I'm a creative person, and a fairly handy one. I've built storage solutions for previous houses and I'm sure I could do so again. I have one project in the wings that is a must have, a storage/seating bench for our tiny dining area. However, determined to turn over a new leaf, I've decided that my ambitions will have to end there. I don't need more storage. I need a new way of being.

I've finally figured out the true cost of my 'storage solutions'. First, I have to store or collect all those materials that I will use in my 'someday' projects. Paint, boards, tools, sandpaper, old doors and hinges, all take up valuable space! Next, I will make a big mess while working on my project, often leaving them half done for an embarrassing amount of time, sabotaging any hope of order.

The projects will then weigh heavily on my peace of mind and create discouragement. Being the procrastinator that I am, I will wait for just the right combination of time, energy, and emotional fortitude before I can get back to it. Once completed, I will use my newly formed storage space to store things I probably didn't even need in the first place. In fact, more storage often only serves to delay decisions I could (and should) make right now.

If I want a different outcome, I have to be willing to take a different approach. I want a clean house! That's all I want. I have to keep reminding myself of that as I tackle the tough decisions of what to keep and what to say goodbye to, and most importantly, what to do with my days.