Great advice is everywhere. I just have to, Stop, look and listen.
I know that the world will teach me everything I need to know if I am only willing to pay attention. But therein lies the trick…the stopping and paying attention part. I’m am quite specifically talking about the paying attention part.
Here’s the thing; I’m great at ephiphanies and subsequent travel announcements. In fact, I’m so great at ephiphanies that I often have the same one over and over. The saddest part is that each and every time it feels like a brand new discovery.
I’m wondering if it might be prudent to start writing these revelations down so the next time I have a ‘new’ realization, I can look back on my list and remind myself that I am, in fact, simply revisiting #17 or #6 on the list.
So. Given that we are now in the throes of starting to edit all the huge piles of STUFF to get ready for our imminent downsized life, I am rather focused on how much crap we are buried under. Piles and piles of crap…it is disspiriting to say the least. I am seized by an overwhelming ennui in the face to the monster task of making it all go away. It is not a good sign when I realize I find myself considering the sweet release that would come with a house fire.
That, is most assuredly, NOT a good sign that I’m dealing with this well.
In that spirit, I am putting the first 3-part note on my forthcoming – Words of Wisdom 101 List.
Stop! – Before purchasing/acquiring another single thing – Ask. Do I really need this? Really??
Look! Think carefully – Will bringing this into my life actually improve it or just create one more thing to take care of/store/insure?
Listen! Step back and reflect. If this is really something that will enhance my life, what two things can I give away to make room for it? (I need to consider my future self and think about how she’ll whimper as she wanders from room to room, completely overwhelmed and unable to deal with any of it. Do I really want to do that to that dottering older self? That’s just mean!)
And finally, given the plethora of thrift store junk in my basement, the final question is key…
Do I really need this? Really Colleen?? Really???
My late father had this phrase “the happy man has only one shirt”.
Oh – I need this advice. I can’t resist “collecting” books, articles, magazines, newspapers. My shelves and floors are heaving with the weight. I really have to stop (and look and listen) and de-clutter. Maybe this summer?
Hey Ruth, I write these posts as a reminder to myself and so that my intentions are public. It’s much harder for me to back out of them that way!
Best of luck with clearing some space. The good news is that it gets easier with each inch of gained shelf space. Good luck!
I dunno, Colleen. I just looked up the definition of curate and found this: to select, organize and look after the items in a collection”. Just the word “collection” almost gives me a twitch and possibly even a rash.
However, I guess we do have collections of stuff from a lifetime of living.
Okay, curate is good. Sigh.
Jana, you’re bursting my bubble here 🙂 I’m glad you looked it up. Like you, I like the words ‘select’ and ‘organize’. But collection definitely not so much. Maybe we just need to redefine the word ‘collection’?
“Stuff is the junk we keep; junk is the stuff we give away.”
I fully understand your paralysis, Colleen. Just figuring out where to dispose of extra things is enough to make you scream. Sell it – Craigslist, eBay, garage sale? Donate it – a worthy place, a friend, a neighbor’s yardsale? Dump it – can it be repaired or recycled or is it truly trash?
The more stuff I own, the more stuff breaks and the more stuff I lose. Stuff needs to be maintained, repaired, stored, cleaned, appreciated, used, recharged, organized, moved out of the way.
I just attended a wedding and chose to leave the party favor of a little succulent plant in a glass jar behind. The bride spent hours growing them and planting them and they were beautifully presented. But please, must I take home anything??
Stuff wears me out. Best of luck to you as you face it. One drawer, one shelf at a time, you’ll get ‘er dun!
“Stuff is the junk we keep; junk is the stuff we give away.” Great quote!
Jana, I commend your resolve in walking away from the little wedding plant. It’s just one more thing on that slippery slope of acquisitions that swamp our lives. I realize that some of my happiest times in my life have been while traveling and all I have is what I can carry. I need to pay strict attention to that!
I still want to be surrounded by beauty, form and function but I’ve decided on a more curated life. That’s my new word for the next few months…curated.
And you’re quite right…it’s just one drawer, one shelf at a time. Baby steps!
well, after an inspiring luncheon and reading your post, i am happy to say that that i just had another box of articles (you notice i am not attaching emotion to these things) walk out the door because of craigslist and i even got to meet a wonderful happy new person in return.
Martha, my advice is to say “Christine, NO!” I stopped being the storage facility for my kids and funny enough, they don’t need those things anymore. good luck with healing those ribs, that is a painful process.
Barb, isn’t it great how inspiration circles around and around? Listening to your stories of giving away, selling and dumping your extraneous stuff has motivated me to get more ruthless and it’s already incredibly freeing. Glad you got to meet a new happy being out there as a result. I am keeping my eye on the prize…space to move and breathe and create. Onward!
Too funny … as if that would work. There’s a whole room full of junk downstairs and Christine keeps adding her overflow. She seems to think it’s her responsibility to keep the economy going. I’ll forward your article and see if it makes an impression.
Ha! Good luck with that plan! Maybe if I add a direct message?
Let’s try this… “Christine. Stop!”
Great advice — I really need motivation to get rid of a pile of crap too. However, I can’t afford a swift kick in the ass right now as I haven’t recovered from two cracked ribs that I incurred a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, I’ve always got an excuse. At least I’m not mobile enough to keep adding more junk.
Ouch! Two cracked ribs are two very real excuses!
Since I seem rather immobilized by indecision, I’ve decided to make it manageable. I’m starting with the cupboards above my desk. Surely I can tackle three shelves?? I’m hoping that will help kick me into gear.
Hope you heal up soon Martha. Maybe you can just sit somewhere near the big pile and point at what needs to be taken away!