40/40

i'm a day late, but you should know, i always have the best intentions.  really.  so yesterday was Ash Wednesday, marking 40 days until Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion.  like most Christian holidays, growing up, we celebrated Easter by dressing in our sunday best, (picture me in a fancy, swishy dress and typical paten leather white shoes, occasionally sporting white gloves!) and as a family we would sit in church, singing songs and listen to pastor hubbard describe what our dear Jesus did for us.  (thank you, mom and dad for giving me this upbringing.)

now, i know as a non-denominational christian family, we didn't practice lent.  i didn't know what it was until i attended Catholic school when i was 11.  i didn't quite understand the meaning of it, only witnessing that most of my peers gave up candy, video games or other such indulgences.  like all of the Catholic practices i came across, i didn't follow along because i, well, wasn't Catholic.  as i've gotten older, wiser (ha!) and more in touch with my own personal spirituality, i've viewed certain practices like of course i can do that, i believe in God and my God is not one that would say no you cannot participate in this!  of course not.  so this year, i am participating in lent.  i guess i'm doing it my own way though.  instead of forbidding myself of some tangible goodie, (which shouldn't we all know how to pull back on the reins?) i'm participating in 40 bags in 40 days.

maybe you've heard of this?  it's ridding your home of the clutter, items you don't use but others could.  i already do consignment and take my duds to salvation army, but i am now being even more conscious of the items going into these bags.  the point is to scour your home, touch every cupboard, closet, drawer, etc.  40 bags seems like a lot of things, but as i'm mentally running through the rooms in my house... yep, i think i have 10 bags full in just a moment of mind-jogging (and actually, i already do have 5 bags waiting in my laundry room to be whisked away to salvation army, perfect timing).  the best way to get started is pull out a sheet of paper.  hey, maybe you have an old 3-ring binder lying around - pull a piece out and that dusty notebook gets tossed into a bag of other school-type supplies that a kid might use more than you!

you wanna see my list?  you're gonna anyway...

yes, yes i know my list is not complete.  i'm leaving those remaining spaces blank because i know the garage is gonna eat 'em up.  yes, that's right, benji.  i'm comin' for ya!

the instructions for this 40 bags in 40 days suggests using black trash bags so there is no going back.  literally.  if you can't see what you're getting rid of, then you can't negate your decision.  genius.  it's just so simple, and that's really the idea.  it's the way we should live our lives, not being consumed by our stuff.  yes, i'm talking to you, _ _ _!

after my research and reading that so many people were just throwing stuff away, i'm challenging myself to get rid of things that can be put to use by others.  i like the idea of helping others in need, and obviously not just giving away junk.  i mean really, how many kitchen utensils do you really need?  sets of mixing bowls?  ah, i could get really carried away here, but the idea is to keep what you use.

i am also combining this with my spring cleaning.  'tis the season, after all!  (you realize sunday is time to spring forward on our clocks, right?!)  i've started the process of cleaning all our woodwork in the house - trim, doors (fronts and backs), window sills and obviously all of our wood furniture.  it is such a process, one that i try to do quarterly, and i dread it just as much as the last time.  the other doozy is vacuuming the edges of the entire house, pulling away sofas and beds, dressers, bookcases.  these are the days when i don't feel guilty for eating a few extra pieces of candy!

think you got 40 bags?