Clutter

A few weeks ago my writing prof talked to us about clutter. Physical, emotional, virtual - how it all takes up space that could be otherwise used for creating. How most of us spend our days with distraction, unintentionally filling the void until the filling up of it is the it we call living. Homework for that week and every week since has been to de-clutter as much and as often as possible. Moving to BA was a forced sort of physical decluttering. I gave away bags of clothes and shoes I knew I'd never need or wear again. I moved here with two large suitcases - no room for junk, momentos or saved things. Liberating yet some days even I tire of seeing myself in one of the 8 recycled t-shirts in the casual category of my new old wardrobe. But other types of clutter - yes, I had it and am getting rid of it. Clutter of time wasted. Internet clutter is a whole new miraculous medium to twitter the hours. I made a list of all websites now officially classified as "clutter" and off the bookmark tab. For good.

www.sfgate.com - Daily Dish, updates every day at 3pm PDT
http://gofugyourself.com - more fashion commentary but dives deep in britney/kfed
www.etonline.com - covers all big stories like TomKat wedding details
www.eonline.com - fashion police, a quick hit when you need it
www.tmz.com - shameful gossip with video
www.perezhilton.com - even more shameful. you might not want to tell anyone you surf this one

I include these links in case anyone out there is not trying to declutter their lives and is in fact looking to pass a few shameful hours gazing at the navels of britney, lindsey or other hollywood types fraught with drama...look no further.

It's been nearly three weeks since I've visited the clutter sites and I don't miss it nor do I miss the coked up feeling of typing in the url and scrolling down the page at yet another angle of someone's lack of underpants wearing evening on tinseltown. I've been forced to examine my own role in it all. What feelings, activities, people have I been avoiding immersed in this mindless clutter? Back in SF, Friday early evenings - exhausted and burnt out from the week of work and dizzying worry. I'd take myself directly to the Walgreens on Post across the street and pick up the latest US Weekly. Reading it on the bart ride home was strangely calming. It became a ritual distraction I'm not proud of but can admit to now that I no longer have access to it. That said, I've asked my friends who will be visiting in the months to come - pls don't bring me any clutter. I'm making room for other things now. TomKat and the OC will have to go on without me.