http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/ Be Creative. Feed Your Soul. Love Your Life. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:09:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-6698 Lorna Sun, 02 Jan 2011 22:38:38 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-6698 I love my clutter and am never ashamed of it ............loved reading your post ..x http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Sara Mo Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:16:20 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-35 This post is filled with delicious food-for-thought. I had a similar moment of truth when my sis and her boyfriend came for Valentines weekend. Usually I run around the house frantic on the day of, chastising myself and anyone in my path for being so messy and causing my to feel so chaotic and unnerved. This time I decided to just let it go. To remind myself that my sister was coming to see me because she loves me and not because she wanted to see how clean my house it. It was very freeing. And self-affirming. While she was here I just lounged around and enjoyed her company rather than following her around with a broom and dust pan, trying to prove just how well I keep my house up. (I just got a great visual for that sentence.) Thank you for confirming that it is ok to prioritize life and love and creativity and joy before a spic-n-span house. My next challenge... to maintain this same level of authenticity when my mom, the anal Virgo who wipes down her walls once a month, comes to visit. Cross your fingers for me... I just may need it! :) And thanks for visiting my blog. I can't wait to explore your site further. I'm raising my cup of coffee to everyone who accepts themselves as they are. Clutter queens and neat freaks alike! :) http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Pamela D. Hart Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:38:27 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-36 I'm the Queen of Organization that lives with the 3 little Piglets, David, Dalan and Austin-I think you've heard of them! While I can live with dust bunnies, I can't live with my "things" being out of their "place". It disrupts my creative process. I think we are born with this. My dad told me I was like this as a little girl-everything had a compartment or box and I was neat as a pin. As far as you being a Clutter Queen...you are what you are and those that love you will love you and to heck with those that don't. If there are clothes lying on a chair when I come over, I'll toss them on another chair! http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Erika Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:46:48 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-37 I'm a clutter queen too! And my clutter must stay were it is, coase I need to see it's all there! It helps me to be creative, and reminds me that I'm in my house and not my mother's! Thanks for reminding me that I'm fine and not alone! http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-38 chris zydel Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:53:18 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-38 Welcome, welcome all! It's lovely to have you stopping by! Adam- Yes, my husband is a more zen like type of environment guy but he greatly appreciates all the creative energy that seems to go along with my clutter. Thanks for the cheering and yes, yes, yes to Mary's war "on internal self sabotage" cry of B*****KS. It's going to become a new favorite expression. Doreen- Glad that it helped! Patricia- Nice to hear from another creative clutter bug! Fi Bowman- The happy medium that my hubby and I have reached ( if it's possible for you) is that he has his own completely uncluttered room/office/studio space. I'm allowed to come in and visit but otherwise it's off limits to me and my cluttering ways. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Fi Bowman (@fibowman) Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:44:01 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-39 This is a great post - both thoughtful on your part, and useful for readers - I love it! (Came here via The Fluent Self btw.) Especially since I too am a clutterbug and have been struggling, struggling, struggling with it for ages. My other half would really prefer the zen clean-living thing so I'm always feeling guilty about spreading out. And worst of all, right now, all the clutter that was cleared from the living area over Christmas for guests, is now piled in my studio so I can't even get in the door. (In fact, it even spills out the door into the hall. How sad is that?) There has to be a happy medium that works for both of us. I just need to find it. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:34:15 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-40 Wow!!! I could have written this article myself. You described me and my home. Only in the past 5 years have I reached the point of letting go of the shame, most of the time. I still have a few friends that I don't want to come to my home because of my clutter but for the most part, I don't care. I do the major cleanup for holidays when family is coming to visit. Thanks for the article. My hobbies are reading, quilting and writing my blog and reading other blogs. You see the evidence of these hobbies scattered throughout my house and on all of my tables. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Doreen Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:04:13 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-41 from one clutter queen to another.. THANK YOU!! I'm printing this out and putting it on my cluttered refrigerator :-) Doreen http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Adam Kayce Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:38:24 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-42 I love this post, Chris, even though I'm a zen-clean guy. I live with a clutter-junkie wife and two young girls... which means I enjoy my clutter-free space in my office, and no where else. :) But your point about the internal clutter we carry around, and how that gunks up our hearts more than our external habits, is brilliant. I couldn't have cheered more. I'm also going to remember Mary's war cry, the next time my inner fastidious voices come out to wreak havoc on my level of peace: "B******Ks to