I love spring for many reasons: the weather is starting to change, the days are longer and you can just feel that summer is on its way. But my little secret is that I love to spring clean. It gives me a reason to nurture my inner obsession and I look forward to it every year.
I have the need to organize. And that’s a good thing because if you’re crazy like me with family, work, and pets, you’re constantly being pulled in different directions. So when spring hits, I am all systems go for a good cleaning. I will get into the nooks and crannies – no surface will go untouched no drawer overlooked. I will make piles for donations, shredding, garbage or storing (if it’s sentimental enough). I realize that this might not give most people the joy it gives me. However, if you can embrace it, it can really give you a cathartic sense of freedom and I have found also helps make room for new things to enter your life.
I am happy to give you a glance into my world during this purge:
I start in the kitchen and dig into the pantry. I throw out food that is outdated and tag food that is getting close to expiration. I wipe down all the shelves and then put everything back in an organized way. I then move on to the freezer, refrigerator, drawers and cupboards. It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate. Next will be closets, making piles of clothes that have not been worn in a long time or have been outgrown (especially for the kids). I will bag them up for the local shelter or Goodwill. All drawers and closets get a proper cleaning and then everything is orderly placed back. In the office there always seems to be a lot of paper that builds up over the year and as hard as we try to be a paperless I am still shocked at the amount of shredding that needs to be done. Lastly is the garage and there are all sorts of items that have been left and forgotten that are in need of being donated.
The house seems larger when this is done and I personally feel lighter. I can move through the house without looking at the clutter that has accumulated and everything has its place again. I know that life will catch up to me sooner or later and that’s okay because for a few short months I will feel as though I have made a dent.
Here are a list of places to donate and places to shred in Long Beach.
Assistance League: 2100 East 4th Street 562-4347121
Goodwill Store & Donation Center: 1130 Redondo Ave. 562-498-0040
Out of the Closet: 3500 E. Pacific Coast Highway 562-494-0340
UPS – Off Site Shredding: 2201 North Lakewood Blvd. 562-597-1819
