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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
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THANK YOU so much for watching (and for commiserating with me! 😜) Learn more about our Decluttering Mentorship Group ($15/month) here: cli.re/minimal-mom-private-group Have a great day!! - Dawn
Dawn I’m so very sorry that this water beast keeps attacking your home. Just another time consuming hassle that you don’t have all that extra bandwidth to manage over and over. You are so gracious and transparently vulnerable. Man, I just adore you and your family! ❤
Clearing out my poor mom’s packed apartment as she struggles with Alzheimer’s and moving her into assisted living was my nemesis last year. I had embraced minimalism due to health and life changes. It was traumatic, even though friends chipped in to help. She’s happily settled and my stress load has finally bottomed out ❤
They do make "weather-safe" sealed totes that block out moisture. More expensive, but it would be a time saver.
Coats, linens, and winter gear can be stored, compressed in airtight bags, and stacked in the totes to avoid constant washing when the water becomes a problem.
@@TheMinimalMom My first thought was Tom finished that office space building why not move some of that stuff there? Then my headlight went off “That’s how the piles start” bad idea Pamala 🤪, I was encouraged to rearrange area in my kitchen and do cleaning today❤️
It never ceases to amaze me how many videos you can make on minimalism without being repetitive. So practical and complete life changing, no matter what anyone’s situation is! Thank you, Dawn, for yet another awesome video!
Thank you, I really supervise this! 🥰
I know I can’t believe it either! Dawn is amazing! ❤
I do have a little question here, though.. after so many years of working on becoming a minimalist, how come you still have so much stuff to declutter..? I do know it doesn't happen in one "session" and every time you work on it, you pull off another layer, etc. But after so many years?? Not asking to be mean, just trying to get some reassurance because it's making me sad in a way
@@user-pj4wk2it6c great question! Now that everyone is getting older in our house, the basement became the spot where anyone could store things they weren’t using or weren’t sure about getting rid of. I didn’t show it on this video, but the kids helped with things that were theirs. I was trying not to throw anyone under the bus 😉
@@user-pj4wk2it6cI think allowing the kids a bit of space and then keeping storage bins is more her line of work. She can make videos about their features and take them places to help others. It makes sense to me that there is a bit of stuff in her basement. It is a living home of sorts. My thought was how crazy Dawn may get with having so much to do around the laundry room upstairs. She is a ladybug like me so the basement is a storage container of sorts…outta sight, outta mind. That is what ladybugs do. Large storage, behind closets and doors. My clutter is stuff in drawers. I went through them recently, but they bother me. She is a minimalist for sure but more upstairs in this video…she is still a busy Mom and home schooler…not to mention all the things Tom does. I just wanted to acknowledge your thoughts and respond. I hope that is ok.
Years ago I saw a pastor use dominoes to illustrate how our lives can get to be overly full. He set up one domino at a time, saying what each was - your job, taking your kids to school, making dinner, etc. He spaced the dominoes far enough apart so that if one fell it wouldn't knock down any others; if something didn't get done it didn't affect anything else too much. Then he talked about the extra stuff that creeps in, now adding dominoes in between those that were already there - a family member gets sick, a neighbor unexpectedly needs you, a coworker leaves and there is more on your plate at work. Then, if one domino fell it brought others with it. This is what I was thinking about when you showed the Stuff Frustration meter.
Great object lesson! Thanks for sharing.
My "clutter" is almost all seasonal decor, especially Christmas. I could easily give Rebecca Robeson, the RUclips Christmas decorator, a run for her money! I used to have a different themed Christmas tree in every single room of my 4000 square ft. home, one outdoor on the upper covered porch and even more potted Christmas trees in containers flanking the entrances. Crazy, I know, but it was magical! I had dozens and dozens and dozens of uber organized plastic bins of Christmas decor, beautifully labeled and stored on custom built shelves. But, year after year, it slowly stopped being any fun doing ALL the decorating by myself. Then, one day, when a good friend admired one of my themed trees, I blurted out, "Would you like to take this entire decorated tree home if I set it up in your space???" Of course, she said yes! So, I un-decorated it on the spot, put all the goodies in my beautifully labeled bins and carried it to her home. We had so much fun decorating her "new" Christmas tree together, and I had the pleasure of gifting it to her. AND IT ALL LIVES AT HER HOUSE NOW. So liberating! I have done this twice more with two more "Christmas Tree Kits". The attic is not so overwhelming any more, as I move more and more stuff out. Thank you Dawn for giving me permission to let stuff go!
What a fantastic idea!! I’m sure your friends were so grateful to receive your trees!!! 🌲 pay it forward indeed!! ❤
That must’ve been so fun to bless someone like that!
We sold our house and was moving out of state. I had a melt down looking at all the stuff well okay junk. I thought none of my kids will ever want any of this junk. So I pretty much gifted 75% of stuff. Antiques that have been in the family for years was gifted and made several people happy. And when we moved into our new house there was no stress. Just pure joy.
I am so happy for you !!🎉
Kudos to you for making people happy!
It has been a mental burden and we will be empty nesters in the next year or two
Nothing makes you a minimalist like water where it doesn't belong. 😜 When our basement flooded several years ago, I set two unbreakable rules ... 1. No more cardboard and 2. No more storing ANYTHING on the floor. Those steps got us moving towards decluttering. 👍
Exactly
One of the best things that happened to me was to end up with all of my in-laws belongings. The time and energy that it had taken to sort through, distribute to family and then donate the rest has made me much more ruthless in my own decluttering. As I donated boxes of their things, I donated my things as well.
Their things were a burden. I didn't want my things to be a burden to our kids!!!
There's a book called "The Gentle Art Of Swedish Death Cleaning" . . . and that's exactly what it's about. I have vowed not to leave a bunch of stuff and/or junk for my kids to deal with after I'm gone.
That's what started our decluttering, too - the realization that our stuff would be a huge burden on someone else when we're gone. We cleaned out my in-laws' house that had been their family home for 100+ years. As soon as we were done with that, we started on our own.
@@karencox3235 , yes! I haven't read it, but very familiar with the concept presented
What a good perspective❤
My biggest hang up isn’t deciding what to declutter, it’s actually getting it out of my house. Having to go to donation centers that are only open certain days, electronics that need recycling at a special facility, random things that don’t have a specific place to donate them. It’s a lot to manage and the stuff just sits in boxes around my house. Makes me want to be more mindful about what I bring into the house in the first place.
