Guide to Decluttering: Mindset of Fulfilment

The checklist for Clutter.

Everything you have, Everything you need.

Check yourself.

Mindset is everything.

Livelihood is not for life.

Fulfill your life with living.

What is the Old Mindset?

It IS a Journey!

“If you want it, you gotta work for it…”

**Winter 2021;**
**Sun in my eyes.**
**Desperately in need of new boots.**

I think just about every person on the planet has a COVID-19 story. Mine was… “WORK”. When news of the virus first came out; we were home with our newborn. Once it spread to the East Coast; In the midst of the March 2020 toilet paper crisis. It became questionable if my company could work. Through a few days of litigation; Pharmaceutical Medications were declared ESSENTIAL.

Essential Worker

As an essential worker (working with high risk elderly) during the pandemic; I will never forget the challenges. Masking, gloving, hand sanitizing. However, I’d be lucky to wash my hands once or twice a day. Most restrooms along my route were closed for COVID-19!

Livelihood is not for Life

Through it all; I continued to work my usual sixty hour week. Different procedures, extra precautions. As the virus mutilated; the death toll rised. I began to feel the effects personally. Losing patients. Many of which I’d consider to be great “front porch friends”.

Mentally Worn Down

By April 2021; I hit a breaking point. I’d lost more than several close patients. I was caught up in the politics of everyone’s opinions of mask/unmask. Some patients requesting my personal immunization information. Others telling me “TAKE THAT DAMN MASK OFF. iTs uSeLeSs aS hElL”.

Physically Weighed Down

With that ~~damn~~ daggon mask, at 370lbs; I was counting each step. I just wanted to get back in the car and sit down. At my weight, everything was difficult. Life is precious. However, I have always worked for everything I wanted.

Worked Up

At the “breaking point”; I had decided that I could not work six days a week anymore. For a few reasons; plus a 14 month old at home.

I scaled back to part time; three and four day work weeks. This careful decision was made with budget in mind. To rationalize the exchange. It was a bargain…”IF I stop spending $800 monthly on random stuff on Amazon.. I could easily work part time.”

I want..

I need..

“I deserve it”

Essentially this was the chorus to the song of my own personal uni-verse. For years this was my favorite soundtrack.

On loop..

On repeat..

“I was Stuck”

At 370LBS, I planned to get bariatic surgery. After weeks of Google research and talking to several “front porch friends” who’d had the operation. My mom said, “This isn’t an easy way out, you still have to put in the work”.

Ultimately, I backed out.

I decided that I would put forth effort to do it on my own ONE LAST TIME. I said, “I know how to lose weight..

I just have to STICK WITH IT“

At the time, IT was a “diet”.

In June 2021; One of the very first things I did was get rid of large bowls. The bowls we had were capable of holding FOUR CUPS! Far too large for a healthy serving of anything.

What is it?

It is a process.

For me, it was 100% mental. I was living in the Old Mindset. From the time I woke up, to the time I went to bed. I brought awareness to my choices. I began making changes.

Moving Onward

(From STUCK to MOVING)

Summer 2021 turned to Winter 2022; I’d lost 80lbs. Under 300lbs, finally! It was time to get new clothes. I took the size 28/4x clothes to Goodwill. I don’t ever plan to wear them ever again. Ever.

Also around the Holidays, Santa brought new toys. Our house was bursting at the seams. So much stuff, and no place to put it! Goodwill had a nice influx of plus size clothing and baby toys that week.

It dawned on me.. Happiness isn’t bought. It’s created. All the clutter was really bugging me. I was tired of buying things (again) because I couldn’t find it. We began to organize closets, pantries, drawers. Decluttering the entire house. Every room had a makeover! Each item was tied to one place.

The entire house had a “system”. A place for everything! Anytime I need something.. BOOM! Found it! Right here where it belongs.

Buy Less, Create More

Eating for my frame, working with budget, and living in an organized environment.. Each aspect of my life has a cause and effect. It takes intention.

I felt that I understood the process. I’m making the choices and it’s actually happening. Simply keep going. There ain’t no stopping!

Buy Less?

I used to shop “for fun”. I’ve bought stuff “because it’s cute“. I’ve made some super random purchase in boredom. I’ve walked away with the craziest deals! Ultimately; it costs money AND piles up into space.

Create More?

Now, what to do “for fun”? In my free time? In March of 2022; We set out for our first family hiking trip. A way to spend the day! It was the perfect day at Blackwater Falls. I wanted more days like that. It was absolutely perfect! We began taking hikes almost every weekend.

Make Room

My relationship with clothes changed after losing 200 lbs. Starting in a size 28, I bought a few size 22, then I bought a few size 18. Then I got out of the plus-size section, buying a size 14. (These days, I hover around a size 10)

Guide to Decluttering: Clothes
**It all began with a problem…**

As I was “gaining access” to new clothing and sizes. I never replenished my entire wardrobe. Simply put: It didn’t make sense (and was too expensive). During the Summer of 2022 and 2023; I had a rotation of two shorts.

Make Sense

Counting and summing.

Calculating and subtracting.

Solving the Equation.

There was a lot of planning in my journey. Still, there is many temptations. The key is self-control. Living beyond excuses. Striving to make good choices, and loving decisions. Living Intentionally. For the better. Onward and upward. Each and every day.

Make Full

It takes Truth. It takes Faith. It takes Time. The way is made. All things are possible. With God!

HEBREW WORD STUDY – FULFILL

The Power of Giving

Knowing what you’re doing; In doing that, you’ll begin to understand.

Perseverance over time, is never giving up.

~~Plan~~ ~~Aim~~ ~~Try~~ your Best

GIVE EFFORT.

Give effort to your very best. Over the past few years, I can honestly say I’ve tried. Tried to live right. Tried to live intentionally. In my choices, not everything went exactly the way I wanted. I’ve goofed up. Yes.. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve had bad days. I’ve had good days. I have wonderful days forever engrained in my head. With these memories, and everything I am. Moving Onward, I have no ragrets.

Check Yourself

Each one of us were uniquely and wonderfully created. We’re born, we live, we die. The life part is different for each individual.

Even our ancestors *had different lives.*

The great divide is our differences. It doesn’t have to be this way, or that way. Life is for living. Living fully. Being fulfilled. Each day is a blessing. Making each day count. Time is precious. The Good Lord provides.

Mindset is Everything

What is fulfillment?

The mental state of being fulfilled.

Mental State=Mindset

Fully Filled=Replenished

In the mental state of being fulfillment; the heart of peace, the mind of understanding. Peace is something.

Choices make everything.

Love conquers All.

Faith over All Things.

I want…

I need…

I deserve..

Becomes I will..

I have..

I am..

The In-Between is a Journey. Even when you don’t understand; keep going. The process will happen! It’s tied to one source; the One who makes All Things Possible.

For everything was created by Him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Colossians 1:16

The Way is Made

Make the Time to Thank God