How in the world does anyone have the dexterity and eyesight to be able to do these?
@CinnamonGirlE back in the day, all middle schoolers in UK were taught to write in italics (#calligraphy) with a flat nib fountain pen. Before we got our pens, we practiced for weeks with chisel sharpened pencils.
@bfgreen
I didn't realize there was a difference. I love cursive and calligraphy. I like to experiment with the fountain pens and play with it. I am not necessarily good at it, but self-taught.
Just took calligraphy books, pens etc to free room. Had I known would have sent to you. Never got around to trying.
@LnzyHou @bfgreen
It's fun. I have too many things distracting me these days anyway. I had no idea how horrible trying to go through all these things I have accumulated could be.
#swedishdeathcleaning
It’s emotionally exhausting to declutter. You need a break. Eventually it won’t be.
Could have beaten myself up about investing in calligraphy stuff & never got to it. But it’s just stuff. I’ve moved it over & over for years. I am not that failed hobby. Different hobbies attract me now.
Wish I could drive over & help you. These are my magnetic vehicle signs. I really was a professional.
Never hesitate to ask for help.
@LnzyHou @CinnamonGirlE same, I used to not declutter because of the frustration of spending money on something I wanted, and intended to use, and never getting round to it. But I had to give myself some grace and realize that life happens... I also learned that I can gift unused "stuff" to people who will get use out of it so it's not wasted at all. Now I am happy to make someone else happy!
My calligraphy books went to a library.
@CinnamonGirlE @LnzyHou - a mantra I am trying to embrace is "Never organize what you can discard. Identify the essential, eliminate the rest." Easier said than done, but I am working on it
@CinnamonGirlE @LnzyHou totally unrelated other than your Coso alias always make me think of it - my daughter is a Cinnamon fiend! She puts more cinnamon on things than anyone else I know. Costs us a small fortune!!! ;-) Anyway, every time I see your alias it gives me the warm fuzzies thinking of my daughter's love of cinnamon.
When you reduce your housing size (600 sq ft), storage is a huge issue. Anything I attempt to buy must have an identified place to live. My rule is one new one in, two must go out.
Just because you like something, doesn’t mean you have to own it.
@CinnamonGirlE @LnzyHou @bfgreen
Many years ago I stopped buying stuff unless I absolutely need it.
@Priestess @LnzyHou @bfgreen
I am there.
The emotional charge connected to stuff is real. But if you can focus on processing as your way to peace, you’ll get through it.
Five Categories:
Gift (only to folks who want it)
Sell (consignment/resale stores)
Donate (Habitat builds housing for poor)
Keep (only treasures that are displayed)
Trash (after recycling audit)
I raised thousands selling my stuff which paid for van build out. Choose your goal for selling. Some it’s trips, new car, savings etc.
🌸🪷🌸
@CinnamonGirlE @LnzyHou don't tell anyone here, but I used to collect watches, expensive ones that I probably couldn't afford. Always in search of that perfect one - my "grail" watch. Then one day I realized I wore the same old watch 99% of the time (no pun intended) and started selling off watches that were sitting their unworn. If funded a lot of other, more productive hobbies and things for my family. Wasn't easy at first.
@CinnamonGirlE @LnzyHou you're not alone in this. The struggle is very real.
If it’s antique, take to antique store for resale. At the least, pack it all up & donate. Although it’s very hard for them to sell too. No one wants three sets of china.
You’re right. I’m only using my good Lenox china day to day. The rest is gone.
You learn to say no thanks.
@LnzyHou @CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen
I am of the frame of mind that if you need more than a pickup truck to move all your stuff, you have too much stuff.
@LnzyHou @CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen
We filled *two* 20-foot trucks with unusable detritus when my in-laws moved from a 2500 sq ft bungalow to an 800 sq ft apartment. . That doesn’t include another truckload of furniture items they donated to Habitat for Humanity. Having done so, I’ve dramatically accelerated our de-cluttering efforts in our own home.
@Luber905 @CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen
I applaud your decision to start now. Your family will be eternally grateful. Last memories should not be resentment & anger for being left with mountain of stuff no one wants.
Still trying to imagine two (20’) trucks being emptied into 800 sq ft.
Makes me nauseous.
@CinnamonGirlE same, I'm not great but I am proficient. It's a meditative action for me to slow down the digital world and put deliberate thoughts/words to paper.
@bfgreen
I enjoy the meditative and quiet nature of putting pen to paper. Or painting. I just have set it all aside in recent years. Taking it back up might be good.
@CinnamonGirlE as long as it isn't a burden or requirement. I've just started a "daily morning page" ritual. As I sip my morning #coffee I write down on one page (by hand) all the things in my head - total stream of consciousness. Nothing fancy. In the two weeks I've been doing it I've found that just getting it out of my head has freed up space for me to think less (and carry those inner voices). I'm liking it so far
@bfgreen I have always loved journaling for that very reason. I usually do the stream of consciousness thing at night. Have put that aside in recent months, maybe I need to try in the am like you.
@CinnamonGirlE just don't make it a requirement every day. I don't journal simply because I get frustrated when life does happen and I miss a day... I do my morning page as often as I can but don't beat myself up about not doing it - if that makes sense
@bfgreen
Total sense. When I put commitments on myself, unnecessary ones, I just make things more difficult.
@CinnamonGirlE somewhere I have my old school book where I wrote the entire thing for every class in italics with my fountain pen. Eventually that was too slow, but I kept the book as a reminder. I’ve taught both my kids calligraphy and cursive handwriting from early age. It’s sad that it’s not taught here anymore. BTW cursive in UK and US are very different.