I admit it. I’m a saver and lost in a sea of clutter. I save everything-just in case. My closets are filled with clothes of various sizes. There are the too big clothes, the too small clothes, and those that fit just right. Laundry is a monumental task and yet I buy more and more clothes.

My kitchen table is filled with bank statements, addresses, and papers saved from various events I’ve attended. I try to sort the papers but it is a lost cause. The table looks the same hours later from when I started. But…I have a system. Some papers belong to the recycling pile while others are for shredding. Those I don’t want go in the trash. I file the rest.

I also save greeting cards I’ve received over the years. They make me smile as they bring back fond memories. I try to force myself to let go of some of them. But I have boxes of them. The funny thing is-you don’t miss them once they are gone.

I have been keeping journals since 1979 with the exception of a few years. I record events of the day, express my feelings, and weigh decisions. I also keep a gratitude journal to write down things I’m grateful for. I save the journals and hope to someday write a book.

When my parents died, my siblings and I inherited the awesome task of cleaning out their house. My mother was a saver and had even saved a piece of her wedding cake in a box in the attic. She saved my First Communion veil and prayerbook. She saved our school papers. My step-father saved napkins and ketchup from his many trips to McDonald’s.

I have a friend who saves newspaper articles she plans to read at a later time. The problem is, the newspapers accumulate. Add to this tag sale items in every room.

As for myself, I pray each day that I’ll be able to organize my condo. While it is a slow process, I know that God is in the midst of it all. Getting rid of clutter stirs up feelings, though. There is a sense of loss as things are discarded. It’s a formidable task but, for every item I let go of, there’s a deep inner peace. It leads to a simpler life

Debra Deptula