Throwing Stuff Out - Who's with me??

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Update: I've started my own blog about this. If anyone is interested in following it here is the link: http://clearupcheerup.wordpress.com/ 

I've been wanting to start a blog of my own, so now here's my chance. I will be writing about my experiences as I sort through my stuff (both physical and emotional), and what it means to me to chuck it. My first post is up. I hope you enjoy it!

 

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I've been desperately feeling the weight of my clutter lately, and have been searching for ways to freshen up my life.

 

So, in an effort to change things up I recently bought some new sofas, and threw out my older ones (my beloved Big Red and Little Red). I have a tendancy to get attached to physical belongings and often even name things I get attached to (my new car is named Roxy and I haven't even picked it up yet). Well, finally letting to of Big and Little Red felt good, like a wight had lifted. Looking around my apartment I realize my summer house guest is right, I have TOO MUCH Clutter! It's time to get busy.

 

I was passing by the local bookshop and felt compelled to stop in yesterday. There on the shelf, staring me down, was a book called "Throw Out Fifty Things" by Gail Blanke. I snapped it up, and read through the introduction and chapter one over a beer yesterady after work. I am fully hooked and inspired. She has a website: www.throwoutfiftythings.com where you can download worksheets and report your progress. I might even blog about this. Letting go of the old clutter, both physical and emotional, will open up your life to receive new and exciting things.

 

The Author's mantra is "If you want to grow, let it go".

 

So, does anyone want to grow with me? Let's throw stuff out together!

[Anna and Achilles]

That is a great idea!!! My husband is the saver I should get him that book for his birthday.He always says I might be able to use is some day.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh I'm with you and have been for the last 4.5 years.  All started when we put our house on the market in FL.  I (we) are collectors .... we get into something and we collect.  Our house was like a museum/primitive store/antique shop etc.  Filled to the brim.  I had cleaned and packed quite a bit of it away for when the Realtor came, but she said you know what, I love it all, but it has to go.  People are going to be way too busy looking at your things and miss your home.  So, I packed away some more.  All of a sudden the house was wide open.  I could dust in a matter of minutes rather than a matter of hours.  I had to keep the house clean 24/7.  We were on the market for 17 months with over 100 showings, and you rarely got any notice for appointments because of the market.  If someone wanted to come in 5 mins, or knocked on the door,  you let them.  Bottom line, I got so used to the new clean look that when we finally sold and moved to our new home in Ohio and I started unpacking, I hated the "clutter".  I parted with a bunch of stuff then.  The rest went in the closets.  Well, after 3 years of sitting in the closets I decided a few weeks ago that it was time to let go of some more of the "stuff".  Another yard sale.  I now have closet space and I love it.  I have kept the clutter to a minimum, but still have a ways to go.  I wish you much success in your attempts, it really is freeing!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I used two remodels (first the kitchen area, later the master bedroom/bath/closet area) as my catalyst for clutter reduction. Things HAD to go out, but I decided not to bring much of it back!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I am with you on this one.  I have found that as I get older I seem to be picking up "pack rat" syndrome.  Heading to the author's site now.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Definitely count me in! I come from a family of hoarders ...yes, just like that TV show ... my grandmother, mother, and one brother. When grandma passed away I had to help clear her house (I was 16 at the time). She literally had narrow pathways through the house between mountains of "stuff." She was the sort that could never pass up a good sale - one bedroom was filled to the ceiling with unopened boxes of greeting cards, for example.

The experience scarred me for life, I'm pretty sure. I do have a tendency to bring "stuff" home that I don't really need, but periodically (about every six months) I'll walk into the house, stop dead, and exclaim "where did all this %$#@ come from?!" That triggers a "fling open the trash bin lid and have a massive clear-out" binge.

I'm there right now. Garbage can is standing by my front door with the lid open. Time to de-clutter (again)!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Good for you. My business partner is a hoarder. She (with help) has done several purges, but unless she really works at it, the stuff re-accumulates. Having a periodic purge is a great way to keep from going down the hoarding slippery slope...

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

It's fascinating in a weird sorta way how quickly the stuff re-accumulates, isn't it? I was reflecting on that last week - left my ex a few years ago taking with me a trash-bag of clothing, a futon to sleep on and a bit of bedding, one box of irreplaceable stuff and paperwork, my computer and office chair, and the cat. That was seriously all I had in my apartment on the first day. A year later I bought a house and it took two truck-loads to move me into it, and I hadn't even bought furniture yet. I honestly have a clear-out of at least one room every couple of months, and today I'm looking around and thinking I could haul a couple of truck-loads out and not miss it. (It's not really that bad, but it feels that way when there's too much clutter.)

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Jen, I had a similar experience in 2005 when I had a cousin pass away suddenly.  He was a bachelor and I was the only family living close by.  The first time I walked into his house was after he had passed (he would always visit us and now I why) it was just like your grandmother's.  There was only a narrow path from the front door to the kitchen from the kitchen through the great room to his bedroom.  The attic was packed to the rafters and thank goodness he didn't have a basement.  His sister took a leave of absence from her job.  It took both of us together over a year to go through everything and clear the house.

Unfortunately, a year later his sister had to do the same thing when her father, my uncle passed away.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

have you seen that show about hoarders? it's scary how out of control some people get.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Yikes. that would scar me too! My parents weren't horders, but were mega clutterbugs and I've inherited their genes, although not quite so badly. I'm enjoying the growth process.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm in! I really need to de-clutter my life and my house. I keep saving things for that garage sale I'm never going to have. Time to toss them!