Okay everyone, let's start off strong with the 30 days challenge.

Day 1 - Fill a Shopping Bag

Task: Today, gather up a bagful of things you no longer use and love. Start with a large shopping bag, trash bag or cardboard box. Look everywhere - under sinks, in the garage, closets, drawers, etc. No space is off limit. Put the filled bag in your car and take it to Goodwill or some other place to recycle. If you don't want to go out today, still put it in your car and make sure you remember to drop it off on your next errand day!

A few good comments from the book on this task:

"Schedule thrift store drop-offs and a garage sale on your calendar, if it makes editing your life easier. Make simplification a habit, a hobby, a challenging game. Create space around your things, so you can breathe freely."

The book then lists 6 myths about living simply:

Myth 1: Living simply is an Outward Bound experience - they state your home should be comfortable, whatever that means for you (not necessarily living like a nun or a hermit).

Myth 2: It'll take too much time to simplify my life - yes, it takes time, but in the end it will save time.

Myth 3: Simple living is boring - their answer is that simple living makes space for new ideas and opportunities

Myth 4: I will be deprived of things I love - their answer is it takes the same amount of money to own one great thing as several mediocre ones

Myth 5: People who live simply are dropouts and slackers - they state simplicity is about scaling down, not dropping out.

Myth 6: Simplicity means I can't have new things - Simplicity means having more time for exciting new hobbies, new friends, etc. Simplicity is revitalizing.

Okay, report back when you've completed your task!

Done! I have several bags waiting to go. Now I just need to drop them off.

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Done! I've actually been doing this for the past week — de-cluttering every room in the house.

Done but I have alot more to go thru. This one will be a work in progress. Can't wait for step two.

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done! and I'm on my way to Goodwill - that felt great!

Ooo.. can I particpate?

I've been taking a bag a week. I was able to find a few more things

Done! What a fun challenge! I actually came up with several bags as I cleaned out DDs closet and it had a lot of outgrown clothes. The bags are by the door and waiting for our errand day

Thank you for posting these! I am excited about completing them all!

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Well...didn't get a whole bag, but I did add to the box I've been working on filling up this last week. That's all my baby would let me do before screaming at me to get him out of the swing!! We did do a bunch yeserday, so maybe that counts a little!!

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

Every little bit counts! The book mentions that if you did this just once a week, that would be 52 bags in a year!!! Wow - adds up quickly doesn't it?

Ok, time to purge!