You'd be surprised how many things just disappear if you leave them on your curb/driveway! (Weather permitting) 🤭 That should cut down the amount of stuff you have to take to various places.
@@HannahRainbow88 True. I had to go through all my mother's stuff when she entered a care home. There was no time to sort out everything - but there was a secluded alleyway at the back of her house - and everything I left there disappeared almost immediately ... right down to the last item ... an 'antique' drinks cabinet that no one would take away.
Watch clutterbug tough love episodes. She will be of help, trust me and happy decluttering ❤
We live far from donation centers, recycling centers, etc. I have been helping a friend declutter. She has no mental energy to re-home things. I told her it is okay to just throw it all away. Better in a landfill than our house a dump.
Even if it's wasteful seeming, you can always throw stuff away. Even if you donate it, it might get thrown away anyway 🤷♀️
I was a middle school educator and two genetic chronic illnesses overwhelmed my body. I had to put my entire classroom in totes without any order because I was so sick. It sat in my basement for years which was a weight on my heart. I loved teaching and it was a loss. When I was done mourning, I went through all the totes and donated it to schools.
Same. Teaching is/was a glorious life. Chronic illness has hidden opportunities, and minimalism definitely helps! ❤ love, care, and prayers to you and other fellow illness warriors 🙏🏻
I had a loss of job like you...I t. Was heartbreaking
I'm so sorry. It is especially overwhelming to have stuff when you are ill. Everything i do, i feel like it takes 10x longer than a healthy person.
Very wise to allow yourself to be done with mourning❤
I had 24 bins of teacher stuff in my basement, as well as a bunch of furniture. I didn’t realize what an emotional toll it took on me until I got rid of it all during a recent move. I also donated almost everything. It’s nice to know that it’s being enjoyed, instead of just sitting in my basement!
The calm I feel when I come home to an minimal house
Totally agree
Same here. I walk in and feel instant calm ❤
Amen
Yes. ❤
It took a house fire 7 years ago that changed the tide on our thinking of possessions . As we stood beside the road with the firefighters and red cross we realized there was nothing either one could do to help make the situation go away. My husband and I, our daughter and her 2 month old baby were not going to be celebrating her birthday that day with presents but with thankfulness. No need to replace most of it except the basics. The drive to have stuff was gone and the Freedom had just begun.
Even worse: looking at budget knowing all this “crap” could have been a second home, a vacation, etc. I miss college days: broke, renting, didn’t have anything…but life was amazing! Anyone else? Beaches movie when she bangs the pipes “send the heat up”.
I'd rather have money and learn to be a wise steward than live without it. I'm disabled and low-income and life has never felt amazing for me. Not since childhood, at least. To have so little choice in how or where you live, being treated differently because you're on assistance programs, etc. To be scared that one big mistake (whether financial or, like a few years ago, my landlord was super strict and eager to evict for the slightest reason) could result in homelessness (because I can't afford market rates and places with assistance are hard to find and have long waiting lists, so I wouldn't be able to just move somewhere else right away.). No, thank you.
It may be helpful for you to look at the wasted money as an investment in personal growth. No, it's not fun, but it's brought you to a better, wiser place, right? That's worth something, isn't it? I'm a Christian and believe that pain and trials have a higher purpose. God uses them to call us to Him and to mold us into more Christ-like people, if we let Him. I've seen that very thing play out in my life in the last five or so years, starting when I, after the biggest crisis in my life, "threw in the towel" of resistance to God and decided to take the Bible at its word when it says "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you".
Yes, yes, yes.... even though I'm 76 ... I can still remember the wonderful days of my youth ... and the little money I had went on hitch-hiking holidays with a tent. I suppose it must have been advertising that ruined our lives .... telling us we simply had to acquire 'stuff' in order to be happy .... and it was a great big lie. So we must be careful today .... with Amazon etc. telling us what we cannot live without.
I’ve been helping my grandfather pack to move to a tiny home (because he can no longer afford rent in a bigger home) and he is a hoarder. Looking around at all the junk he has and knowing he could have bought a home years ago and not worry about rent at all makes me sad and sick. Especially since he didn’t save for retirement and depends on Social Security and the generosity of family … I don’t want to end up that way.
Just another live and learn moment of life. I’ve gotten to a point my house is exploding with 2 kids and the inability to get rid of their things due to my own childhood trauma. But I’m finally tired of all the stuff and being broke cause I’m trying to mend my wounds by buying them things I never had.
@@jkquinn55 So sorry you are having to deal with that. God bless you.
My ex-husband didn’t want to get rid of any of our common stuff. So when we got divorced last summer I took as little as possible and have only bought a few things, mostly I have been living without the last year. And it has been so freeing. So even though my mental health has not being the greatest, my house has mostly looked fine because it so easy to keep up
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I am 68 and I am sick and tired of taking care of stuff !! 😅😅😅. The less I have the happier I am.
Agree! Also 68.
I am 79 and agree totally!
I’m 55 and I agree! I also don’t want to leave a bunch of stuff for my children to have to go through when I pass away.
Amen!
I see all these different channels that put out videos that say, "EXTREME DECLUTTER!" And then they mostly rearrange their STUFF and don't really get rid of much. Or they get rid of one tote of stuff. You, on the other hand, have shown what "extreme" decluttering really is. Thanks for showing everyone how.
Or they have drawers and drawers full of empty containers that they "declutter"! Like THAT'S not set up just for the video.
Have you seen "a hoarder's heart" RUclips channel? She does get rid of stuff, and she has A LOT.
@@cb9825 She does get rid of some - not much - each week. I think she puts a lot behind her, where we can't see. I wish Dawn could go help her really get rid of stuff, but I understand she has a disorder and is working through it the best she can.
@@beckiblack4651
I have been following her on and off for the past few years. I think she has gotten rid of some things but I think she maybe moving stuff around. And she still buys a lot and brings in new stuff. So it's an ongoing cycle. I know it's difficult for her and like you say, it's a disorder. she is doing her best and I think she is making some progress. But yeah, she could probably do with some help.
I feel like it's not really extreme it's actually very reasonable😂❤
This video is yet another example of why I love Dawn’s videos. She is human!!! I hear her saying so many things that I feel. I have gotten rid of so much stuff because of her encouragement. I love the mental bandwidth test when deciding whether to get rid of something.
