled with practical strategies and deep wisdom. It’s a must read! His ideas provide a great catalyst for reconsidering our lives. My deepest gratitude and thanks goes to Joshua for taking the time to join us. Before we begin, here’s more about him.

Joshua Becker is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website that inspires others to find more life by owning less. His rational approach to minimalist living has made him one of today’s most-influential simple living advocates. He is also the best-selling author of Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life and the newly released, Clutterfree with Kids. He lives with his wife and two children in Peoria, AZ. You can connect with Joshua on Facebook, Twitter, or website.

Linda Samuels:  As an author, speaker, blogger and dad, you inspire others to consider the minimalist approach to life. How do you describe minimalism?

Joshua Becker:  I describe minimalism as the ‘intentional promotion of everything I most value and the removal of anything that distracts me from it.’  When many people hear the word ‘minimalism,’ they often imagine barren walls, tiny houses, or living out of backpacks. But that is not how we view it. We’ve just come to understand that material possessions do not add lasting joy to our lives—even worse, they often distract us from the very things that do. We have two small kids. We live in the suburbs. We enjoy having people over to our house. Our lives are unique. Minimalism is always going to look different for us. But it’s going to be about removing the excess possessions that keep us from the things we love the most.

Linda:  You’ve said, “There is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be found in organizing more.” What are some benefits of “de-owning?”

Joshua:  The benefit of owning less is an important concept—one that most people can easily relate to. It’s just that in this world where we are constantly told to buy more and more, we never take a step back and ask ourselves, “How would my life be better if I owned less stuff?” For starters, we’d have less cleaning, less stress, less debt. We’d experience more freedom, more time, and more intentionality—more opportunity to pursue our greatest passions. And eventually, when the desire for physical possessions is removed, our hearts are open to contentment, gratitude, and generosity. It’s really quite wonderful in every respect.

Linda:  In your just released book, Clutterfree with Kids you share many ways to shift perspectives about how families live with and think about their possessions. What are some first steps for clutter-free living?

Joshua:  The absolute first step is to rethink the all too common “more is better” mentality. One of the easiest ways to understand clutter is to recognize it as too much stuff in too little space. And our homes are full of stuff: our kitchen cabinets, our closets, our garages, and our toy rooms. The first step to living clutterfree is to remove the things in our homes that are not used or needed. Grab three boxes (donate, recycle, discard), pick one room, and fill them up. The key is not to find more storage solutions for your stuff—the key is minimizing the number of things we own.

Linda:  Along with having kids, comes owning toys. You said, “I’m not anti-toy. I’m pro-child.” You make a powerful case that having fewer toys translates into kids with longer attention spans, better social skills, and being more resourceful. What else can you tell us about the “less toys” benefits?

Joshua:  And this is proven by scientific studies. Kids who own fewer toys learn to be more creative, more generous, more resourceful and more perseverant with longer attention spans. There are too many parents nowadays who have a hard time saying ‘no’ to their children. But it is good for kids to learn boundaries and to learn that there are other ways to express love than buying toys and giving gifts.

Linda:  What has been your biggest personal challenge around becoming a minimalist?

Joshua:  I think the biggest challenge for me is often the biggest challenge for others as well. The journey to becoming a minimalist (and I’ll be the first to admit it is a journey, not a destination) is one of the most difficult and fulfilling inward journeys anyone can embark upon. My first mini-van load of things to Goodwill was easy, so was the second. But by the third or fourth vanload of items to drop off, you can’t help but start asking yourself some pretty difficult questions—starting with, “If I didn’t really need this stuff, why did I buy it all in the first place?” And when those questions of life purpose, life focus, and wasted opportunity start beginning to surface, it can be very difficult to realize the level of discontent most of us live our lives in. It is a challenge. And it’s helpful to have someone close to help process the feelings that emerge. It is both highly difficult and beautifully delightful all at the same time.

Linda:  Is there anything you’d like to share that I haven’t asked?

Joshua:  I think I’ve overstepped my word-limit, so I’ll just leave it at that. Thank you for the opportunity Linda.

You’re most welcome, Joshua. I’m grateful for each of your carefully chosen words. Thank you for all the insights you shared about simple living, minimalism, and the significance of less. Your message is positive and filled with hope. I love how you describe your journey as both “difficult and beautifully delightful.” What a powerful underlying concept you explore about possessing less so you can shift your focus away from stuff management and towards what’s truly important and meaningful.

I invite all of you to join Joshua and me as the conversation continues. We’d love to hear your thoughts about minimalism, fresh starts, or anything else you’d like to share. What resonates with you?

This is the last post for the year. It’s a quiet day, which comes after several lively days filled with family, friends, and gatherings. This is a reflective time of year as I sit here wearing my cozy socks and sipping a warm cup of Earl Grey tea.

When I finished writing my post, I asked our daughter to give it a read before sharing it with you. Cassie exclaimed, “That’s great, Mom!” Over lunch, we continued our conversation. She said, “The list is too long. I got lost in it and couldn’t focus. And the post doesn’t have any spark.” Now that’s good feedback! Then she added, “Would it be so terrible if you started over?” We both burst out laughing. She’d gone from, “that’s great” to telling me what she really thought.

You can’t ignore the truth. In the spirit of Cassie’s honesty and the connections they conjured up about this time of year, I opted to rewrite this post. The long list is gone, the message is more focused, and hopefully you will feel a spark.

Lists - In thinking back over the year, did you include too much on your list? If you had edited more, would you have experienced better balance? Were there too many “shoulds?” Was it challenging to prioritize and focus? In looking ahead, include what is most important. Be selective so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Make the lists want/need-based rather than should-based.

Passions - Was the past year draining? Maybe you didn’t include enough of what you’re passionate about? What energizes you? Going forward presents opportunity. Add the spark! 

Beginnings - One of the fabulous things about this time of year is our ability to reflect, reset, and dream. We get a “do-over.” This is the ultimate gift. Let go of what didn’t work. Release your fear. Embrace the possibilities. Start over.

As you reflect back and future think, what do you see? As we transition from one year to the next, allow clarity and hope to flourish. Wishing you and your loved ones joyous, focused, and spectacular days ahead.

I’m grateful for the perspectives you continue to share in this community. I always love to read your ideas and appreciate your comments. Come join the conversation. What are you thinking about as this year comes to a close?