Don: Oh yes, The problem right here is everybody’s solution to junk is “If you haven’t used it in six months, get rid of it.” I haven’t used my fire extinguisher in years; I’m not going to throw it out. I haven’t used my sled in two years because of lack of snow; I’m not going to throw it out. Who gave it to you, how long you’ve had it, how much it cost.. all of that is immaterial. You have one bottom line. Does this enhance my life or the lives of others? When your 40 and you look at that Barbie Doll Collection or Electric Train Collection or whatever you have.. . and you suddenly say, "Does this enhance my life or someone else’s". And if it doesn’t... Ebay it, trash it, burn it, give it away, You need to dump it, because we just don’t have room to accumulate all of this stuff.
I always tell people to dejunk in the morning. You’re more objective in the morning. Dejunk alone for 2-3 hours. I think it’s a real mistake for someone to help you. You wouldn’t believe the offers I get from rich people wanting me to dejunk their house. They could offer me a million dollars an hour; I would not go to their house. Their junk is none of my business.
Also when you dejunk a cabinet or a drawer, take everything out of it first. If you leave items hanging in the closet, you don’t want to disturb it. Make sure you empty everything out first and you’ll be more objective about putting items back. I always tell people to fully cleanse the container and don’t be a picky junker.
Sarah: What advice can you give to those who feel completely overwhelmed by their junk and clutter? They don’t even know what color their carpet is anymore. They don’t know where to begin. Where should they start?
Don:Go for your own stuff first. We have a tendency to worry about our neighbor’s junk or our spouses and children’s junk before our own. We always see people who are worse than we are. Get your own wallet, your own purse, your own bulletin board, your own tools, your own photo album, your own notebook, your own closets. It’s amazing how when you go after your own junk the world changes. It brightens up and there’s not nearly as many bad junkers as you thought after you get rid of your stuff. Dejunk alone. Do it in the morning. Do your own stuff first.
I got a call from a lady who was 65 years old. She said I’m sixty-five, I’ve had a lot of stuff, wealth and everything. I read Clutter’s Last Stand and dejunked my life. For the first time in my life I understood what living was like. Life for her before was tending her junk. We tend our jewelry, or our car, or our house. Tend all the excess we have. She got rid of all of that stuff, and finally she was able to tend to people instead.
It can change lives spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Get rid of evil thoughts, things, covetousness, disrespect, get the junk and excesses out of your life. Even doctors tell us to do it. When you think about it, It’s a truly exciting message…an overall cure for life. Throwing out everything on you, in you and around you…It’s a transformation.
