Messy in the Middle

"Change is hardest at the beginning, Messiest in the middle, And Best at the End." ~ Robin Sharma

My experience with becoming minimalist has proven slightly different than this quote.  In the beginning I was excited and had so much clutter to purge I had to pace myself.  I started with the kitchen and the hard part was maintaining the spaces I had cleared.  After a couple of months of staying on top of things, I took it a step further and removed the small appliances from the counter top.  Now I'm working on other areas of the home.

It is true that things get a bit messy in the middle as I have sorted things into keep, donate, and trash piles.  Then there's the organization of the items I keep.  But the "messiest" part is changing the mentality that I need to fill the space I've created.  Changing my mindset with how I evaluate a potential purchase.  Coping with my new set of expectations that are not yet implemented in the entire house.

The process of change is not instantaneous.  As much as I must work at keeping the physical spaces clear, I also need to recognize when old thought patterns creep in and clear that brain space too.

I know I breathe easier when I'm in my home.  I make daily lists and focus 15 minutes to declutter a new space.  It takes about 20 minutes a day to maintain the clear spaces, far better than before.

I appreciate the challenge to change and the benefits it brings.  I appreciate the support network I've found in friends that are on their own journey of simplifying their lives.  I am enjoying the process, messiness included.