40 Bags in 40 Days

I came across this blog post about 40 bags in 40 days.  I am always trying to get the best ideas possible to conquer my clutter habit, so I quickly joined the Facebook group.

The challenge started today, March 5.  I typically think I will participate in this kind of thing, and then life happens.  I'm hoping this time is different. 

My mom read a blog post this past weekend and summarized it for me.  I wish I could tell you the link or even the blog it came from, but I didn't even see the site.  I was busy printing, cutting and folding wedding programs for my sister's fast-approaching wedding.  The quick summary of the post, if I remember correctly, was that the blogger's oldest daughter was not content with things.  She was begging for a toy, and this happened often.  So the blogger took all of the belongings out of her daughters' bedrooms.  No toys, not even decorations.  She saw a difference in the contentment of her children.  They were more creative and even excited by the fact that they no longer have to pick up as much. 

I have a discontented oldest child myself.  He isn't happy with things he has.  If he wants something new, he can't get it fast enough.  He is always the one to complain when they have to pick up.  His common response, "We just picked up last night!"  So that blog got me to thinking.  What a novel idea, less stuff means less picking up.  Though I'm not sure I'm willing to go to the drastic measure of taking everything away from the kids. 

A couple days after talking about that blog, I read a friend's Facebook post about the 40 Bags in 40 Days, and decided I'm gonna do it!  Today was the first day.  I wish I had taken before and after photos(I will tomorrow).  I started in Paxton's room.  I still had several baby toys, blankets, and even burp rags in his closet.  I had two bags of unused children's hangers, which I moved to the garage for a garage sale.  I then sorted through toys and did a quick sort through clothes.  I took out a set of plastic storage bins and hanging shoe organizer.  I had two boxes of items for garage sale, one bag to give away and a stack of baby blankets that I am not quite ready to part with(they went to the attic for keeping).  Three bags and two boxes out of one room.  I'm on a roll!

I'm not sure how well I will keep up with this.  Hopefully it won't be like a New Year's resolution.  But surely, with the support and encouragement of a bunch of strangers on Facebook, I can make it 40 days.  Even if I just take one bag of clutter each day, that would make a huge difference in out total amount of stuff.  

Go check out the Facebook group 40 Bags in 40 Days 2013(not sure why the wrong year). https://www.facebook.com/groups/40bagsin40days/