Dawn, please consider taking your backup groceries, especially cardboard packaged dry goods, out of the basement and store it upstairs while you have all that flooding problem. When we had the same issue a couple of years ago, I also had some backup groceries stored in my basement. The pasta in the boxes got moldy within a month or so and cans started rusting making them unusable.
Dawn, your kitchen has plenty of cabinets for food storage, better to keep everything upstairs. 😊
So my parents have lived in their house for 54 years. My Dad's parents passed away about 10 years before that. So all of my grandparents things went from their house to storage to my parent's basement. Then our stuff all got sort of stuffed around it. Well my parents needed to upgrade all of their plumbing and in order for that to happen we have had to move and get rid of almost all of the "stuff" that was in the basement. I used the "time will tell" analogy with my Dad and it really has helped. I told him that our basement had been the ultimate time will tell space. He also opted to get rid of all of the shelving so that there will be nowhere to put new "stuff". It has been multiple weekends of work and we still have more to go as we need to go through each box before giving away and taking to donation centers...but it is such a relief to me...knowing that it will be easier to empty the house one day and that the mechanical systems are easier to get to while they are still in the home. Worth it.
I'm impressed. So good of you to work with your parent's like that. I have so much of my mother's stuff, and at first it was too hard on my heart to work through it, and now It sits heavy on my heart.
@@jonap5740 I have been very careful to let my dad lead on this. It is mostly things from his childhood home and he was young when he lost his parents...I am very proud of him.
My old house betrayed me when I was moving out of it. It kept disgorging huge quantities of stuff that made it feel so defeating to try to pack for the move. I had a sudden insight that nothing was forcing me to keep any of it even if I had spent the prior 16 years in the old house accumulating things simply because I could (was not intentional about it - we had mega-storage with all kinds of built in cubbies and cabinets) and then it felt like all that stuff was turning on me once it required me to get it out. That insight led to divesting 29 black trash bags of gorgeous old clothes, some with tags, which were 3 sizes too small now from 30 years ago - and at least 4 tall bookcases packed full of books plus all the built in bookshelves, plus all the sets of dishes I never used because I forgot they were there - plus, plus, plus. I was elated to get rid of it all and felt lighter than air as I did. I was shocked at how all those years of acquisitiveness did not amount to a hill of beans, or worse, caused me expense and anxiety at having to do away with all of it. It is 4 years now and that is ALL GONE NOW and the new house (our forever house) has only 1/5 the storage of the old house and it changed me to do it. I quit perusing Facebook Marketplace and eBay, I stopped shopping for clothes without thinking about what I needed, I changed how I spent my time towards learning something new, I LOST 30 POUNDS with my new free space and freed up time. I turned that betrayal into a beautiful new realignment with possessions which have now ceased to possess me.
You should write a book about it. You can write and I’d read that.
We got rid of about a third of what we owned in May this year. It was notable and a bit traumatic for me because before that, we'd reduced everything we owned down to two medium sized (check-in) suitcases and two very overstuffed small backpacks. We we traveling by train around Europe, and hauling those suitcases up and down stairs at train stations and apartments was very hard on two people over 60 who are not in the greatest shape. The things we got rid of were mostly things we didn't use often but were keeping for "just in case" or purely for comfort purposes. We got ruthless and some of the stuff hurt a bit. But we've now been traveling for two more months with much more manageable baggage and it is so much easier on us.
We know we won't be traveling come winter, so will be replacing worn out stuff and perhaps buying a few comfort things, but NOT having to haul and pack them makes our earlier decision so worthwhile.
Dawn, instead of paint on the floor, try epoxy that is made for garages. You can make it slip proof as well. That stuff lasts a long time!
We did that in our garage and actually steam clean area rugs professionally on top of the epoxy. Works great!
My whole life has gone down a rabbit 🐇 🕳️ hole. Little over year ago my husband passed (I had been decluttering for about 5 years now) found a place to move out of state to be closer to family. Although I have been working at this for years I still moved too much, I had hired a person to help me declutter before I moved but still moved too much. Year later due to missing my husband and getting stuck because of health issues I made an intentional decision to get up today and just move forward. Follow your channel and group but it’s hard to climb out of rabbit hole of dispair but I know we have to keep at this point and stop beating self up for being so slow at this process. Learning that the journey continues as it’s a lifetime commitment. Thanks 🙏
You’ve experienced so much stress and loss. Keep moving forward. And be kind to yourself.
@@treeintheroad thank you. I also realized today to share my journey to encourage others, I came to know I am not alone ❤️
Grief adds such a difficult layer to this all. Give yourself a lot of grace. When minimalizing is done well, it takes a lot of time and rounds. You’re doing great. ❤
Give yourself some grace, you’re doing great. ❤ sending you love. And im sorry for your loss
The stuff in our homes has taken YEARS (or even decades) to get to this level; it's only natural that it will take time to pare it back down too.
Give yourself grace, and time to grieve properly as well 💗🙏
I'm sorry for the water. Imagine if you had not simplified/organized!?
You've got this and we surround you with love and support!
Took my dishes that sat in the china cabinet to my church where they are having a garage sale and I’m not sad about it
“Rage purge” love that 😂 and when I do it, I don’t look back and ever regret it!!!
I have moved twice in the past two years. I definitely declutter before each move, but there is always a point where I wish robbers would come in and steal everything. 😂
And if you had a renter or homeowner's policy you would actually recoup some of the money you spent😊
😂😂😂
When I lived in NJ with a big basement, I only stored one broom down there, between spiders and water, I never went down there, if items didn't fit upstairs,I didn't own it!
I haven’t got a basement. I have a social housing bungalow in England.
No built in storage. Very small kitchen . No room for a dishwasher .I have washing machine and fridge that fit under the counter. A freezer in the shed along with a tumble dryer.
Any one can be minimalist if they have a huge basement.Huge out buildings and garages . All my clothes have to fit in a wardrobe and set of drawers. All my food has to fit in one cupboard and freezer. Dishes and pans in another cupboard. I’m not a minimalist I just don’t have room for stuff.
oh the lids, just like tupperware😂
@@annbeth6730 But that's not the point. I live in a small flat in Europe and I also have a tiny wardrobe, I have to keep food, pots and pans etc. in cupboards. However, I only have stuff I need or enjoy having. The point is to be conscious of what you actually need or want, no matter the space. I lack nothing, everything is well organised, there's some nice stuff out and yet it's always tidy and so easy to clean. No basement, no extra storage space. It's all about being content with what you have. Personally I think it's easier to be a minimalist in a small space since the more room you have the more you'll fill it with junk no one needs. Oh, the flat is 28sq metres and there are two of us :)
Extra totes and boxes are FANTASTIC for putting things in to donate and drop off!
