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DeCluttering: Inspiration, Success Stories, Tips
Meh:
--- Quote from: Hopalong on August 12, 2011, 09:39:57 AM ---Boat -- want to describe a thing or two, that have come into your life, and that you want to release? (No worries if not.)
love,
Hops
--- End quote ---
Well, I feel disorganized and out of control of everything even my things. I guess I was just writing above for the sake of writing not so much because I have a huge clutter problem only that I have noticed how even when I can't afford things like going to the dentist or shoes there is still an abundance of stuff and "junk" in America. We have a lot of stuff.
For me personally I look at the things I have um, couple of freebee cookbooks, tin cookie container, a batik shirt, foodbank foodstuff that I hoard. Nothing particularly important but I know that since my living situations are so volatile I can not predictably even maintain a modest amount of stuff. I got a free old grandma sweatshirt at a church closet event (give out free used clothes) and I didn't even like it when I got it because it's for an old fudy duddy person but I feel like oh no I must maintain this because what if I need it and I had to go through all the trouble and time of going to the church and having that experience of needing to utilize that service and sorting through piles of unwashed clothes to find something useful. And I did use it.
Things are both necessities that enhance the quality of our lives and also burdens. But pretty much anything that I can't load up into a single backpack is a burden.
The two cookbooks I have thumbed through and I want to make the recipes in them, want to be in that lifestyle where I can do that sort of thing that doesn't really seem so impossibly far away because I'm surrounded by it but still I'm not there. So I guess even reading the recipes represent some sort of possibility of creativity (I like to make stuff with my hands). Oh and the easel I have managed to have for a few months but not use and I don't really want to use it now, I just like the idea that it's possible (an old dead dream).
I guess if clutter is defined by stuff that takes up space but is not used, that would mainly be it, easel and couple of cookbooks. That sounds insane I know. So it's not really so much the fact that they are clutter is more what they represent to me I guess.
Other thing I think is the feeling that if something was given to me (foodbank) food then it doesnt really belong to me even though I had to take the time and effort to get it. I've actually had to explain this to people who are too lazy to go get their own items. Which is more related to me valuing my time. And I'm experiencing some sense that others don't think my time and life is valuable somehow.
I don't know there is also some experience of how easy it is lose one's grasp and lose things and lose a sense of permanence where the effort to maintain a grasp is a lot of work, a struggle.
At the core of it I think some people just take if for granted that they have more right to belong and more right to have then others.
So I think is someways having stuff is also related to the concept of having the right to belong/exist.
Anyways I'm tired after writing that for whatever reason.
Hopalong:
Thank you, Boat.
Thank you.
I so wish your writing had a wider audience.
Hops
sKePTiKal:
Hi Hops...
if there IS a "thing" that needs to be purged right now... it's something in me. Something that has outlived it's usefulness and that I cling to only because it's been part of "me" so long. Humourously, I tend to express that outwardly by purging my closet, filing, re-organizing.... as if that will effect the inner junk pile.
That's not working so well, you know?
teartracks:
--- Quote ---Thank you, Boat.
Thank you.
I so wish your writing had a wider audience.
Hops
--- End quote ---
Boat,
I agree with Hops. Love your writing style.
tt
Hopalong:
Just a "bump" -- an okay article, but as usual, from someone who sounds not in jeopardy.
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/09/12/storage_space_mistake/index.html
Clutter and stuff -- just keeping the question alive.
Mine's feeling better. Lot more to do but maybe I'm recognizing a lot really has gotten done.
I was given a free, nearly new, washer and dryer. Existing ones were 20+ years old. I was/am thrilled.
Turned into a saga:
Habitat store wouldn't take them, too old.
Friend who gave them got the new ones as far as the patio, couldn't get them downstairs though.
Salvation Army would take the elec. washer but not gas dryer.
Realized the dryer was electric, called them back, they said okay.
Bribed the Sal Army guys $20 each to take the new ones down when they brought the old up. They were nice and it was very very hard work. Tight fit up outside stairs, almost impossible, but they did it.
New dryer had a 4-prong plug, old socket it 3-prong.
Another friend rewired the dryer to be 3- prong.
He left, I was limp with joy, started laundry and the new washer blew the circuit breaker each time. (Old house, inadequate wiring).
Finally figured out it would all run if I turned off the dehumidifier.
Basement's getting damp since I forget to turn it on again.
But the basement's emptier since so much junk went away to the church yard sale.
There's hope.
Right at this moment I'm avoiding paperwork, which is why I bumped this thread in the first place.
Check back later, xo,
Hops
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