View Full Version : Getting tripped up
My house is pretty much where I want it to be decluttering wise. I do an occasional "go through" each area and see if anything needs to go. Normally, it's an easy yes or no. But I'm getting tripped up on two things right now and it's bugging me. A large pot and a fleece jacket. I honestly never use them so it should be an easy "toss it" decision but I just haven't been able to pull the trigger for some unknown reason. I have another fleece jacket that I wear all the time. I also have another large pot that I use all the time so it's not like I'm worried that if I get rid of them, I will need them later. They aren't taking up valuable space in my home and keeping them wouldn't make any difference but I don't really want to keep them because they aren't being used so why would I keep them?? Ugh! It's driving me nuts. Any advice on how to get over this indecision and just toss the pot and jacket???
You could getting rid of one or the other as an experiment, and see how life is like without that one, and whether it causes stress to be without it.
iris lilies
7-13-22, 8:07am
I don’t have any advice, but it is weird, isn’t it, the things that trip us up? I can jettison 99% of stuff that needs to go, but am tripped up by the unexpected.
I guess I might say: honor your feelings, put both aside in the basement or similar place, and let time pass a bit. But put these objects where you can see them, where you pass by them. Perhaps at some point they will irritate you. And that will be the impetus to get rid of them.
I don’t have any advice, but it is weird, isn’t it, the things that trip us up? I can jettison 99% of stuff that needs to go, but am tripped up by the unexpected.
I guess I might say: honor your feelings, put both aside in the basement or similar place, and let time pass a bit. But put these objects where you can see them, where you pass by them. Perhaps at some point they will irritate you. And that will be the impetus to get rid of them.
They irritate me now because I know I don't need/want them but just can't let them go. Haha! I am just going to have to bite the bullet and get rid of them. Sooner rather than later.
iris lilies
7-13-22, 9:28am
Oh it’s usually easier for me to get rid of things that irritate me! But I’m grappling with something right now. It is a an overly large quilted thing DH got just a few years ago from his sister. His sister took their dead fathers bluejeans and cut them up and made a quilt sort of thing.
The problem with this thing is that it is 1) ugly 2) cheap looking 3) most importantly —it’s too big to fit into the washing machine. I hate bedding that it is too big to fit into the washing machine, I cannot keep it clean. It is not tenable.
So I asked DH if he was attached to it and he said no. I piled into the car halfheartedly thinking I will either take it to Goodwill, or maybe I can find a place to dump it along the way where he won’t have to see it. Although, again, he did say he didn’t mind if I got rid of it. But this is not something that goodwill would find useful.
But this irritating thing has been bugging me, And it is now sitting in the car.Now I think I should cut it down into a lap sized quilt thing. Throw 3/4 of it away and keep 1/4 of it, yeah. Maybe.
I have issues with this too - its either monetary (I paid good money for that) or sentimentality. RE the fleece jackets...I also had three and really only need one. I reasoned that the one I would get rid of is at least 10 years old and is gray which is a color I don't like these days. My strategy is to have a bag in a hideaway spot that these sorts of things get put in. I forget about them and then the bag goes to the thrift store when it is full. By then, I don't even remember what's in it.
I have issues with this too - its either monetary (I paid good money for that) or sentimentality. RE the fleece jackets...I also had three and really only need one. I reasoned that the one I would get rid of is at least 10 years old and is gray which is a color I don't like these days. My strategy is to have a bag in a hideaway spot that these sorts of things get put in. I forget about them and then the bag goes to the thrift store when it is full. By then, I don't even remember what's in it.
I don't believe I paid anything for either. I think the pot is from when husband was single (25 years ago) and I got the jacket as a gift I'm sure. It's kind of funny that these two things are tripping me up considering I don't have any attachment issues (even with sentimental objects. I am not a very sentimental person). With the kids stuff, I easily got rid of the stuff I didn't want. 18 years of items fit nicely in one of those flat bins that you slide under your bed. Literally from sonogram to HS Graduation gown/hat, it's all in one of those for each. I am just going to go home after work and toss the pot and jacket and just be done. I think "talking" about it on here has really helped me get over it and just want to be done with both.
I doubt you will miss either a few months from now.
I doubt you will miss either a few months from now.
Both got tossed this morning before leaving for work. Missing them or regretting getting rid of them wasn't really the issue. It was more of, "They aren't taking up needed space and aren't bothering anything by being here." I think that was what was hanging me up. It really made no difference whether or not I got rid of them except that I no longer have to think about them anymore.
Not having to think about them any more is a HUGE plus!!
iris lilies
7-14-22, 11:07am
This morning I tossed something that had been laying around Hermann for a few days, and in need of repair, almost emtirely a sentimental thing ‘tho it is kinda cute.
Took me a while to gather up resolve toss it. It had lived in our city attic for a couple of decades, so it’s not as though I couldn’t live without it.
Not having to think about them any more is a HUGE plus!!
Yes. It pretty much made me finally get rid of them.
Has anyone tried the Aldous Huxley approach, using mind-altering drugs to encourage a mindset more able to let things go?
ApatheticNoMore
7-15-22, 2:03am
I guess that is keeping with the thread title.
I guess that is keeping with the thread title.
Hahaha! :~)
rosarugosa
7-16-22, 7:02am
Has anyone tried the Aldous Huxley approach, using mind-altering drugs to encourage a mindset more able to let things go?
Not me, when I was doing that sort of stuff I was far too young to be concerned about decluttering!
Oh it’s usually easier for me to get rid of things that irritate me! But I’m grappling with something right now. It is a an overly large quilted thing DH got just a few years ago from his sister. His sister took their dead fathers bluejeans and cut them up and made a quilt sort of thing.
The problem with this thing is that it is 1) ugly 2) cheap looking 3) most importantly —it’s too big to fit into the washing machine. I hate bedding that it is too big to fit into the washing machine, I cannot keep it clean. It is not tenable.
So I asked DH if he was attached to it and he said no. I piled into the car halfheartedly thinking I will either take it to Goodwill, or maybe I can find a place to dump it along the way where he won’t have to see it. Although, again, he did say he didn’t mind if I got rid of it. But this is not something that goodwill would find useful.
But this irritating thing has been bugging me, And it is now sitting in the car.Now I think I should cut it down into a lap sized quilt thing. Throw 3/4 of it away and keep 1/4 of it, yeah. Maybe.
Why don't you cut it down some, zip up the raw edges and donate it to the local pound. Aren't they always looking for blankets?
iris lilies
7-16-22, 2:49pm
Why don't you cut it down some, zip up the raw edges and donate it to the local pound. Aren't they always looking for blankets?
Too late, I put it in the dumpster yesterday.
I have plenty of times Cut down quilts and soda bra edges, making smaller pads for our dogs to sleep on. Just not this time.
Whenever I get tripped up by stuff like this, I ask myself, " Will I even remember the dilemma three days from now? Will I have terrible regrets?" 99.5% of the time the answer is no, and I then take the item to our village Free Box, dump it there and walk away feeling lighter in body and soul.
Whenever I get tripped up by stuff like this, I ask myself, " Will I even remember the dilemma three days from now? Will I have terrible regrets?" 99.5% of the time the answer is no, and I then take the item to our village Free Box, dump it there and walk away feeling lighter in body and soul.
That is exactly how I felt. Completely forgot about it as soon as it was in the trash.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.