Layla over at The Lettered Cottage is having a Word of the Year resolution challenge. When I read her word UP and why she chose it and what an inspiration it is to her, I thought I would be up (get it, haha) for the challenge. I had a look back at my goals - big, small, and personal which you can read about here - and thought what really sums up everything I want to accomplish this year is the word EDIT.
Now believe me when I say that I am no stranger to editing. Hubby has had two books published and has had many academic articles published and all of them were edited by yours truly. When the text is finally wrangled into clear, concise prose that will say just what is intended with just the right amount of words - no extra - and maybe a little poetic spin on things to make it memorable - well that is perfection. It is one of those things that you just feel in your gut when you have it right. Editing one's home or life is really no different I have discovered. There is often some chaos before the simplicity and calm reigns, the process can be painful, but the results are so worth it, and the editing gets easier the more you do it.
Now believe me when I say that I am no stranger to editing. Hubby has had two books published and has had many academic articles published and all of them were edited by yours truly. When the text is finally wrangled into clear, concise prose that will say just what is intended with just the right amount of words - no extra - and maybe a little poetic spin on things to make it memorable - well that is perfection. It is one of those things that you just feel in your gut when you have it right. Editing one's home or life is really no different I have discovered. There is often some chaos before the simplicity and calm reigns, the process can be painful, but the results are so worth it, and the editing gets easier the more you do it.
I looked up what edit means in the dictionary and I like the definition: to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose. Doesn't that work well when thinking about editing your home. It doesn't mean to make it perfect, it means to make it conform to a standard and to suit a particular purpose. Do you have a standard for your home? There is a certain level of tidiness that I feel comfortable with. When things slip below that point, I get antsy. Now my standard may be lower than other people's (and I know it is), but it's what works for us. If I peg the standard too high, then life becomes focused on maintaining the home rather than living in it.
The things I think of when I envision editing would be eliminating clutter - it make your home so much easier to keep tidy; having a place for everything that you need or want to keep; having a system to maintain the order, and finally refining the things in your home so they are cohesive and pleasing to the eye.
I love the standard William Morris set in his now famous words: have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. And that, my friends, is why I want to focus on editing my life and home this year. It won't be a finished project when December 31st, 2012 roles around, but rather EDIT is what I will focus on as I go about my daily life this year.
Linked to: The Lettered Cottage
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