I have been getting rid of storage bins because I don’t want to accumulate any more stuff requiring storage.
Have fatigue issues. Makes me acutely aware of the ‘stuff’ I need to get rid of!
Keep doing a few minutes at a time. I have increasing energy loss and health limitations. Each item gone, is one I never need to clean or move again. It keeps getting easier. Don't give up. Just start. ❤
That's what prompted me to extremely declutter. I got sick which made me tired all the time. I had no energy to keep up with stuff I didn't need
I think healthy people kid themselves that they can always get to it later, no matter how big the pile gets. While us sickies know in our hearts that's a lie, and we'd better edit hard. But nobody stays healthy forever, and nobody gets to choose when they worsen. Kudos to everyone making their life more manageable now, when we can.
We live in a 160 year old cottage in the UK. Old houses need a lot of TLC otherwise they get damp and mouldy. There has been so much rain, so I have to keep airing, flinging windows open. Can't dry any laundry inside so I am dashing out with loads to put on the line when the rain stops. Seeing your video I feel for you, but I also like how you are not sitting around complaining and getting on dealing with the problem. So now i am going to put on some work clothes and deal with my damp shed!
How about a dehumidifier in your house, might make it healthier for humans.
Two years ago we sold our home of 43 years and moved onto our son's rural property. In spite of downsizing and and getting rid of SO MANY things before putting the house on the market, somehow we managed to haul a mountain of stuff with us. Because there were endless delays getting our new home ready for living, some things got damaged, some were misplaced and some just got in the way. Our THINGS have taken up too much mental and physical energy and getting rid of what we don't truly need or love is so liberating! P.S. I am not a shopaholic, but there is something about the American lifestyle that invites STUFF into our personal space the moment we turn our backs!
I cleaned out 90% of my house. Feels awesome. I do need a new couch but that's it.
That’s amazing.
If you get water often in your basement, I recommend putting your clothing, bedding, etc in vacuum sealed bags and then put those bags into your storage totes. That way, everything is sealed and dry :)
My idea of being a minimalist is not having to move things back and forth. Like having to change seasonal clothes in and out of a closet. I keep my warm weather clothes on 1 side and winter clothes on the other side. The hall closet of course has coats, 1 side is mine, and the other his.
Your "How could I have extra lids leftover?!" And the 2ish minutes that followed were so relatable!
When I was young during the end of a move I was pretty tired and wanted the last load to be the last load. I had collected glass jars to use for ??? The idea of having to box them up and then there wasn’t room in the car … I tossed it. That experience has helped me resist the urge to collect anything that doesn’t have a practical purpose.
Yes! I threw stuff out and donated 10 bags. I didn’t even ask questions just packed it to go! We lived in our house 9 years and we had accumulated so much stuff 😮I have been cleaning out for two weeks and I feel so much happier 😊
@@MCGus2018 I have been at this for 5 years and now mostly stuff not worth keeping or donating, I just don’t want to let go but black bag to rescue next morning I can’t remember what went 🤪
@@pameehanson3866 Great Job! I didn’t know you got a feeling of happiness for letting it go, now I understand and sing “Let it Go” 🎶
Okay, I just decluttered in solidarity with you. I just did what you said to do in the last couple of videos that I saw. I am new to your channel. I took out my pots and pans, kept 4 of them & one baking sheet. Just put 2:pots and a baking sheet in a box. The other video I saw was to take out of your cupboard what you weren’t using. I went to the top shelf, I wrapped in newspaper 4 teacups & saucers, 3 plates, and 3 dishes for pasta. I labeled the boxes and closed them up.
You are giving me great tips, I’ve been decluttering for a few weeks on my own, and now I’m watching videos like yours. I now have smaller empty bins and I will toss a couple that won’t serve me. I bought a shredder last week and have been shredding paper too. Thanks for the tips and thanks for saying to do it in solidarity it got me out of bed watching the video to bringing the iPad in the kitchen getting those 2 boxes completed.
Awesome!👏 I do keep 2 baking sheets though bc when I make cookies it’s easier to load up the second pan with dough balls while the first pan is cooling, since a batch of cookies usually makes more than what fits on a pan. Keep going with your journey!! ❤
Well done! 💪💕😃
Dawn, I would firstly like to thank you for addressing this in a video! We had serious flooding about a decade ago... and all of my Christmas decorations (30 years worth) were damaged so much that they needed to be thrown out. I feel your pain.
On the sewing machine front.... even if you do not take them to be repaired quickly, PLEASE remove them from the damp environment. So many of the tiny little parts inside them are prone to rusting and warping when exposed to moisture. (Sewing is my "zen", and I feel strongly about my tools!)
Oh I’ve said that many a time “I quit, I’m done, I don’t want any of this anymore” and thanks to you Dawn it’s happening in my home.
To come from a life of hoarding, to getting rid of something that I once thought ‘Oh I need this’, is so freeing, I never would have believed that I would be happy to see anything leave my home.
@@deniseharrison1410 I never knew how much I could hide, store and stuff until I moved. After decluttering for 5 years hired help to downsize more I still moved too much URG This is a journey and takes time. Thanks for sharing
We stored our camper stuff in the camper. We always knew where to look for it and didn't have to repack each time we left, whether it was for 2 days or 2 weeks. Something to consider. Hate that you are having a water problem to deal with. Hang in there. Thanks for sharing!
I don't have a camper van, but as I watched, I wondered why the camper van stuff wasn't in the camper van🤔
That makes sense.
Very helpful video - thanks, Dawn. You've reminded us that extra stuff, even if stored and organised "properly", still has to be looked after.... A good reason for not keeping most of it😅
Several years ago, we had tons of rain over a month. The storage space in our basement didn't actually get any water on the floor, but the humidity made so much stuff mildew, and I was so disgusted about the amount of stuff I had to just throw away. It made me not want to "store" very much. But then I wasn't thinking about that situation, and the inventory has crept up again. Thanks, Dawn, for the reminder for me to go through that space again.
After reading Marie Kondo’s book years ago, I completely emptied my garage and attic, and decluttered the whole house!
