--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided to break the trend of…" description: "\"“I decided to break the trend of accumulating stuff sooner rather than later. I moved to smaller homes ahead of my need. I downsized before I was force..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/lisa-j-shultz-17419_clutter_i-decided-to-break-the-trend-of-accumula_228408.jpg" --- # I decided to break the trend of accumulating stuff sooner… ![“I decided to break the trend of accumulating stuff sooner rather than later. I moved to smaller homes ahead of my need. I downsized before I was forced to do so. I sorted and dispersed my things while I had the energy and the ability to either donate or sell my stuff.” quote by Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/lisa-j-shultz-17419_clutter_i-decided-to-break-the-trend-of-accumula_228408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/lisa-j-shultz-17419_clutter_i-decided-to-break-the-trend-of-accumula_228408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/lisa-j-shultz-17419_clutter_i-decided-to-break-the-trend-of-accumula_228408.jpg) > ““I decided to break the trend of accumulating stuff sooner rather than later. I moved to smaller homes ahead of my need. I downsized before I was forced to do so. I sorted and dispersed my things while I had the energy and the ability to either donate or sell my stuff.”” [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She proactively downsized her possessions and living space before necessity forced her, using the opportunity to donate or sell items while she still had the energy. **In simple terms:** She reduced belongings early and gave them away. Key Takeaway Plan and act on downsizing before pressure builds. Themes minimalism sustainability proactivity decluttering Mood inspirational practical Type lifestyle self‑help When to use this quote - moving homes - estate planning - financial budgeting - community donation drives Key Concepts psychology environmental design Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to declutter? - How can you start small in a large space? A Different Perspective May not be feasible for everyone due to financial constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) [Declutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declutter/) [Downsize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downsize/) [Downsizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downsizing/) [Minimalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimalism/) [Minimalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimalist/) ## Related quotes > [“My clearing has allowed me to rediscover things I stopped seeing and put them into a place of prominence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/my-clearing-has-allowed-me-to-rediscover-things-i-stopped-seeing-and/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“When I eventually moved to a smaller home, it felt cozy, like having a pair of jeans that fit me just right—no wasted living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/when-i-eventually-moved-to-a-smaller-home-it-felt-cozy-like-having-a/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“In the process of decluttering things in my life, I was peeling off the layers of my past that no longer mattered to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/in-the-process-of-decluttering-things-in-my-life-i-was-peeling-off/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [After my mother and father separated when I was 5, my mother moved to Washington, D.C., and my father remained in North Carolina. Later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tyree-henry/after-my-mother-and-father-separated-when-i-was-5-my-mother-moved-to/) [Brian Tyree Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tyree-henry/) > [“When you can identify the behaviors that led to too much in your home, you can begin protecting the space between your things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-vraa/when-you-can-identify-the-behaviors-that-led-to-too-much-in-your-home/) Mary Vraa > [And as part of my activity there, he had indicated he wanted me to work with him on that and conduct the various technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/and-as-part-of-my-activity-there-he-had-indicated-he-wanted-me-to/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) > [We later moved to Rome, where I am presently living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grazia-deledda/we-later-moved-to-rome-where-i-am-presently-living/) [Grazia Deledda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grazia-deledda/) > [I have moved to a smaller house in Paris, and I don't fancy having so much staff now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-have-moved-to-a-smaller-house-in-paris-and-i-don-t-fancy-having-so/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [We like to keep the show small. Honestly, where we moved the show to the UCB theater, we moved it to a smaller space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/we-like-to-keep-the-show-small-honestly-where-we-moved-the-show-to/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) ## More by Lisa J. Shultz > [“When I reflect on the stories of death supported by hospice care and contrast it with our story depicting an absence of support, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/when-i-reflect-on-the-stories-of-death-supported-by-hospice-care-and/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“For me, decluttering and downsizing has caused shifts in my thinking and my habits. I don’t have to declutter; I choose to declutter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/for-me-decluttering-and-downsizing-has-caused-shifts-in-my-thinking/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“My clearing has allowed me to rediscover things I stopped seeing and put them into a place of prominence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/my-clearing-has-allowed-me-to-rediscover-things-i-stopped-seeing-and/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“When