Transforming a Space for Calm

The tears surprised me. Marie had decided to claim a spare bedroom for herself, so she had an easy place to recuperate after an upcoming surgery. We’d started decluttering the room several weeks before, but now she was motivated to clear space for a bed. We moved some bins out to the living room for sorting later; Marie didn’t mind cluttering the living room temporarily because she felt strongly about creating a room for herself.

As we prepared to move the dresser into the closet, she said, “It’s embarrassing how much stuff is here.” I assured her that I wasn’t judging. She put her head down, reached up to her eye, and I realized she was crying. “I hate it,” she said. “I hate all the clutter and no one else sees it. I know I’m part of the problem, but the clutter drives me crazy and adds to my stress.” Marie and her family had moved quickly to a smaller home a few years before, without the chance to downsize; there was still a lot to go through.

I suggested, “So how about we create this room where you can escape the clutter and really relax? We can organize your stuff more efficiently and give you a more streamlined look.” It was about that time that a box fell off the top shelf of the closet, totally unprompted with no one near it. Marie and I smiled at each other, and she said, “It’s a sign from God.” We got back to work; she went through stuff while I organized the closet. At one point I said, “How’s this?” With a big grin on her face, Marie replied, “I love it!” After I left Marie kept going, motivated to achieve the look she was seeking. Later she shared pictures of the space: what a transformation! Now Marie has a place to find peace and calm to balance the stresses of life and help her heal.