It took time but it was soooo worth it to know that stuff wasn’t going to go mouldy in storage.
I’ve since moved, but there’s nothing in the loft, and just garage stuff in the garage.
Dawn and Dana have kept me on track since with the constant decluttering that’s part of life 😊
We were caregiving for my MIL after she had surgery. We had torrential rain that caused a backup of sewage in her basement. The basement was full floor to ceiling with stuff. Some junk and some treasures. The cleanup took a couple of weeks and involved sorting through the stuff. We saved the important items, but had to let go of more than we had hoped. It was a horrendous experience and only reinforced my choice to live minimally and sort through the things we do keep/need on a regular basis.
I’m in rage purge mode right now. Anything not bolted down is going! Lol
I love a good rage purge, lol. I remember reading in Hints for Heloise once "only clean out your closets when you are mad at the world!!", ha.
@zeldasayre55😂🤣😂 agreed 💯
Ha ha the rage purge mode! 👏🏼😅 yes, that works for me!!
My building put in new counter tops and installed induction stovetops. New landlord also took over my storage unit. It was now fobbed and I had to share it with maintenance. So gave my storage unit up and gave all of my pots and pans away because they didn’t work with the new cooktop. Declutterred and became minimalist at that time.
Exciting! How do you feel?
Having your basement waterproofed and the walls done also is so worth the $$
Water proofing your basement from the inside doesn’t help. We tried it. You have to do lots of expensive dirt work, adding sand, drainage pipes and lots of other solutions outside around your foundation to drain the water away from your house, lots of time, money and a mess but the only way to correct the wet basement problem.
Yes, all needs to be dug up, extra drainage, tarred outside walls. Huge mess and a long project.
They know about all that Tom has done that to several homes.
@@MikeyDonna we did all of that. We should have paid off the house and moved. The house still had water problems, but the remediation company did well.
When I look at Christmas decorations or any seasonal decorations I just think why am I storing something for 11 months and using them for just one month? I know most people love Christmas decorations and I realize I just get frustrated because no one helps me decorate or undecorate and the quantity is stressful. That’s not what Christmas is supposed to be. As the seasons change and I use my decorations I’m going to purge most of it and keep what is sentimental and I love. I want just two Christmas bins and one seasonal bin when I’m done.
2 seasonal bins is still a lot in my opinion. 😢
Maybe declutter again next year.
@@sct4040 Read again. It says one seasonal bin not two.
I put up one string of lights and play Xmas songs. Done! 😂
😂😂👍🏼😅
I'm surprised your basement has so many extra things as the last time I saw it, you had things so organized in tubs and pretty minimal. Question... Why not put the off-season (clothing) stuff in that big closet in the boys' room? You have the room in there. Hopefully, you can have someone look into the issue with your basement and get it fixed. 😊
Boy can I relate! I kept putting off decluttering my laundry room until my washing machine broke and had to be replaced. Not only did I have to declutter but also had to rearrange stuff in the family room so the deliverymen could bring the machine into the house. What an undertaking! It was amazing when push comes to shove I was willing to toss a ton of stuff out. Thanks Dawn for being so encouraging.
If you have a good sunny day, the sun is such a good sanitizer
After I had decluttered tons of stuff, I still had the area under my stairwell that hid all that junk I didn’t want to deal with.
A few years ago we were hit with the worst night of tornadoes our state had ever had and the worst, an EF5 hit right down the road and traveled 27 MILES through our area. I was throwing all of that stuff out into my living room at rapid speed so my kids and I could get under the stairs for shelter. It’s by far the safest place in our home. All I could think was “this stuff could cost us our lives”. In that moment it was ALL literally garbage to me. Talk about betrayal!! Praise God Almighty our house didn’t get hit, but entire neighborhoods near us were. It was utter devastation around us. We learned so much from that time but one of the biggest things I personally learned was that our stuff can cost us way more than the initial purchase! I thought I had learned that lesson already because I had decluttered so much, but that night I learned it even more. That hidden stuff that we don’t want to deal with is the worst.
Hi Dawn, we used to have the same problem with excess rain. My father figured out where the water was coming in and discovered there was a crack in the foundation. He dug out a trench and applied pitch to it and we never had another problem. Something to consider before your next rain. I enjoy watching you, Dana K. White and Cass of Clutterbug.
My parents had a sump pump not go off and had 3” of water in the basement. Didn’t know there was a problem until the upstairs windows started having moisture 😮. After that, they installed a sump pump alarm so if the sump pump does not go off, the alarm sounds. I know how much work it is dealing with a wet basement. Good luck!
My husband's parents died last year. We bought the house and have been renovating it to move. It is half the size of our current house...i am overwhelmed with the downsizing and decluttering...my husband is dealing with depression and alcohol.
There is a saying that you can never go home again.
The place may be the same; but the time in your [history of] life will be different.
Be kind to yourself during this time of so much emotion. ❣️
@@barbaravieira2239 oh well we have totally transformed the house from 1972 to the present. It began with the popcorn ceiling removal and painted all the walls and trim. Ripped up the carpet and linoleum to put dowm LVP and then the lightz and ceiling fans installed. The big change was my favorite....the kitchen...we took out the harvest gold appliances and put in stainless, then painted the cabinets and installed new sink and all itemsand different lighting completely around the entire house. Only 2 things remained unchanged was the bookcase his dad built and the fireplace which is going to be whitewashed now that he has agreed.
Declutter gradually. Put stuff out on the curb, anything left goes into the trash.
I was ruthless, tossed out 3 pieces of heavy wood furniture. Took 3 years to get to this point where I got rid of furniture. Been decluttering clothes, bags, shoes, stuff like extra telephones, incandescent lightbulbs, many many others.
Why do I have 2 of the same thing?
Option for your storage bins that might collect moisture is to put a desiccant dehumidifier packer for storage bins and totes. Sometimes pines ol in the wash gets rid of the mustiness. That musty/ mildewy smell is just another type/ stage of mold - I hate that! You’ve done great work!
