My last column on cleaning and de-cluttering inspired quite a few people to do just that, including myself. We need to walk the talk to get things done. Any movement forward even in small increments helps before you are forced into a situation with a deadline like moving.

Running a staging business includes inventory. In my case I carry decorative accessories and accent furniture that I can pick up and load easily. Sometimes items from my house end up in my inventory and sometimes I feel like I’m on the path to hoarding.

The day my column ran I dedicated the entire day to organizing my garage and inventory. Besides walking my own talk, I sold a few items via my personal Facebook page but have much more to donate to charitable organizations. This will be an ongoing process.

My staging inventory needs a refresh to avoid using the same pieces although I have my favorites. After updating a few rooms in my own house, some artwork and items no longer feel right in the new space. I know these items can find a new home somewhere else.

My ‘aha’ moment was watching the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Seeing the contents of homes piled up by the curb, I thought how I couldn’t help someone in Texas but I can help locally. Find a local charity and donate. My carload of donations went to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Newburgh; all proceeds go to future builds.

Is this purging process time consuming? Yes. Is it exhausting? Yes. It feels good to let go of things no longer serving you and even better to pay it forward. The process of letting go is worth it in any form. Someone you know may need or want what you have. All you have to do is offer. A friend needed kids bedroom furniture. I had it sitting in my garage for years. It is now in her home and out of mine.

Final thought & inspiration

While scrolling through my newsfeed I came across a post. It read, “Your home is a living space not a storage space”. That sums it up perfectly.