I wore flip flops for the first time this season today. Felt good, and a bit scandalous. I’ve been waiting for days like today, like everyone yearning for spring. I let the light in, opened the windows for the fresh air and started my first phase of spring cleaning. Phase one incorporated mostly a day full of washing clothes, bedding, couch pillows and things like that, but it still felt productive. It’s the start of a new season, and hopes are as high as the pollen count (BTW, saw pollen on my windshield for the first time today as well).

I’m not sure how many phases my spring cleaning will encompass this year, as it will partially depend on my motivation and energy, but I imagine several. Not only will be I be cleaning for sprucing sake, but I’ll be continuing my SIMPLIFY theme by getting rid of items I don’t want or need. I just have too much that I don’t utilize enough to stay sitting in my apartment. The items I’ve already purged the last few months I probably can’t even list if I tried. Sometimes it’s hard to say good-bye, but once their gone, there’s barely a second thought to be had.

So, if you are a spring cleaner and plan to de-junk your abode a bit over the coming season, please be sure your trash isn’t someone else’s treasure before you simply toss. Here are just a few ideas for giving your stuff a little more life:

• Recycle it (If you aren’t sure where, Google is just a click away. Almost anything can be recycled.)
• Give it to someone who needs it
• Sell it in a garage sale, Craigslist or eBay
• Donate to Goodwill, a shelter, ministry or place like Solomon House
• Swap it with someone else

Do you have any other ideas?