Thank you for taking the time to film this already tedious and exhausting process so that we can all benefit from your experience!☺
All the extra storage bins remind me of Sasaki's book which says, "tackle the nest (storage) before the pest (clutter)". I noticed this in my boys' room, he more little boxes and tins they have the more they can shove in them. So I have found it helpful to get rid of extra storage containers and boxes so that I do not have an excuse to fill them :)
Ooooo. My father died a year ago. And I help more my mom now and I have to deal with their basement. It is completely horribly overwhelming. It started with two of three freezers failing and me noticing it only when flies started to find their way into the basement. OK. Two freezers decluttered. And since then every time I am there I remove at least two big trash bags with stuff from this basement. And it isn't getting less. The most difficult thing is to fight with my mom about EVERY SINGLE PIECE !. She collects plastic food containers to use them as tupperware. I understand having a couple of them, but she has two huge boxes in the basement with them. I fought for complete year to put in the trash an old coat, which no one in the family will wear ever again. This coat costed me soooooo much of my nerves. I mean.... I don't touch any of the stuff that could be sentimental. I don't touch any of my dad's stuff. But ....
Sorry for long rant. But it is painfull. Tldr version: Dawn is right.
Oh.. sounds like my mom! She keeps lots of plastic storage stuff that just sits there for no use at all! 🙄 And it’s making me crazy 😆 I told her last time we attempted decluttering, that she has to be aware, that all the things she has now, that I or my brother don’t want when asked, are going to be donated, dumped or whatever when she dies. A little harsh to say that to her perhaps (she’s 81) but I hope, it gave her something to think about.
I also hope you cope with your situation! Sounds to me like you’re doing a great job helping her out, despite the loss and your own grief over your father. My heart goes out to you 😔❤ You’re not alone!
I’m sorry you’re going through this. I felt the same helping mum downsize to an assisted living flat.
I can’t offer any advice except to just keep at it, and take EVERY opportunity to move stuff out if you can. It took me a year to downsize her stuff enough that she could move - and it turned me into an ardent minimalist! X
Appreciate you Dawn, and the reality that you are brave enough to share.
I live in drought and fire area. Every summer we’re told to be ready to go with 15 minutes or less. Have the precious stuff and a go bag packed.
My current project is to put papers & documents in a grab n go box. Photos and banking info are backed up to the cloud off site. I’m using the opportunity to let go a lot of paper clutter.
In the panic of 15 minutes to evacuate it’s impossible to make good decisions- reducing inventory now will save me angst whether or not I face evacuation as many neighbouring areas have every summer.
I keep an emergency list of things to take for my imaginary evacuation.
I just purged my kitchen - well I'm still purging and I have boxes of extra glassware, dishes, pans, mismatched wine glasses. UGH! But it is looking up and I feel better about what I've gotten done. I'll be glad when this is done so I can move on to another room. My craft room looks like a storage shed. There is literally a path to my desk. I've been watching your video's and you are motivating me to become a minimalist. Loving it!
Good work! 💪😃💕
Dawn. You do know you are stuff shuffling 😉. If I had to deal with the basement flooding issue even ONE time and had to shuffle that stuff all around just to dry the floor, it would all be gone!! I do feel for you. That is such a burden. Here is permission to let all of that stuff GO!!!
Not everything has to go. The stuff she’s storing is seasonal…as in, it DOES get used. That stuff should be kept.
Glad that I am not the only one who thought this. It was giving anxiety with her moving it one place to another.
@@cajbafher channel calls herself a minimalist. Yet I see bins and bins of decorations. How is that minimalist? 😂🙄
@kensiblonde4203
Oh my darlin', she's got a lot less than I do! LOL
And I've got some beautiful (props) that I haven't had a chance to use ... YET!
I do look for opportunities to share with others. My hands are open to give, as well.
My recent decor reflects themes of Nature and Solstice: lighted tabletop trees (no baubles), vignettes of small flocked animals, flickering LED candles, faux snowflakes dangling from the humble chandelier (as if) over the table. It stays up longer, and I enjoy it immensely.
(Disclaimer: Yes, I intersperse a little glitz. My young grandson gets a kick out of it. Besides which, we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.)
So Xmas is currently spread across two sections of my cellar, but every time I go through it - with the deliberate intention to cull - it lifts my mood.
(Oh dear!)
Compared to me, Dawn has a cautiously curated collection.
And (in recent years) I've released 4 faux Xmas trees into the Universe - to share their joy with others!
Yes, such good timing!! My husband had a heart attack about 2 weeks ago (only 46 years old, health & active). If something happens to him I don’t want to deal with a house full of stuff burying me. Things we were going to list one day on Marketplace are now listed 🎉 I had already started Take Your House Back and I’m continuing to work through the course. Thank you so much for all your tips and advice ❤❤
I love Don As let's book Cluttered Last Stand. He said never have carpet in the bathroom or basement because they all eventually flood!
True...I had carpet in a bathroom and got so moist there was a mushroom growing thru the wood around the toilet....yikes!
That's the first decluttering book I read.....in the 90's!
I always had carpet in the bathroom - as I hated cold tiles - but I did use special bathroom carpet. Recently, I decided to lay a new one ... and the very next week the seal broke on the loo and flooded everything. Thinking it was just an overflow problem I laid another carpet. The following week it flooded again. Now the plumbing has been sorted I will tile it instead.
You are so real Dawn. Always on point and so relatable. Very sorry this happened but appreciate the lessons learned and powerful message of changing values of "stuff" (what was once an asset... may become a liability... the cost of stuff") Love you Dawn!!
Basements can be so frustrating! My husband and I moved from a big old house in NJ to a small home in Eastern NC with no basement or attic. Our walk up attic in NJ was a dumping ground and so was the basement to a lesser degree. This has forced us to downsize twice; once while packing up and again after we moved here. I kept one winter coat and one pair of boots, but I am so glad to be free of all the winter gear! It's very humid here, so the dehumidifier is a must.
I don't have the perspective that my stuff has betrayed me. My stuff is not a sentient being. I think my belongings are the external representation of my internal world. My problem with personal belongings comes from my beliefs about what I need and desires for what I want. Both of these have evolved and what I want today is more about quality of life than quantity of belongings. And quantity of belongings actually limits quality of life today. So I've spent the last 2 years downsizing. And I've learned a lot about myself especially the barriers to letting go. I am still a work in progress!
We live in an apartment, not a house. I am thankful I don’t have to deal with a wet basement.
All my food is stored in my kitchen cabinets and baker’s rack. All out of season blankets are in my armoire where I can reach them easily. So happy I no longer have to switch seasons anymore.
The water heater in this long-term rental has let go several times (and it's starting to leak around the base again). Harbinger of a flood to come.
Also, I empty the dehumidifier daily (2 gallons) - into the washer (no cellar sink) - all summer long.