that!" http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-43 mary Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:09:29 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-43 actually I think its a lot milder and I wanted to write F**K but I know you Americans are more sensitive to 'bad language' than us anglo-saxons.... http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-44 chris zydel Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:50:58 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-44 Mary- You made me laugh out loud with your comment! Is B******Ks like the word F**K in the states? And, yes I am also a Virgo constantly clearing out those "dust bunnies of the mind". Diane- Nice to see you back! Claire- Yes, Havi is so great for those shots of courage. Good luck with befriending your creativity. Joely- I know. I keep the money stuff straight, but other than that, all bets are off! Thanks for stopping by! http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on Twitter) Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:02:38 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-45 I LOVE this post! I am a clutter nut as well. I organise bills and so forth, but I do all my best organising in my head. Occasionally, I'll clean about the place but I do love being in my nest of clutter. I've given up trying not to leave all my books lying around. Yes, we definitely need to work on inner rather than outer clutter. After all, that's the stuff that really gets you stuck. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Claire Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:10:19 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-46 Hi Chris: This is my first visit to your site. I especially liked where you said, "If you are choosing to live a creative life, you need to be prepared and willing to expose yourself." I certainly feel this need to create, but hadn't gotten over the fear part. Reading The Fluent Self gave me a shot of courage when I needed it, so I feel like I'm starting something tho I'm not sure what. Thanks for this post. I can identify because I have the physical and internal clutter to deal with. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Diane Whiddon-Brown Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:58:32 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-47 You're absolutely right. De-cluttering the internal is much better than de-cluttering the house. :) This whole issue of embracing who we are and just letting us be US is wonderful to read. Even though I'm my OCD keeps my house fairly tidy, this post still resonates with me and the fear and shame of feeling like I need to be someone else in all the other areas of my life where there's too much "clutter." Yay for taking out internal trash! http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-48 mary Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:28:41 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-48 Dear Chris I'M A CLUTTERED VIRGO SO B*****CKS TO THAT ! sorry just had to get that off my chest... who are these anal virgoes to try and dump us into their tiny tidy corners? I have A LARGE AND MESSY LIFE and it drives me nuts the way everybody wants to come and rearrange it for me (especially my mother who specializes in breaking into my flat and 'tidying' which means I can't find things for years afterwards). And you are right clutter has not stopped me from writing, making films, teaching, entertaining, knitting, and a hundered other creative things. Its the dust bunnies in your mind you have to fight not the ones on your floor. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-49 chris zydel Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:43:34 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-49 Hiro, Thank you, as always, for your sweet love and beutiful play with words. Love that reference to those Not Good Enough Monster Meanies! I can even see them....(-: Tzaddi, I'm glad that coming here allowed your shoulders to relax. That can be such a delicious feeling. Victoria, Another member of our beloved havi tribe. You made me laugh out loud with the Black fur tumbleweeds! I have definitely seen those around my house! Thank you for your courage in joining me in announcing our lovable clutter selves for all the internets to see! http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Victoria Brouhard Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:12:49 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-50 This idea of self-acceptance keeps appearing in what I read and even what I write. And this hit home on a more direct level because my hubby and I are really cluttery, and I *do* have a lot of shame about it especially when it comes to having friends over. I even worry that our "cleanliness-levels" will turn people off (can you say, Black fur tumbleweeds?). I can't believe I just announced that to the internets, but I had to take on your challenge of more joy/less shame in 2009. Thanks for writing such a beautiful, thought-provoking post. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Tzaddi Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:53:18 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-51 Thank you for this. I have been struggling with some similar self-criticism on the home front lately. I felt my shoulders dropping when I read it. Nice to take even a moment of relief/relaxation away from your coming out. http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/inner-clutter-clearing/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Hiro Boga Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:11:34 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/cja/2009/01/02/the-art-of-inner-clutter-clearing-making-room-for-who-you-really-are/#comment-52 Chris, my beautiful friend, thanks for letting your Clutter Queen out of the closet to play. :-) I'm a Virgo, so simplicity is more my thing, but I have dear friends of both persuasions. You're entirely right--their clutter, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with how much I love them. It also has no bearing on the things that are truly important, like how loving or kind or creative or open-hearted they are. So hooray for letting go of the Not-Good-Enough Monster Meanies. And yaay for celebrating your own gorgeous, creatve, loving, Clutter Queen self. Love and hugs to you, Hiro