A Spark of an Idea and Item Number #1 - My Thimble

Look what fell into my hands the other day. 

It was delivered via a kindhearted and kindred soul I have luckily crossed paths with.

Funny thing is, it was exactly one year ago that I had a similar thing happen 

with Marie Kondo's first book, "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up."

While reading that first book I was truly inspired to declutter my way to peace and serenity. 

By year's end, however, it was apparent that not much progress had been made.

Trouble was, no matter how much I organized and tidied I had failed to grasp the idea

that a substantial number of material possessions needed to

go

away

forever!

Not to the basement, or the attic, or to a nifty storage container.

Nowhere they could easily be retrieved and reinstated into my day to day.

And definitely not given "just in case" or "maybe someday" justifications.

Remember this from last time?

 "The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don't,"

 This is what I need to do.

 Thank you Joshua Becker!

And this is going to help me.

(Notice it's a library book....that means I have no choice but to get it out of here when I'm done reading it!)

Marie Kondo sets the best criteria for knowing what to get rid of...

determine those items that bring you joy 

and 

ditch the rest.

How do you know if an item "sparks joy?"

Well first off you hold it.

You see how it makes you feel.

What are its' ins and outs?

It's ups and downs?

This is my thimble. 

It fits my finger perfectly.

It used to float around in an old tin of buttons, I remember seeing it there when I was little.

Without it my finger suffers at the end of a needle and so it serves a function.

In the summer it tends to get sticky but in winter it spins in circles.

Wearing it means I am doing something fun.

It brings me joy.

I'll be keeping this thimble.

I had a fitting session with the rest and found only one other that fit me as well. 

It doesn't have the memories this one does so I declared it to be my travel thimble since losing it would not bring heartache.

All of the others went to the supply bin to turn into thimble pincushions.

I even flattened the tips with a hammer so there would be no take backs on the decision!

And one more thing....

thinking about my thimble made me realize how much I enjoy the time spent wearing it and making things. I wanted more of that and less finger surfing on the phone so I disposed of every single unnecessary app on it. I guess that phone is not so smart now is it!