So, I know damp and mildew quite well!
I decided to donate dishes that have stayed packed for 20+ years, but they'll have to be unwrapped and washed. (And I AM the dishwasher. Fun.)
The box and newsprint they were in became semi-soggy, so I'm taking no chances. Lots of soapy hot water, then new wrapping.
Thanks for joining ME in my task!
Our old house I lived in for 14 years had major water issues. It was so stressful. I legitimately think I have PTSD from it. I haven’t had a basement for 3 years and I still freak out every time it rains. We’re building a house and there will be no basement lol
Yes!!!! My nemesis was my pantry/laundry room. This week i just let my college coursework fall a little behind and HUSHED that room!!! I bought and built the shelves i needed, rage purged, and put the baskets to use that i bought months ago but never used, lol! All the shelves are organized, no more clutter at all, and my family was amazed! They were like we can see what we have AND we have a FLOOR!!!!😂😂😂 Nobody misses a thing and i filled some donation boxes and 2 trash barrels--the big city ones you roll out to street! I body doubled binging your videos, it helps so much! All of your "is it worth..." questions really help me let go of stuff. Really thinking about the inventory i can actually manage helps me more than i can even express! Thank you for all of your amazing videos!❤ Now im gonna go do my homework with a quiet home and clear mind 😅
It’s as if you are in my life and in my house! My garage is FULL OF STUFF. Stuff that I could and should be using. I want to clear it out because a freezer just shut off because it was plugged into a word gfi plug. Threw out a lot of food that thawed for who knows how long. And the fridge plugged in out there drains the defrost from freezer down into the bottom drawers of the fridge and fills up. It’s crazy!
My house is chaos- can’t have anyone over Syndrome… I’m working long hours and overtime and feel I have nothing else to give and it’s making me cranky (the nice way to put it) with my family. I’m so so glad to have found you and feel inspiration from you! You’re so down to earth and easy to relate to! I feel like we’d be best friends and ups be telling me what and why to get rid of my excess!!! I have ADD and can’t achieve the perfection I want so I just give up!!
Also at times, I feel like the house clutter turns into body clutter and I hold weight along with the extra clothes, extra towels, extra home decorations (some I live so much but have still not hung it on walls or used it!!
Am I alone!!??
Trying to heal from childhood trauma and feel like this could be an achievement that would make ME proud for once instead of waiting for approval from others.
I'm heading ba k to work (teacher) after years home with the kids and I know this stuff is going to be too much. I've been getting rid of it slowly but surely. Your thoughts on changing seasons of our lives helped me get rid of a lot of craft items I had been storing for years
Musty basement smell will permeate all clothing, shoes, textiles, books & paper. I've unsuccessfully tried getting rid of the smell with vinegar, bleach, sunshine & multiple washings. Nope. Even old wooden toys...had to throw it all away. IMHO don't store your wrapping paper, out of season clothing/boots in basement. Pretend you don't have that space, find alternative in garage, shop, in your camper, under beds... You may have to store textiles (clothing & boots) in metal garbage cans if storage area can get mice (speaking from experience - live in rural MN).
Also, I've learned to get EVERYthing off the floor. Your roller shelving is ideal.
The thing about decluttering channels is that the decluttering never ends because more stuff is being brought in all the time. The thing to do is to stop bringing in more stuff.
Dawn - Don't you have at least 2 other buildings, that don't get flooded, that you could store some things in? I know a lot of the things need to stay in your basement, but could be some things that could be stored elsewhere?
We have drains outside to direct water away. I had my basement waterproof years ago. Expensive , but no more worries about my basement. Only one sump pump.
I’m struck by the similarity between trying to lose weight and trying to lose things. It takes years to gain significant weight, it also takes years of over buying and over “preparing” to burden a living space. Both situations end up in a “damaged by water” situation that requires desperation moves. I wonder why I thought it was necessary to store extra clothing the same way I wonder why I didn’t maintain my weight.
A decade ago I was reading an organizing book that called unwanted clutter “mental dandruff”…will never forget that term when I’m tidying up😎
I moved about a year ago & discovered your channel about the same time. For the first 3 months I rage purged...😂since then I have been able to get things under control & "hush" my house. All I have left is my small storage in the backyard. Thank you so much Dawn for all the tips & encouragement. And for introducing me to your sister's channel as well. Love you both!!
We did a long distance move and downsized our home by almost half. We gifted and sold family heirlooms, carloads of clothes and stuff were donated and yet I STILL want to get rid of more stuff. The less I have, the more clearly I can think. We have lived in our new smaller home for 9 months. If I haven’t needed or thought about it, it is leaving! I love your channel! Thank you for continued decluttering motivation!!!
I live in a small apartment. My son is recently divorced, and the grandkids are spending more time here now, so I did a major shuffle and purged lots of things. If it isn't really useful or there just isn't enough space for it, it went. Had to do it. No regrets.
Writing from my husband's profile....Thank you, Dawn. This was such a needed video. I'm a middle school teacher, and summer is my time to clean our house - like, DEEP clean. I have been watching you and Cas especially for a few years now, and this was the year I decided I was going to take back my house. I was ruthless this year with decluttering, all thanks to you. The event that really pushed me this year was my mother passing away late last July in 2023. I'm an only child, and it took me a long time to process that she was truly gone. I made it my mission this year to really appreciate what I have in life, and to prioritize family and friends over stuff. I have decluttered so much from my house this summer! You're always an inspiration for me to really evaluate my inventory and get rid of things that are taking up my bandwidth - the stuff isn't worth it! I'm still getting rid of stuff as I head back to work in a couple of weeks, but my time is so much more precious now, and I've been spending it with my husband and my children. Again, thank you! Sorry for the long post!
God bless you, Dawn - u have the greatest attitude! I’d be crying over my once-beautiful basement, but u, u look at the positive side of having a basement and rain!🎉 Thank you for taking us thru another one of your amazing, real, minimizing adventures!❤
The problem is not your stuff. The problem is a leaky basement. Get the basement fixed and you won’t feel so bad about having a place to store your extra stuff.
Totally not the point of the channel. The point is to not have tons and tons of extra stuff to store in the first place.
I was thinking the same thing... find the water's pathway & seal it off, instead of constantly chasing & cleaning it up!
That's what we did after moving in 20+ yrs ago. People told us, you'll hate living there, bc the basement floods... it did once, & we fixed it. Never again!
