Don’t give yourself time to change your mind. Remove discards daily if you can.
Like it’s a job.
@LnzyHou
Honey, it is a job. Wow, the amount of stuff I have allowed to accumulate. Whew.
Touch everything ONE time & decide. No changes. Plow through it.
@LnzyHou
I will remember that. The littles and I will work for an hour or two today. They are fierce and do not allow me to be too soft, lol.
Wish I could swing by & help on my way home. We could load up my van.
@LnzyHou @CinnamonGirlE "Decide" comes from the Latin "decidere," which means "to cut off" or "to determine."
This Latin word is composed of "de-" (meaning "off") and "caedere" (meaning "to cut").
You are literally cutting something out of your life.
@CanisPundit @LnzyHou
I am trying. How did I allow so much to begin with? Don't answer. I know.
@CinnamonGirlE and it’s okay. Each item served a purpose at the time. The war is over and an occupying force is no longer needed. @LnzyHou
@CanisPundit @LnzyHou
That's true, it did. Now unwinding all I have done.
Hallelujah
IMO when the past is interfering with your present peace, it is unneeded.
@LnzyHou WHAT? but..but..but it’s organized! 🤣
I just finished tossing away a bunch of rags and old shoes for mowing I had in the garage. I confess though, when I was organizing my CD’s last week or so, I couldn’t bring myself to toss the nursery rhymes/children’s songs. The memories associated with them and my grandsons was still strong. They were actually in the trash but I dug them back out. FAILURE!
@Novels56 @CanisPundit @CinnamonGirlE
Give them to grands
@LnzyHou They are too old for them. I’ll get rid of them, the next time.
@LnzyHou update: the 12 year old grandson wants those CD’s. He doesn’t even have a player. I asked why. He said memories. Made me tear up a bit. Also, future hoarder? 🤪
@Novels56 @CanisPundit @CinnamonGirlE
I believe once we give a gift, we no longer have sway over what they do with it.
@LnzyHou Any other approach and it’s not a gift.
@Novels56 @CanisPundit @CinnamonGirlE
No, no, no.
I had decluttering client who screamed at me for trashing 100+ plastic retail bags. She pulled them all out of the trash.
She had a 5’ stack of professional mental health journals on her hearth dating back for years & years. As therapist, she insisted she had to read them all.
Our agreement ended after a few weeks. I do not work with people who have mental health issues with hoarding.
That requires professionals. (Not her)
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
I don't think it's that bad for me, lol. And so much of it is people I love who passed, their things. Which in a way makes it harder. But the passage of time certainly has helped with that. It's getting better.
@CinnamonGirlE @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Keep only treasures. It’s not easy. And it does dip into our emotions.
Treasures are kept on display. Not rotting in boxes & bins in the basement/garage.
If not worthy of display, not treasure.
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Good point. If it can't be displayed or used. Why have it?
Living in a different way.
@CinnamonGirlE @Novels56 @CanisPundit
I spent months sorting through thousands of images taken over 7 yrs on St Croix. Finally settled on 9 images that best reflect my experience there.
No reason to keep remaining photos in molding albums in the basement.
I smile everytime I see this collage.
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
I love this! I saved the foot and toenails in the sand pic myself! 😎 it's so good!
@CinnamonGirlE @Novels56 @CanisPundit
We called ourselves the Beach Babes. There were over 15 of us when we partied.
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Awesome 💗❣️🌊
@Novels56 @LnzyHou @CanisPundit
Preaching to the choir here. I get it. I am going to share things among my grown children, if they want them that is. And the grands.
@CinnamonGirlE @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Expect them to resist. Younger gens don’t want our old stuff. They live simpler lives with no time for clutter.
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Even if they did, they all live in small homes with no room.
@CinnamonGirlE @Novels56 @CanisPundit
Sell what you can. I made over $1K selling stuff before going on the road.
@LnzyHou @Novels56 @CanisPundit
That's a lot of money. I will do that. Because who can't use money?
@CinnamonGirlE
Here too
I’ve gotten rid of the big things in the last 6 months. Moving on to the little.
@Anouk
It's a work in progress here.
@CinnamonGirlE One tip that helped me during my last move was to take good pictures of things that I liked but didn't keep. Like this Dino the Dinosaur toy I'd been schlepping from house to house. I'm glad I had the original photo of it from back in the day. That's more precious than the toy.
@CJLavoie
How I ever came to attach sentimentality to objects is a mystery to me. And one I am trying to break.
@CJLavoie
Awesome pic by the way ♥️
@CinnamonGirlE Yes it is, I assume my mom took it. It was my sister (looking at me) who had asked for that toy for Xmas, but my parents got it mixed up and gave it to me instead. After a few years of gloating and jealousy, we took turns keeping possession of it, and she had no interest after awhile.
@CinnamonGirlE stage 3 here. Just reduced my pretty stuff cabinet by 25% just by connecting to the memories invoked. I’m going through books and tearing for recycling or donating. Got a couple pieces of jewelry posted. Have a Royal Doulton cat lady figurine I’m trying to decide best departure method.
@TheresaVermont
I knew you were working on much the same as me. Down sizing, finding new homes for things I don't need. It's a process for sure.
@CinnamonGirlE @TheresaVermont
LOL -- I don't know if you saw my posts on my "2024 Heat Wave Closet Clean Out Extravaganza," but I just cleaned out and re-organized 8 closets in my house -- with three trips to Goodwill and LOTS of trash going out!
AND -- I even gave away some "collectibles" (small statues of cows) -- I mailed them to a CoSoNaut last week. They arrived in Georgia just yesterday! 😂 😂
@Route10 @TheresaVermont
I did see your clean out extravaganza and one closet with only a coat hanging in it! Good on you! I am trying.
@Route10 @CinnamonGirlE You've been doing all the hard work!
@CinnamonGirlE Just want you to know you aren't alone and those of us in the process fully understand how difficult it really is to do.
@TheresaVermont
Thanks so much ❣️
@TheresaVermont @CinnamonGirlE
With y’all. We’re downsizing from 3636 to less than 1000 sq ft. It’s not going very … efficiently.
Best of luck to you both!
@ATXJane Good luck to you too. That’s a huge step! Our first pass was 2600 over 3 floors to 1.5 floors. Don’t know square footage as we were just told it was miscalculated.
@CinnamonGirlE Top tip - do it BEFORE you are physically unable to! Makes life a whole lot easier!
Almost none of younger generations want this stuff. My sons sure didn’t. (Not that I had this kind of stuff).
@CinnamonGirlE I never really got to stage one - I was lucky enough to have a fairly anti-consumerist upbringing, so accumulating stuff has never really been something that particularly excites me. 😛
I go shopping when I legitimately need something, or anticipate that I'll legitimately need it in the future... neither of which happens all that often, in part because I am able to make things and improvise (and enjoy doing so).
@CinnamonGirlE same.