I spent quite a few years living in total turmoil...Not because I was lazy, and not because I wasn't diligent with keeping things tidy...I came to the realization that I just lacked focus and I wasn't organised. All I was doing was going round in circles moving stuff I never used and didn't need into different locations, which gave the impression that I lived in a neat & tidy home.

I finally made the decision to start the daunting task of culling everything I owned. When looking at this mammoth task, it was so overwhelming that I kept putting it off putting it off. Eventually I broke this huge undertaking into doable projects. I started with my hallway draws that were jammed with invoices, used light bulbs, batteries and pens that no longer worked...This job took an entire day because I didn't simply move the stuff, I threw the majority away, and filed the invoices & documents in a newly created system. The cleaned out draws now house a folder containing current invoices & documents, a working flashlight, scissors, packet of spare batteries, a cigarette lighter and a box full of loose change. The draws had now become functional...and this was my ultimate aim. This was the catalyst that kept me surging forward...the need to only keep what was needed, beautiful, valuable or sentimental. All the rest had to go.

The Hallway then got a complete makeover, I took down the dusty mirror and framed pictures and put them in the spare room, which now housed all my unwanted items. Then I painted the cieling with cieling white, waxed the timber floor and threw out the old hall runner.

Focussing on this one area truly galvanised my resolve to eventually do the same with the entire house. It is now 8 months since I started...and I didn't work at it every day or even every week...but it is all finally done. I think that if we look at this job in its entirety it really can be just too overwhelming....the key is to start small.

Oh yes..by the way.... After putting aside all my unwanted items, I had a yard sale. With the proceeds I was able to buy myself some much needed new computer software, and replace the ratty old hall runner that I threw out on day 1 with an authentic Turkish version.