If you're storing stuff that u don't need or use, stuff is the problem.. this is why people end up with tons of stuff because they see no problem in just storing it
I think she should do both. Fix the water problem AND also get rid of stuff her family doesn't use. Then she can make a the space cute and maybe have a usable gym and other space that's useful.
@@leahrowe847what did you do to fix it? Sealed outside or what worked?
My family of 6 just downsized from a house with 4 bedrooms to 2 bedrooms. This will be our living situation for a couple of years as we transition to our next home. What was considered highly simplified and function in our 4 bedroom is overwhelming in the bedroom 😂 I have never cried so much over the amount of stuff I have. We're slowly working through the excess now that our essentials have been organized.
We live in Minnesota too. We are so grateful that our basement stayed dry. But we know there is always the possibility of a wet basement. We invested in a new sump pump with a battery backup, but my husband and i discussed the scenario's of if these systems ever fail, we have decided we like the emptiness better than the clutter! If we ever have water down there, we have minimized the stress of clean up. It's just the 2 of us, and we do most of our living on the main floor! We just had a garage sale and cleared out so much clutter!!! Thanks for all the inspiration to keep going! I know I am happier with less inventory to manage!
“Are you adding value to my life or have you become a burden?” So helpful! 💖🌸
Three years ago we moved from our home-five acres with 3-bedroom home with addition and 30’x50’ pole building-into a 2-bedroom apartment. (Kids are grown and all on their own.) We downsized hugely, getting rid of easily 2/3 of our stuff, if not more. I felt the burden lifted when all was said and done! We’ve maybe missed one or two items since-nothing really necessary. I continue to be on the watch for things we no longer use and weed them out. I feel like we have control over our things instead of them controlling us!😊
My mom passed unexpectedly 3.5 years ago and my sister (who lives 5 hours away) and I (I live 1.5 hours away) found out that Mom was the neatest, most organized hoarder ever! Then my dad passed last year, I got very sick, and my husband & I have been building a smaller house (for 2 years) so we can downsize. I have said “I quit” almost every single day for the last 3.5 years. I’m praying I can finally find the energy to get downsized and move while dealing with my parents’ estate. 🤦🏻♀️
We just made our 3rd move in 2.5 years (Army life 😅) and not always having a choice in the type of housing we live in or how much space we have to store things can get really stressful. We’ve only been in our current home (which we purchased - setting down roots, woo hoo!!!) for a month and I have been RUTHLESS in my purging despite doing this for the last year at our last house and thinking I had gotten rid of so much stuff 😂. This is by far the largest home we’ve ever lived in and it feels so calm because we’ve left so much open space - open shelves in closets, empty drawers and cabinets, a home for everything.
We ended up with bedbugs from a family member that got them somewhere else I was 7m pregnant. Everything was out it was so hard I steamed our carpet 2-3 times a day so we only had a bed on in room it was amazing that started my minimalism journey. I still struggle with intake and needing to move things out but in a way it was a blessing bc we had 1wks worth of clothes for everyone so laundry could be washed it was so freeing.
I put all the winter gear into each persons closet in vacuum storage bags. I feel like things that go to our garage just go there to die!
I had to move unexpectedly four months ago with just five days notice and to a place less than half the size, with the same amount of family members. I’m still mentally recovering.
Your comment on struggling to think critically REALLY resonated with me. At the time of the move, it was just an urgent “pack everything now, make decisions later!” Now, months in and still having things in boxes and bins, it’s time to go through everything to decide not only, what do I want to keep, but also, what can I put where.
So thankful for you (& Dana & Cass!)…fibromyalgia and other health issues have been a chronic struggle, but the past year or so has been especially challenging again. I was also getting so overwhelmed and burdened by not being able to keep our home well anymore. Everything felt like a burden and source of guilt rather than a blessing. Thanks to y’all for the encouragement to do a little bit at a time as I’m capable. I’m making huge progress and finding new ways to adapt our home and family life around my limitations so that I can maintain our family priorities. Trying to see the challenges as opportunities to teach my kids life skills and responsibility. Long way to go, but the Lord keeps providing in so many ways! I’ve been mold sick multiple times over the years, so I’m glad your basement doesn’t have that! Phew!
What a timely video. We just moved. It took us almost 3 years to find a home, we had been living with my inlaws for that time. We were so excited to have our own home again...until the first big rain and we found water issues in the basement...that were not disclosed. We had to make a mad rush to get things off of the floor! Thankfully nothing was ruined, but it has been an ordeal. (Anyone who has dealt with water issues understands. Our old home had septic issues for a very long time. Of course, we fixed it before we sold the home, but the trauma stays with you. :/) At any rate, now I'm being faced with what to do with all of the stuff. Holiday decor, pictures, keepsake bins, school supplies, etc. It's very hard. My sister in law is always my body double and we help each other get through our stuff and feel good about our decisions. Thankful for these videos that remind me that it's just stuff and life is usually better without it.
Dawn, I just love you! When you talk out loud about what you are thinking about this pile or that; I am right there with you! And I find it helpful to know that all of the chatter that can go on in the decision making process is just plain human-not something to feel defeated or frustrated by.
I am a 74 year old gal who is going through our home of 35 years and am maybe half done, but know I will make another pass at things as time goes on. I find I can’t body double because I want to pay attention to you, and I can’t multi-task as well as I once could. So I settle on watching you and then when done, I jump up and go do 5-15 minutes of what is most interesting or needed. Today it was my shoes that no longer fit in the cubbies nicely (although I have eliminated 3/4 of what I once had) and and a stack of bras that I had put aside to evaluate before tossing. All done! Thank you, thank you. You are such a joy! 🥰
I definitely am overwhelmed by to much stuff!! I am very blessed with 40 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart and 6 beautiful Children and have so much to be thankful for! I have been watching Dawn and her sister for years and they have been such a huge blessing and help to me on how to go through “ stuff”, and to get rid of things by trusting Jesus. We homeschooled all of your 6 children from preschool up to college so I have way too much school things and also memory items, but because of Dawn and Diana I have been able to take one step at a time and slowly make a big difference in my home!! Physical issues have been a problem also for me so I greatly appreciate their understanding and point of view on that! Thank you Dawn and Diana I always look forward to watching your u tubes and pod casts!! May our Abba greatly bless you and your families!! You have definitely blessed me and mine!!😘💕