Are we having fun yet?

How’d you do the first week of Boot Camp?

So far, I have emptied and arranged two closets, found missing computer cords, thrown out two bed pillows, sold a new printer I had been storing, sorted out an underwear drawer, and filled a large trash bag with leftover colognes, glasses cases, stretched-out bras, and six old T-shirts that are going into the rag bag.

I also have a box filled with items for the 2nd Hand Shop. That’s the best part!

It doesn’t take much for us women to be happy!

Here’s this week’s assignment to test your courage and resolve.

Look at your walls.

When you decide to really LOOK at your busy walls, ask: Where can the eye rest? This challenge is to take down half of the pictures, knick-knacks, and wall decorations throughout the house.

Just try it. You will be amazed. You will start to see your rooms in a new, refreshing light.

You ask, “Where can I put those pictures and wall things, then?” My answer. Under the bed! I’ll tell you more about that later.

Pillows. Look at the decorative pillows on your bed. You know, the ones you toss on the floor each night when you are ready to get in bed. The same ones you pick up off the floor in the morning and arrange back on the bed. Why are they there? Who cares? One pillow for decor is enough. Simplify. Your bed will look more expensive.

Underneath the bed.

What is hiding under there? Do you ever look? Do you remember what’s there?

Under the bed is a great place to store items, but only items that you use. It’s become a space where we shove things, and in the process, we waste valuable square footage. Buy some rolling bins for extra blankets, seasonal clothes, photo albums. Make that space count for something.

Clean it out and repurpose that space.

Entertainment Center.

This gigantic piece of furniture became popular in the late ’90s. It held heavy, thick televisions, game consoles, DVD players, recording equipment, music devices, CDs, and much more.

Want more space? Modern slim televisions can hang on the wall. Technology has reduced the need for all this connected hardware. A neat cabinet with drawers can sit in the corner and hold what you think you need. Suddenly, you have open space, and the room feels updated.

The truth is that I probably cannot remove ours yet. I am a bit of a coward to face “husband-guy” with this radical idea. So consider this challenge still on the table … er … the entertainment center.

Ok. One last challenge. Items you think you are obligated to keep.

You know. Your great-grandmother Moses’ china; her treasured fluted dish. Aunt Carrie’s crystal bowl, tarnished inherited silverware. Vases, sugar bowls, deviled egg plates, 4 sets of salt and pepper shakers.

We are not obligated to keep everything that belonged to family, nor mementos of special occasions. We aren’t even obligated to keep items we like but no longer use. Face it! We don’t even look at these objects. They collect dust.

However, it is not respectful to an item to let it sit and gather dust! Rather, pass it on to someone who wants it or can use it.

Take a photo of it. You will feel better, but you will never look at the photo again. It is just an exercise in letting go.

There! Boot Camp is over for now.

I will come back and check on us in a few months.

The Great Bend Tribune welcomes the return of “A Woman’s View.” Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com.