Everyone is decluttering life right now – it’s a new trendy term. But for one who is chronically ill decluttering life can mean significantly improving your quality of life you have to live.
Personally, I’ve made several significant changes to my life over the past year, all of which fall under the category of moving toward a more simple, meaningful life that supports my life purpose and gives me the time and energy I need to focus of what I value most. I have not yet arrived, but I am headed in the right direction.
Here is the first significant change I’ve made over the past year, along with the benefits this, and the change I share with you tomorrow, brought:
Home as Sanctuary
For most of my life, I viewed my home as a quick place to refuel rather than a sanctuary. Cluttered with things acquired over more than thirty years of marriage, I had my space (my office and bookcases) and my husband had his (the basement and garage). The basement contained his lazy-boy leather recliners while my office featured artwork, books, and pops of color. And never the twain shall meet.
As my health declined, I began spending more time at home. The cry of my soul was for a sanctuary and a space that would reflect not only me but us as a couple. And so I created one.
My husband and I sold our beaten-up, clunky furniture, along with the tschotchkes we had scattered throughout the house that survived our son’s growing up years, two dogs, and two rabbits in a garage sale. We replaced our old things with simple, inexpensive furniture with clean lines. We painted the walls, cleared the clutter, and created the home of our dreams–all while staying on a budget. Our home now reflects us as individuals and as a couple. It brings together two very different personalities as one, a reflection of the marital relationship and union.
Just as we retain our individuality in marriage, so, too, we’ve made for individual expression in our home. As a writer and coach, I spend many hours in my office, so I needed a warm, inviting, and inspiring space where I could spend hours at a time. I painted the walls a spicy red with orange undertones, aptly names Salsa Dancing, and filled the room with books, artwork, and family photos. My husband is creating a media room in the basement, filled with leather recliners and football paraphernalia.
My home is a sanctuary, a place of refuge that nourishes my soul and feeds my spirit. It is a place where I worship God by honoring the person he created me to be-a wife, a friend, a writer, a coach.
But it’s more than that.
What I failed to realize was the impact it would have on my relationships. More stuff usually means less time for relationships. I resisted friends just “dropping by” before, because the house was cluttered, and I could never clean the whole house at once with my limited mobility. With less to clean, I now have more time to cultivate meaningful relationships; and I love when friends drop by for coffee or conversation.
My home also gives me “soul space. . . room to breathe and freedom to dream,” as my friend, Jerome Daley, describes in his book, “Soul Space: Where God Breaks In.” In it, he says, “Only a few things are necessary. The rest is clutter.”
With the clutter gone, all that surrounds me supports my life purpose-to foster spiritual and personal transformation in the lives of others through writing, coaching, speaking, and teaching.
I had no idea how significant a few simple changes could be.
Share below! Where would you start in your home, even in little ways, to make your home your sanctuary? (If you need to begin with just a night stand!)
Tomorrow Mary Yerkes will share about how relationships are a vital part of our life and finding contentment in keeping life simple so we can put our energies into these important friendships.
Chronic Illness Coach Mary Yerkes sparks hope in the lives of those facing life challenges and change. Through a prayer-soaked, thought-provoking, creative partnership, she helps people find their purpose and live their passion for greater kingdom impact and abundant living in Christ. To learn more about Mary, visit www.newlifechristiancoaching.com and www.maryyerkes.com.
I started with my bedroom. I finally got a new bed and ignoring all the other things I needed for the house I went all out (yet on a budget). I got the exact mattress and frames I wanted, a neutral yet comfy comforter, lots of pillows, and a high thread count set of sheets. I coordinated the comforter colors with new curtains that I let hang from the window to the florr to serve as my headboard. I decided to do without the headboard and footboard so I could splurge on a better mattress and comforters and sheets. Got all the clutter and junk out the room including only 1 book at a time on the end table. I am loving this sanctuary and it is given me incentive to declutter and santify other parts the house. As a single mom with two growing boys, the house gets away from me at times. It can be overwhelming and discouraging to come home from work to a big mess they think they’ve cleaned up for you. Instead of a big battle, I can retreat to my room, refresh, and come out cleaning!!
Whenever I get stressed, I go into declutter mode. I always feel better even though my wife thinks I’ve gone nuts! ~ Peter
I did create a place of sanctuary in my bedroom, with a secondhand chair covered with an afghan. This was several years ago and the chair has been replaced by a large old chair that came with our livingroom suite. Now I’d like to get my desk (in the same room) cleared of piles of papers to be filed or discarded. That’s long overdue. I have a nice little stool to rest my feet on while in the chair (I am vertically challenged )
but it’s had a box of papers and files on it for ages. Last week I hurt my back lifting it off and that has motivated me to go through the stuff in it. I’m doing it gradually, but have managed to actually throw some of it in the trash. Yay!
With my ADD, I have trouble making decisions and doing things like this is very challenging for me, but I’ve also, over time, taken clothing I’m not wearing, magazines I’ve been keeping, etc. to a secondhand store which helps women and kids in a nearby shelter. Everytime I accomplish something significant in this area of home living, my husband is proud of me and I really feel great. That, in turn, motivates me to do more.
It takes me a long time to do almost everything and we have WAY too much that we never use and can’t find if we wanted to. Both of us have major health issues that limit what we can do and keep us from doing much at a time. However, just because it seems so overwhelming, I’ve discovered this is no reason not to do something. Small changes can make a big difference. And so, by God’s grace, I’ll persevere. And I challenged you others out there in cyberspace to do the same. And don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.