2004 Newsletter Sept -Dec Page 38 Leanne's Tips for Happy Living, Floral Design Institute, Floral design school, floral school, floral classes, floral supplies, floral videos, home study, wedding design

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I’m moving again. I’ve lived in one place now for over 3 years so this is a really big deal. I love moving. I used to move so often that my friends joked that I moved whenever the baseboards needed cleaning. David on the other hand does not share my passion for moving and this keeps me rooted. As I was boxing the household for the move I realized that we had accumulated a lot of “clutter” while staying in one place. We live in an 800 square foot studio and it’s hard to imagine “clutter” managing to accumulate and hide in that small amount of space, but it does.

“Throw out the clutter” is the first of seven rules that I live by. So, I spent a joyous afternoon yesterday sorting clutter and hauling it off to the Goodwill store. This morning I decided to revisit my “Seven Tips for Happy Living” and share them with you.

1)          Throw Out the Clutter
2)          Take Charge of Technology
3)          Re-think the Automobile
4)          Live Healthy
5)          Establish Routines
6)          Schedule Fun
7)          Do What You Love

Throw Out the Clutter. I discovered the value of living small and clutter free several years ago and quite by accident. We were expanding the school and to control expenses we decided to downsize our living space and move into a small studio apartment. I was forced to commit to the elimination of everything in my physical environment that did not contribute to my life in some way. I was concerned that the small space would be a serious problem. Instead it proved to be a marvelous blessing. Through this experience I discovered that clearing clutter and living in simplicity opens new possibilities and keeps cobwebs from forming in my life.

We all have a natural tendency toward overindulgence in all things. The contemporary philosophy is “If a little is good then, a lot is better”. Our approach to any problem is that to fix it we must add something. While this may be a great philosophy if you are selling stuff, it’s a lousy approach to living a happy life. The easiest way to avoid clutter is to live simple. When you don’t have a yard to mow, weed and feed, you have time to share an afternoon with an old friend. When you don’t have three bathrooms to clean, you have time for a concert in the park. When you don't have a garage to reorganize, you have time for a hike in the mountains.

Live simple and throw out the clutter. If it takes more than hour to completely clean your home then it’s probably too big. If you haven’t used an appliance or worn a dress in the last year then, you probably don’t need it. If it doesn't add to your life, if you don’t love it, if it doesn't bring you joy, throw it out. I’ve been throwing stuff out now for quite a while, and I’m far from finished.

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