I eventually moved to a smaller home, it felt cozy, like having a pair of jeans that fit me just right—no wasted living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/when-i-eventually-moved-to-a-smaller-home-it-felt-cozy-like-having-a/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“When I contemplate life as well as death, I am discovering what really matters to me now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/when-i-contemplate-life-as-well-as-death-i-am-discovering-what-really/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“A paradigm shift of viewing palliative care or hospice as a gift instead of seeing it as giving up has the potential to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/a-paradigm-shift-of-viewing-palliative-care-or-hospice-as-a-gift/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“In the process of decluttering things in my life, I was peeling off the layers of my past that no longer mattered to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/in-the-process-of-decluttering-things-in-my-life-i-was-peeling-off/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“As I inch forward to embrace my life again by being mindful, writing books, and planning adventures, I sense my dad would approve. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/as-i-inch-forward-to-embrace-my-life-again-by-being-mindful-writing/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“My choice of a lighter lifestyle has brought me a greater sense of well-being. In a world that often seems stressful and chaotic, that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/my-choice-of-a-lighter-lifestyle-has-brought-me-a-greater-sense-of/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“I felt myself in a sticky spot as a daughter and desperately needed a third party, such as a doctor, to address his declining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/i-felt-myself-in-a-sticky-spot-as-a-daughter-and-desperately-needed-a/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“Decluttering and downsizing before I am forced to do so also means my kids will have less work and stress when I reach old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/decluttering-and-downsizing-before-i-am-forced-to-do-so-also-means-my/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“By seizing every opportunity for kindness, forgiveness, healing, and love that crosses my path each day, I hope that my death, although perhaps sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/by-seizing-every-opportunity-for-kindness-forgiveness-healing-and/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“Clutter may rob us of the life we imagined or prevent us from creating a new vision for our future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/clutter-may-rob-us-of-the-life-we-imagined-or-prevent-us-from/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“I believe one of the most important reasons I am here today is to practice forgiveness and to learn the power of it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/i-believe-one-of-the-most-important-reasons-i-am-here-today-is-to/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) > [“What would I have wanted to say if I had had the opportunity to see him one more time? I would like to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-j-shultz/what-would-i-have-wanted-to-say-if-i-had-had-the-opportunity-to-see/) [Lisa J. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) [Explore all 37 Lisa J. Shultz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-j-shultz/) ## More Clutter quotes > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [I hate clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrie/i-hate-clutter/) [Barbara Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-barrie/) > [If one's mind is so full of clutter, so is one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/if-one-s-mind-is-so-full-of-clutter-so-is-one-s-life/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“Only when we acknowledge ourselves as we really are can we begin to take inventory of the physical, mental, and emotional clutter that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/only-when-we-acknowledge-ourselves-as-we-really-are-can-we-begin-to/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/i-think-we-all-have-a-little-voice-inside-us-that-will-guide-us-it/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity... out of discord, harmony... and out of difficulty, opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-leader-is-one-who-out-of-the-clutter-brings-simplicity-out-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Clutter is the official language used by corporations to hide their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-official-language-used-by-corporations-to-hide-their/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-absence-of-clutter-is-just-a-clutter-free-product-that-s-not/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Out of clutter, find simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Never underestimate the effect of clutter on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingston/never-underestimate-the-effect-of-clutter-on-your-life/) [Karen Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingston/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [On the whole, I think women wear too much and are to fussy. You can't see the person for all the clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/on-the-whole-i-think-women-wear-too-much-and-are-to-fussy-you-can-t/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) [Browse all 347 Clutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I decided to break the trend of accumulating stuff sooner rather than later. I moved to smaller homes ahead of my need. I downsized before I was forced to do so. I sorted and dispersed my things while I had the energy and the ability to either donate or sell my stuff.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lisa J. 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