Hello. I’m Brett.

The purpose of this website is to encourage you (and myself) to be intentional about living according to our top priorities. We simplify and get rid of junk (mental, physical, spiritual, and financial clutter) so that we can be freed up and energized to pour ourselves into our key relationships and other priorities.

I’m an extremely selfish guy. The sole purpose of this website is to help myself declutter my life. I figure if I write in front of other people, then I’ll have some sort of accountability. If the content helps you, that would make me extremely happy, too.

Decluttering a Life in the Suburbs

I’ve seen American Pickers. I know that clutter exists out in the country. I also know that city dwellers can cram their lives and living spaces full of junk that doesn’t need to be there.

But the suburbs carry a unique temptation toward adding and adding and adding without subtracting.

I’m a dad and husband. My family lives in the suburbs. We are within 6-7 miles of four Targets. There are two Walmarts within roughly the same distance. Also, there are three Home Depots and a Lowe’s, a major mall, four movie theaters, about 83 grocery stores, and 173 restaurants in the Chili’s category.

It’s easy to accidentally accumulate things – from toys to weight to calendar clutter.

Clutter is a first world problem for sure, but it’s a problem that needs to be tackled.

And clutter isn’t only an issue of garages, attics, and basements: it’s relational, spiritual, financial, logistical, mental, emotional, and physical.

This blog is about finding a simplicity that allows you to pursue your most precious priorities. I’m not a strict minimalist. I don’t count the number of items my family owns in some weird attempt to only own 50 things (these folks are out there). I won’t take all the decorations off our walls and paint it stark white.

Rather, I hope to discuss my efforts to pare away things that don’t serve what is important to me and my family. Often, clutter – of any kind – hinders us by replacing what we want in the long term for some kind of short term dopamine hit.

I love me some dopamine, so I write as a fellow struggler, not a guru or some sort of sage. Join along if you find some of this content helpful to you as you pursue similar goals.

About Brett

I told you about my family.

For a living, I work in the property and casualty insurance world. I’m not here to sell you insurance. For fitness, I walk and jog, lift a few weights, and play tennis. For fun, I love to write and make jokes with my wife and goof off with my kids.

I am a Christian. I will talk about that on this blog from time to time. One of the main reasons for decluttering is to live a more focused life. The center of that focus, in my mind, should be Jesus Christ. Everything should flow from there. That said, we all need to trim the fat in our worlds. Most principles will apply regardless of your beliefs.