Hello everyone.
4 shirts, 2 sunglasses, 1 visor, 2 placemats 1 pr socks =10. I'm going to try 10 per day.
More later. It's a start.
Hello everyone.
4 shirts, 2 sunglasses, 1 visor, 2 placemats 1 pr socks =10. I'm going to try 10 per day.
More later. It's a start.
I have an "area" set aside in the family room (under a table) for items selected to be gotten rid of. We often get calls from various organizations for donations and they will actually come and pick up, leaving a card for tax purposes. I have the Veteran's group coming next Monday, so am looking to fill two boxes. One already done! I've been doing this sporatically all year and I'm finally finding more EMPTY plastic storage bins around the house than stuff to put in them!!!
Great reading about everyone else's progress.
To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." Mahatma Gandhi
Be nice whenever possible. It's always possible. HH Dalai Lama
In a world where you can be anything - be kind. Unknown
35. yet another pair of sandals I haven't worn all summer
36. purse
37-40. scarfs
41.-42. sweaters
43. a knife I've always hated using because if I'm not careful the blade hits the base of my thumb (wearing a bandage now)
44-48 packed 2 mugs for each of the boys to take with them
49-50 packed glass mugs for pencil/pen holders on their desks at college
51-52 sorted out 2 desk drawer organizers and sending those with them
53.-60. tossed old glue sticks, old white out, old odds and ends in those organizers
61. took apart a pair of jeans to patch another pair of jeans - tossed what was left
Float On: My "Happy Place" is on my little kayak in the coves of Table Rock Lake.
4 food items to trash
2 notebooks, piggy bank, mickie hand soap dish, extra pair of reading glasses, 2 metal water bottles, 2 Nalgene water bottles, 2 coffee cups, 3 water bottles to recycle,3 food items to give to food pantry. 3 food container to recycle = 24 That's 34 so far. It adds up quickly. Thanks for starting this thread Float On !
Also 4 water guns and 3 butterfly nets to Goodwill. Total=41
Wow you have done a lot of decluttering Float on !!!. It does seem to help to list it out and count it.
That is so impressive, Float On. My original goal for the year was 1,200, but other things ended up having to take priority. As of the end of July, I only had a yearly total of 278, but I have a couple of weeks now to purge a bit, so I'm still hoping I can end up getting to 700 or so for the year. Considering that the first time I made a yearly decluttering goal, it was to get rid of 365 things, I still see this as progress.
We just put my daughter's high char out on the curb, which brings our total for this month to 6. It took us a while to get rid of it - she's four and a half!
Float On, I'd be curious about if you're noticing big changes in your home at that level of decluttering. Have you always been good at getting rid of stuff? What helped you get good at it?
I'm looking forward to the answers to EJChase's questions...Float On.
Unused container of Bath and Body Works lotion--gave it away at work. 1 stress ball.1 belt. 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of capri pants that don't fit right Also went through 2 bags of papers and threw out a lot...I will count that as 2. 1 small notebook and 2 Guideposts magazines to give away at work. Emptied 3 food containers from fridge and put in recycles total =54
Last edited by Tulips; 8-18-15 at 10:57pm.
Random thoughts....
I have always been a tosser so it wasn't something I had to really work at. Growing up my mom would follow right behind me and take things out of the trash. She saved every rose or flower I was given during my 18 years at home. They were dried and placed in a box in a closet. Because someday I might want to remember. She still has a trunk full of my baby clothes and shoes. Meanwhile, I didn't even make baby books for my boys. I had the books (gifts of course) but never the desire to fill them so I donated the books. There is a small photo box with some items in it. I don't toss everything, that would be cruel.
Stuff just makes me nervous. We still have a lot of things but it is easier to clean and my rooms are pleasing and well put together. I'm happier with kitchen counters that are easy to clean instead of having to move 20 things. I'm happier opening the cabinets above the washer and dryer and seeing space on the shelves instead of things falling out on me. I'm happier that the hall closet door closes and isn't stuffed to overflowing with blankets and linens (I only have one set of sheets for each bed).
Its not perfect. It's a process in letting things go. Sometimes I'll take a photo of a room or area and put it on the computer and really look at it and ask "what 10 things can go that really aren't needed?"
It is easier to clean. Right now I need to take down everything that is above my kitchen cabinets and clean them - pottery teapot collection, pottery vessels, glass vessels, glass sculptures, glass vases. I'll probably decide to get rid of a few. The last time I did that I realized I had so many pieces up there that I really wasn't enjoying any of it; too many colors, too many pieces. I felt like it would all come crashing down on me. I reduced it by more than 1/2 and really found I enjoyed it more.
I've always been good at enjoying something for a time and not having guilt about moving on to something else. Collections can be small. Because you might collect elephant statues doesn't mean you buy every single one you see and accept another 200 as gifts from others because you collect them. I heard that a lot because we use to do a beautiful hot glass free hand elephant sculpture that was one of our best sellers (3 sizes). Every time someone bought one we'd hear "I collect elephants, I have 428 well now 429" or "aunt soandso collects elephants I'm giving this to her". Of the thousands and thousands of elephants we made...I have one.
Stuff just makes me nervous. At one time I though I had to have backstock of everything and it just became overwhelming trying to keep 6 bottles of shampoo under the counter, cases of TP stuffed everwhere I could place them, 12 tubes of toothpaste (which do expire and taste nasty by the way). It was just too much.
So in a decluttered environment I've noticed more peace, less worry that I might run out, and more enjoyment of what I have.
Is it perfect yet? No. Right now I'm in the living room and noticing things that have been dropped and not put in the proper place. I'm as guilty as the rest of the family. So I better spend 15 minutes tidying up, who knows I might add a few items to the thrift box or flea market box.
**Edited to add: Results of 15 minutes tidying the living room. 3 glasses to the sink and washed. 5 pieces of paper reviewed and recycled or tossed. A handfull of son #2's things put on the table just inside his door. Nothing for the thrift shop box or flea market box. And then while dusting I saw a movie sitting out that the boys watched last night and so I decided to watch it myself.
Last edited by Float On; 8-19-15 at 12:27am.
Float On: My "Happy Place" is on my little kayak in the coves of Table Rock Lake.
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