Monday: Kon-Hurry instead of Kon-Mari.

When I proposed the year-long virtual Happiness Project Book Club, I didn’t know I’d be packing to move through January, but sure enough, we’ve sold our house, with a February 2 closing date. If all goes well, we will be closing on our new home in Nashville mid-February. With less than a month to buy a house and to pack, I’m in panic mode.

I should be good at packing; I’ve done it enough. Since I was a preacher’s kid, moving regularly was par for the course. Even in college, I moved from dorm to dorm, then room to room. Every time I’ve moved, especially in my adult life, I’ve said, “Never again!” referring (1. to moving and (2. to accumulating so much stuff. But I do it again and again.

So now the house is piling up with packing boxes, many full, some empty. I’m making the circuit of grocery stores and package store, begging for more boxes. After making my way through the halfway mark of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, I must admit to myself that there is no way I am going to be able to follow her steps, starting with all my clothing, touching every item, assessing it’s capacity for joy.  Instead, I’m just doing my best to pack like with like. I’ve sorted my books first, since they account for most of the weight–physical and psychological. I’m working in my craft room now, a bigger challenge since nothing has a uniform shape. I went by U-Haul and got some wardrobe boxes.

I have an appointment at Adrienne’s, my favorite consignment store, to bring in some clothes for spring. I’m hoping (and praying) that some of the family members really will come with a truck or a van to help and to take some household items back to Henrietta’s Closet, a consignment sale my sister and friends have been running twice a year for a long, long time.

In the meantime, I had to come clean and share one particular spot on my bookshelf. Notice anything ironic? All those books on decluttering have brought as much success on my books on alchemy and my Powerball ticket purchases. Maybe once I get moved in and unpacked, I will read them!

Which aspect of January’s chapter do you find most challenging? Most needed?

By the way, when I asked you to introduce yourself, it’s find if you just say, “I’m ________ and I know Nancy from __________________.  No need for added stress. This should just be fun.