Hi! Want to become Tidy? Me too. Hang with me this month and we're going learn Tidy Habits for Not-So-Tidy People. It's a special series for September, just in time for you to turn over a new leaf before the Holidays hit. You'll be a new woman before Thanksgiving, I promise!
Recently, I opened a nearly-empty box and inside found a small jar containing two baby teeth.
TEETH, people. Human baby teeth.
Whose teeth they are, I have no idea.
Except that I've narrowed it down to three possible persons: Lauren, Meghan or Grayson. The only three formerly small people whose teeth I could possibly have in my possession without some crime having taken place.
My, what a charming keepsake. I'm so glad I've hung on to them all these years so I could remember how exciting it was to pull dangling teeth from hysterical children. If only I could remember which hysterical child it was....so I can make a Christmas ornament out of the jar and give it as a special gift one day.
One of the major differences between Tidy People and Not-So-Tidy People is that Tidy People have learned the art of Throwing Things Away.
They know how to let go.
I really admire that. And up until I found those teeth, I thought I was doing pretty well with that.
We "NST People" are savers: keepers and guardians of family relics, such as macaroni art on construction paper, broken Barbies (daughter's favorite toy in the age 9-11 era), souvenirs from The Black Hills of South Dakota, and back issues of Southern Living (for the recipes). We are afraid to throw things away because of their value, sentimental or otherwise, and we worry that if we let them go, we will forget the memories attached to them. Or that as soon as we get rid of them, we'll see the exact same thing on Antiques Roadshow and learn it was worth millions.
These false beliefs can add up to a lot of clutter. And, allow me to let you down gently: it adds up to a lot of trash. Yup.
Today's Small Thing is to throw three things away that you've been hanging onto.
No, don't throw out your marriage license or your mother's hand-written letters. Don't get rid of your dog. But DO throw away your kid's old math spirals from 3rd grade and your retainer from middle school. Really. Feel free to toss one dozen of the ten dozen random jars you're saving for when you freeze homemade spaghetti sauce someday. Go ahead and throw away the shredded underwear at the bottom of your drawer that you keep "in case of emergency." Ain't no emergency bad enough to wear them, just sayin'.
Let some things go. It's what Tidy People do...and you're going to be Tidy this month.
Tell us: what are you throwing away today? I'll send this art print to the person who tosses the most interesting/outragous or generally silly thing away. Leave a comment and I'll pick a winner!
