I want to throw away everything I own and start over. I swear despite all the purging I keep doing, I still have too much STUFF! I packed some of my stuff and put them away but, even when everything has a place, my living room still looks cluttered. It's driving me insane.
I started thinking of having my apartment painted this summer but, just the thought of moving stuff around makes me dizzy.
It is also difficult to clean small areas with so much stuff.
And for the sentimental ties I have with the said stuff is just so stupid. I have lost people that I loved. Getting rid of things should be easy right? Yet, I have this huge problem of parting with things. WHY?
I am so mad at myself today.
I have an ironing board that hasn't been used in over two years. I should just get rid of it. I have a small tabletop one that can be hung in the closet and if I absolutely need to iron something, that should be enough. The big one is disguised between a closet and the curtains and each time, I go there to vacuum, I curse the darn thing.
I still couldn't get rid of the CDs and VCDs and even casettes! Ugh! The small music set is still taking up space. I have tons of yarn that I cannot possibly do something with.
There are still lots of purses that I cannot part with. I need to go through those again.
I also still have too many shoes. That's fairly easy to sort out because all are in individual transparent plastic shoe boxes. May be I should start there.
And knick knacks everywhere...
I can go on and on.
Off I go to put laundry away...
Sigh...
Of course I read your "rant". Not just going to read for the happy posts! Do you have a friend you could ask to help you in being your "purging boss"? Maybe write down 3 things you can get rid of right now and then make it a point to actually do it - whether it's in the garbage or taken to charity. Do they have charities that will pick up from your place, where you live? For the knicknacks. If they are everywhere, start with one area...one shelf or table top and pare down to one or two on the shelf. I think you will find if you can get rid of the clutter, you will realize how much you like the clutterless space and won't go back. Maybe you just need to do like I did - move 3 times in 3 years, LOL. Starting over really is easier, haha!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Mom used to be my purging boss. I miss her badly. I can't think of anyone else to help me. After I read your comment, I took pictures of the CDs and the music set to post on Facebook for free. I also took out 3 pairs of shoes to donate. I will try to get rid of 3 things a day till I go on vacation and report the status in my posts. May be you can keep me accountable? :)
ReplyDeleteI would be happy to! I meant to add pick 3 things, maybe weekly, but daily is even better!! Get an empty box and start adding things to it as you go about your days. When it's filled up take it do donate.
DeleteYou can do it! Why not keep posting here and have folks keep you on track? Or three items a day is a good start as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement! Yes, I will post here so that you guys can keep me on track:)
DeleteHa, I know exactly how you feel. I look at this place and think "oh my God, if I suddenly snuffed it what the hell would my kids do with all this"? Not that the place is dirty (well it's liveable) and it's pretty picked up most of the time, but there is just TOO MUCH STUFF (which isn't all mine, of course and just because I have the space for it). I have times when I do REALLY well and then other times I feel just like you do. Hang in there, FB is a good place to start!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I already listed the mini music set on Facebook.
DeleteI'm with ya - have accumulated too much crap! So what I do, is have a big box set out, that I will put things in as I come across them, that I think "I don't need/haven't used/worn this for a long time!" So I put it in the box. If I think of it again, maybe I'll take it out. Usually I can't tell you what I put in the box by the end of the week/month, so I just close it up, throw it in the car & haul it to Goodwill/donate. I won't miss it - because I don't even remember what I put in the box! Some people are more attached to "stuff" than others - my mother is one. I, however, am not. I have no children to pass things down to, so I keep thinking if I get rid of this extra crap now, it will be less to deal with down the road when I'm old & decrepit! ha ha
ReplyDeleteKeep plugging away - you'll get on a roll eventually, seeing things cleared out & loving the more minimal environment.
Keep us posted on how you're doing - I'm going to try to do the same - a few things into the box every day - whether it's clothing, a knick-knack I'm tired of moving to dust around, etc. Every little bit taken out is that much less inside!
Thank you for sharing the tip. I probably already have boxes full of stuff I haven't touched in years and if I throw them out without looking in them, I doubt if I can recall what was inside.
DeleteAh! I have a whole house full of junk. Like you, I want to get rid of everything, I am planning to sell the house in the fall and move to DC area (retiring in December) to be close to my daughters.
ReplyDeleteIf you are moving, decluttering is a must. I haven't moved since 2004 and that probably is the problem. Lol!
DeleteJust do a few things each day or week, trying to do it all at once is too much. You could try setting a timer for 15 or 30 mins each day perhaps. Its hard to get rid of the emotional things though.
ReplyDeleteYes, emotional things are hard to part with. So, for now I am focusing on others. Setting a timer is a good idea which I follow from time to time.
DeleteI just want you to know that the process of decluttering, (at least for me), never ends. There really is no stopping point as it's ongoing and each time you remove a layer of stuff, it will reveal a new layer of stuff that you will evaluate at a later time. I just made a big purge of clothes and shoes and now my closet has more breathing room. I don't miss a single thing I have gotten rid of in probably 15 years of decluttering. Like you, I had days where I wanted to just chuck it all, start over and live in an RV, but that was mostly because I was sick of having annoying neighbors, lol.
ReplyDeleteSo true. One can never be truly done with decluttering. I did a big purge of clothes too a while back. I know there are still items that I will never miss though.
DeleteOh this sounds so familiar. Have you been sneaking around my house to see how much I need to declutter?
ReplyDeleteHaha! Join me in decluttering. May we can inspire each other.
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