
I often tell people edit is my middle name. I love to edit things. Some of the easiest things I edit are the junk drawer, my handbag, even my make-up bag. To edit is to condense or modify. Editing is usually associated with written material but has recently become associated with decluttering or living with less or sorting through/sorting out.
This past weekend I completed several edits. The first edit was a handbag edit. I had been using the same bag, a black leather Coach handbag, for ten years. It’s been lovely and I’ve got a lot of use out of it, but it’s too heavy and the strap is always falling down. After looking at close to 200 different handbags online last week I finally found one that is lightweight, has two sections in it, two straps, and was very affordable. Today that handbag arrived and I was able to sort through all of the stuff in my old bag, throw a lot of the stuff away, and then fit everything I was keeping into my new bag. The new handbag is a bit more up to date, definitely more stylish than my last one, and is way easier on my back and shoulders. Handbag edit successful and complete.
Closet editing is done often around here. If items aren’t worn after a year they are donated. If items are looking shabby-sweaters pulled out of shape, pilling going on, holes or tears they are thrown. Often clothing items just don’t fit anymore with me, my lifestyle, my figure etc. and they also get donated.
Junk drawers–I actually have one and it gets edited regularly. I stand over it in our kitchen with the trash can and when I can’t remember why I hung onto this or that, or even sometimes identify what it is or why I’m holding onto it-nail, screw, bread tie, newspaper clipping–it’s thrown.
Even in social media regular editing can take place. I often look through my photos on Instagram and if they look too personal, or dated, or revealing or they just don’t match the profile of who I am and what I am sharing about myself, family or business on the internet, I delete them. I also purge Facebook photos and posts on a regular basis–this way what is available about me and mine is less likely to end up in a Google or Facebook search/search all. Though I work hard to produce blog content with good grammar, I often fail. So when I can, I go back to posts and edit them. I do this all the time.
Editing is an important part of my life. I don’t like to be overwhelmed–my best line of defense for that is edit, regularly trim down the size of today’s list, prioritize things on my lists, and accomplish what I can today, and save the rest for tomorrow. I don’t consider it a failure to not get every little thing on my list completed.
Editing is an important part of my life because I am a minimalistic person. Chaos causes me more stress than any order ever will. If you don’t mind chaos or can adapt, I envy you. I don’t consider my minimalistic attitude and all the work it sometimes takes to always be positive. However, paring down closet space so it contains what you actually wear is fabulous. I’ve been organizing professionally for six months now without hiring any assistants. Soon I will be looking to build a small team. As of this time I am asked the most about closet organizing. I would say I’ve probably organized more closets for clients at this point than anything else. Sometimes a closet is a great starting place, and for me thus far I’m having a great time doing them.
xoxo
Discover more from shop cook & simple living
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
