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
How fabulous you were taught calligraphy! We stopped teaching cursive for quite a while in the US, but I think some have returned to it.

@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.

@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.

@CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen

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

@CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen

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.

@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!

@bfgreen @LnzyHou
Working on that currently. It is going to be a long process. I have acquired a lot of belongings of my own and then my husband and parents things.
Finally far enough from the loss to be able to have some perspective with belongings. It's hard.

@CinnamonGirlE @bfgreen

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.

🌸🪷🌸

@LnzyHou @bfgreen
Not sure yet. Need a new car, so maybe that? Either way, I have to adhere to this and make my life lighter.

@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.

@bfgreen @LnzyHou
When I look around at the things I still use, I could get rid of 80% of the things I have. No one needs three sets of china they never use. And so on and so forth.
Wish me luck!!