Anne ~ This Post Is For YOU! February 15, 2018
Posted by nrhatch in Home & Garden, Less IS More, Life Balance, Mindfulness.trackback
Anne (Minimalist Sometimes) often shares the results of her decluttering efforts with readers. She is terrific at documenting items that are jettisoned from her premises.
In contrast, while BFF and I make regular runs to Goodwill to drop off “no longer needed” things, I don’t usually remember to take photos.
And, out of sight, out of mind. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Last week, I decided to clean out the kitchen cupboards. As usual, I found some “no longer needed” stuff to donate to Goodwill.
After rearranging the “breathing lighter” cabinets, I decided to tackle the guest room closet where I found a few more “no longer needed” items lurking about.
And this time I remembered to snap a shot for Anne:
And, even though Less is More, I took one more for good measure:
Aah . . . that’s better!
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Spirit Lights The Way 
De-cluttering can be so satisfying and, yes, I need to do much more – and remember to take photos. I read somewhere that if you are hanging on to something, sometimes having a photo of it to see for ever, allows easier passing on of that item. I am trying! 🙂
Good thought. Photos may help us “let go” . . . because often it’s not the item that we want, it’s the “memory prompt.” Photos are terrific “reminders.”
Best of luck clearing out “no longer needed” items.
Battling indoor clutter seems to be a popular wintertime occupation 🙂
The bags and boxes intended for Goodwill are starting to accumulate for me too.
I’m not a packrat by any stretch of the imagination, but it always surprises me how “stuff” seems to gather all by itself … and I’m actually trying to reduce my consumption!! What about the homes of those who aren’t?!!
Have you ever watched the show Hoarders?
I know we shouldn’t compare ourselves with others . . . but shows like that are “reassuring” to me. My pitiful little piles of “no longer needed” stuff are NOT Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro. 😀
I watched one episode of Hoarders and it really creeped me out. I JUST CAN’T IMAGINE!!
I recently finished a book where one of the characters was left to deal with the family home after her hoarder-mom passed away. It described things I hadn’t considered – the overwhelming smell, the rodents, the insects, the increasing level of decay as you dig deeper into the piles of stuff. UGH! 😑
Yes, hoarding can create health hazards. I saw one show where a woman hoarded food in fridge, freezer, pantry, garage, etc. Even with professional assistance, she had a tough time throwing any of it away . . . including suspect stuff that expired years earlier.
I love to de-clutter! I’ve got that same step bench, Nancy.😉
I ended up hanging on to that step bench . . . and I’ve used it a couple of times since taking the photo. I’m still on the fence about whether it should stay or go.
Do you use yours? I watched the original Jane Fonda Workout Video (that came with it) on youtube. “That’s right! Keep it up!”
Yes, I do use it…I like it but recently I was going to fast and I almost fell on my face,😉 Lol… I remember her saying that!
Glad you regained your balance before going *splat* 😀
Fast = good
Falling flat on your face = not good
It’s like losing weight. You feel so much lighter and the folks at the drop off place are always delighted to see good stuff!
Yes! I love carting it off to drop it off. I always come home feeling lighter and happier. It’s a WIN-WIN!
My favorite charity is our local thrift store. We also have a dumpster. My father-in-law, who passed away about four months ago, was something of a hoarder, and I’ve been filling up that dumpster every week. I just don’t understand the mindset of hoarding, as I prefer elbow room and organization, to clutter.
It’s probably more inertia than mindset (except for hoarders who are mentally ill) ~> stuff in motion stays in motion . . . stuff at rest gets stuffed into storage lockers, attics, garages, sheds, back porches, under the bed, etc. Out of sight, out of mind.
Then, when the piles pile up too long, it’s hard to know where to start to whittle them down. So people put it off and rationalize that they might need it again, one day, in an alternate universe.
Some people try to shed things but get mired in sentimentality.
Others don’t want to admit that “that part” of their life is over ~ so they hang on to the teeny weeny purple polka dot bikini in a futile effort to hang on to their youth. Etc.
I’m with you ~> room to move . . . without running the risk of knocking over something . . . is better!
I think you hit all the nails on the head.
Good luck with your clearing project. It’s a tough job.
I like your photos. I rarely remember to snap any when I’m in the throes of decluttering. Although lately I’ve kind of slipped out of those throes. Too cold to go into the basement to sort stuff. Not ready to change my seasonal wardrobe. I’ll start again in a month or so. I guess that’s why they call it Spring cleaning. 😊
Spring Cleaning ~> Exactly!
That said, my best decluttering sessions depend more on “me” (and how I’m feeling) and less on the weather (and what it’s doing). In the right frame of mind, I can clear clutter with no hesitation (and no bumps, lumps, or bruises).
In contrast, on the “wrong” day, I am indecisive about what to keep and what to kick to the curb. As a result, I handle items more than once and often, with regret, end up putting things right back where they were to begin with . . . to “die” another day. 😀
Nicely done, Nancy! I went into my bedroom and tackled a huge pile of papers and stuff. Threw it all away.
Yay! Paper (and digital) pile-ups can cause log jams, wasting our time and slowing our productivity.
Here’s to clearing unwanted piles!
That’s quite a load. I’m always so impressed with you guys.
I haven’t gotten any physical things out of the house this year… only digital stuff (which I have a lot of..) I really need to get back to some of my cabinets again 🙂
It would be REALLY impressive if we got to the point of being able to say, “That’s it! We’re done. No more clutter to declutter.”
I figure we’ll get there the same day our In Box is empty. 😀
Lol.. so never then 😉 I’m right there with you… I can’t wait for the day when I have my digital life, photos, paper and physical stuff firmly as in FIRMLY under control… yeah.. it might be a few years before I’m getting halfway here 😂
Repeat after me then ~> “Progress, not Perfection.” 😀
Definitely much better, lighter and freedom. It’s amazing how much we accumulated over the years especially kitchen gadgets. I notice that you have a juicer. This reminded me of Christmas regifting we had in our family. The juicer I regifted, I seem to keep on getting it back. On to goodwill.
The gift that keeps on re-giving!
I have an antique glass juicer that works great . . . with a touch of elbow grease. So the electric juicer and I parted ways.
I procrastinate about getting rid of “stuff,” but when I do it, I feel 10 pounds lighter! Yay to you- I better get at it! 🤔
Some things are harder to let go of than others ~> start with the EZ pile and take it one step at a time.
Good advice!
Now I just need to follow it. 😀
This hits a spot at the moment. Having downsized 17 years ago I am now downsizing even further and need to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. Feeling like Alice in Wonderland! It’s amazing the collection of ‘stuff’ in my kitchen junk drawer.
We downsized from 4000 to 2000 square feet (in 2000) and from 2000 to 1000 square feet (in 2009) . . . so I know what you mean about quarts and pints.
Best of luck minding your P’s and Q’s!
I love the feeling AFTER we have de-cluttered, but I struggle a little with the “parting process.” I’m getting better and better at it, though. I must admit I’d be tempted to go through your “stash” and see if there’s anything I want to bring home! LOL!
Haha! Twin daughters, different mothers. I would go through your stash too! Not because I thought I would actually find something that I NEED, but “just in case” . . . 😀
One tip, trick, technique that helps me with the “parting process” is that everything goes to a staging area before it gets marched out the door. So I have time to “change my mind” if I’m not ready to part ways yet.
After taking this shot, I did decide to hang onto the Jane Fonda Step until the next “go round.” I used it twice. And then the weather turned nice. So it’s sitting. Underutilized. Again. It will likely get its marching orders soon. 😀