Happiness is a full recycling bin

Why is it that lately I've been so enamoured of a good clear out?

The recent council-sponsored hard rubbish collection really sent me into a frenzy of activity, to rid myself of all the 'guff' (my word de jour) I've been storing/hanging on to, for no good reason.

Out into the street went two tables - one that came from an ex and gave me a deep sense of satisfaction to finally be rid of, the awful chairs that accompanied it, a mountain of cassette tapes, two stereos, two televisions, a zillion magazines, my old VCR, bits and bobs, awful wrapping paper remnants, an ancient computer, a suitcase full of old pillows and a doona, a treadmill (which I got given second hand and never used - no surprises there)... I basically filled up half the nature strip in a matter of two days. I confess I even threw out some old books.

It felt so good to have less stuff cluttering up my space, even though 99% of the guff was stored out of sight.
My home felt instantly bigger, somehow more comfortable, and ready for sunshine and throwing open doors and windows to welcome springtime breezes.

I still have a couple of boxes of video tapes and a box of bargain cosmetics I picked up when working in a cosmetics company's warehouse - ten years ago - to ditch, but the recycling bin is absolutely choc-a-bloc.

Overall, I have felt freer and freer the more stuff I've hurled into the street/bin. I'm no hoarder, but it is so easy just to think we 'need' to keep things that we have no interest in, just in case. In case of what? The return of the crank-handle computer? If it has been in a box for a year, it can probably go in the bin and in another year you won't even remember you had it.

So, if you're feeling the spirit of Mrs Beeton, that renowned Victorian housekeeper, whispering in your ear to have a spring clean, heed the call. You'll feel so much better once the dust settles.

Like the lovely Dilmah man says, do try it.

Annette x