I admit … I’m a pack rat. The clutter police could have a hay day in my house. It’s full of things I might just need — someday. But, I’m getting better. Knick knacks, general paperwork, my daughter’s school papers and projects from every year of school, every memento she has ever made me … you get the idea. Personal treasures I can reflect on — someday. I always intend to organize the piles, stacks, overflowed boxes — someday. But it seems that many other things crowd out that someday and someday lingers in the distant — very far distant — future.

Last fall we did some remodeling. When we replaced the flooring and painted the walls, some internal cleanup was required. My “someday” arrived. I de-cluttered half of the house (the half being remodeled). I went through each item that would or would not fit with the new decor. It felt so good! I didn’t throw everything away as I have to admit our attic received a few new residents, but I did get rid of much excess.

Tired out from an overdue remodeling project, the de-cluttering of the other half of our house got waylaid. I planned to get back to it — someday. I just won’t take anyone to that half of the house. Most people just see the clutter-free part anyway! I reasoned.

The idea of attacking the other half of the house lacked luster. It meant attacking a plethora of paperwork piles. Where’s the creative decorating in such a project? There is none. That’s just paper shuffling and filing — my absolute disliked tasks. I’d get to it someday …

Fast forward to this past weekend. My “someday” finally arrived once again. In one week, we pick up our then eight-week old puppy. I read puppy training material that said, “If your puppy eats or chews on one of your prized possessions, it is not your puppy’s fault. It’s YOURS for leaving it out.” Ugh. I knew already I’d be guilty of such an offense. My forced “someday” meant puppy proofing trumped my avoidance issue.

I started Saturday morning in one room. After a few hours of yard work, my husband came inside. “Wow. This is awesome!” You see, he is NOT a pack rat. He’s a perfectionist, and a patient neat freak husband that’s incredibly gracious about my pack-ratting ways. I knew this would make his day, week, or maybe his whole year!

“I’m moving on to my office next because if I stop now, I’m afraid I won’t start again.” I announced.

My family ate lunch, I continued de-cluttering and grabbing finger food along the way. Once the office was done, mounds of paperwork organized, and garbage taken outside, I helped my daughter organize her things. She’s picked up my bad pack-ratting habits and expanded on a few of her own.

By last night I was finally done and it felt WONDERFUL. I can now walk down the hallway of that half of the house with a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Now … the other half of the house (the usually clean de-cluttered part) has been ignored and clean laundry covers the furniture. I’ll get to that … soon. It can’t be someday. After all the puppy is coming!

The moral of the story? If you need to clean your house or de-clutter … get a puppy! It’s cheaper than remodeling.