One simple thing that changed my life...

I am going to tell you a little story.

When I was a kid I was a total slob.  I kept everything, even garbage.  I guess you could say I was a "hoarder."  I even kept week old PB&J sandwiches in old brown lunch bags under my bed so my mom wouldn't know that I didn't eat my lunch at school.  Toys were so plentiful and unorganized in my room that you could hardly see the horrible fluffy mint green carpet let alone have a place to walk on it.  At least, that is they way I remember it.

I went on like this until one day a friend of mine was over at my house playing (I was probably about 10 or 11) and she said "let's clean your room...I will help you!"

Now, of course my mom had told me many times to clean my room, but I guess I just never did it.  But, when my friend, who came from a super organized and clutter free home, said "let's clean" I thought, "okay, maybe it will be fun?!"

We spent the day (or at least a few hours) cleaning up everything in my room.  We organized the toys, cleaned under my bed - which was like a black hole for everything prior to this, cleaned my dressers, closet, etc.  I mean... we cleaned and organized everything!!

It was life changing.  I realized that day how much impact your immediate environment has on your mood and function.

Since that day I have been what some people would call sort of a "neat freak."

Clutter and disorder really does suck the life out of you whether you know it or not and whether you acknowledge it or not.  And sometimes all it takes to see it clearly is a kind friend to say "I will help you."

Make Room For What You Love, the new book by Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room, is like that kind friend.

As most of you know I was chosen as part of the launch team for this book, which meant participating in a 5 week challenge focusing on different tasks to help pinpoint areas of my home that could be decluttered and streamlined.

The idea was to not only provide better function, but to make more room to focus on the things that matter in my life as opposed to cleaning, looking for things, picking up, etc.

It's really easy in our society to buy into the idea that we need more.  Especially when you are like me and love to decorate and make things and rearrange things and refresh things.  When it comes down to it, all that more does is take away from the other important things in life - like time with family, time to be outdoors, and time for myself.

Taking part in the challenge and reading Make Room For What You Love reminded me of these things and I am glad I could share it with you.  You can learn more about the challenge here. The book is available now on Amazon and other retailers.  Also, be sure so check out The Inspired Room.  Thank you to Melissa for letting me participate and reminding me what it means to create a simple and happy home.