Peter Walsh
I am always amazed at where I find inspiration in my life. It may come from an overheard conversation, packaging on a bag of random Japanese souvenirs (“Lovely Piglet Carry You Happiness!”) or recently, from a Costco Connection magazine.
The February 2011 issue of Costco Connection has an article titled, “De-Cluttering 2.0,” which includes a quote from decluttering guru, Peter Walsh:
“Complete the cycle. If you use it, put it away. If you dirty it, wash it.”
This is so simple, yet so difficult; and I am just as bad as anyone else about working this into my daily life. I am most definitely memorizing this little nugget of wisdom. Umm . . . thanks Costco Connection, I can now toss you into the recycling. Yup. Cycle completed.
Have you ever found inspiration from an unlikely place? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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Inspiration? Or, am I easily led? LOL Everytime someone talks about tea, soup, whatever…I instantly want it or work up to cooking it. It may take me weeks to give in. For instance, another blogger talked about potato soup, and now I am inspired to cook potatoes in any form. Maybe that is not what you mean?
At other times inspiration comes from what I am contemplating, something right in front of me. I always know that some forlorn item can be used for something other than its original purpose rather than be tossed. Then, my inspiration turns into a project. In my mind’s eye, I can see clearly my intentions forming pictures for me.
My 94-yr-old neighbor inspired me to garden. But, by then she was dead. Her devotion to the soil caused me to finally try my hand at gardening on a small scale. I adamantly refused until she was dead. I missed her, so I planted things. I replanted her flowers to my yard. Hmmm, maybe it was the fact my allergies slowed down when I went into menopause. Oh well.
I read that same article,but I added “If you walk through it, wipe your feet” and printed it out. Now, if I could just get the dogs to read that last phrase I would be all set . I too read odd tidbits, overhear something and ask for further info, follow a zillion links and learn all the time.
I keep whatever suits my lifestyle and needs and let the rest roll off.
I like that you “learn all the time.”
Katy
I was recently re-reading the Complete Tightwad Gazette and a lady had written in about a card she found that said “Less is More” and had made her own list – like less TV is more exercise, less junk food is more energy. She later found out the card was from a cigarette package, something about less tar is more flavour…
I love that “Complete the cycle” — it covers so many things. If I can only get my boys (and, honestly, myself) to follow through on that, it would be so much easier to keep things nice around here.
Peter Walsh is yummy, too…and looking doesn’t cost a cent 🙂
I love Peter Walsh! His approach on decluttering by only keeping the “vision pile” was MY inspiration this morning to finally tackling the toy nightmare in my house. (Each boy had to pretend we’re going to a desert island for a week and could only keep one large bin of toys to take with him.) Worked great, well so far. Completing the cycle will be the next challenge…
Bless PW for so clearly stating the principle I’ve been trying to follow for years. I heard him talking recently about completing the cycle, and I wanted to shout from the rooftops, “That’s it! That’s what I’ve been trying to say!” Now if I could just convince myself to apply said principle to the box of photos in my office…