OWN brought us a special December sneak peak of Extreme Clutter and with it, an old friend coming back into our lives.  As we move into this season with Peter Walsh, we are reminded that clutter is often holding you in the past and keeping you from living your life with the passion and love that you are meant to have.  In this special sneak peak of “Extreme Clutter,” we are introduced to Donna Kimura (mom) and Kali Kimura Martin, her daughter.  Kali tells us that her only sibling and brother passed away in a navy seal accident a few years back and her father passed away from cancer last year.   Now, Kali is moving back in with her husband Martin and growing the family too – because we are adding kids!  So, to get mom’s house ready…we need Peter.  With all of Donna’s loss, her home has been a treasure chest of emotions.  An “orderly mess” is what Donna calls it but in reality, Peter points out that it’s not really a home. It’s floor to ceiling storage of memories and she needs some help with moving through it and forward into life.

Like many people who hold onto mementos and little memories, Donna has lots of items of her husbands and she’s afraid that if she gets rid of them, she won’t have anything left.  But the truth is, memories are with each of us.   Walking a delicate line of someone still grieving for her husband and her son and barely breathing in her own home, Peter has a large task ahead. Peter reminds her, “You deserve more than all of this stuff can ever give you. This stuff can never give you what you need. Your family can give you what you need.”  For everyone, change is really scary…but you can do this.

 Many lessons came from this journey tonight…here are a few that I captured in the hour…

• An “orderly” mess does not make a home…and does not NOT make you a hoarder.
• Pack rat is just another name for hoarder.
• Remember, it might be labeled and it might be in containers but if if’s getting in the way of ANY part of your life, it’s a problem.
• Freedom of movement in your OWN home means freedom to live your best life!
•  Try not to be overwhelmed. Set priorities and stick to the process.
• Set limits.  SET time limits for yourself to go through things.
• When you choose to think about your things  before you think about your family, you are sending THEM the message that stuff is more important than them.  What messages are you sending?
• Give yourself a timer and a goal. Take baby steps through everything.
• Get your OWN great feeling of relief.
• Walking away from your clutter…opens a new door into the rest of your life

Through amazing dedication and determination, Donna’s house was transformed in this episode from a house to a home.  With this kind of inspiration and these lessons from Peter, anyone can turn their OWN cluttered room into a vision that only you have!  Be inspired.  Change your life!