Bad Habits

[scooterbug44]

I will have a caffeine or hormone fit every so often and ruthlessly purge a drawer, shelf, closet to an OCD level - but since that usually occurs when I am trying to avoid another chorePretty amazing the little chores I can find to justify avoiding bigger chores. For example, I will detail the knobs on the stove and the refrigerator gasket/seal to avoid tackling the kitchen floor.

 

[kathydwells]

Here is my recommendation to you. Have your house renovated! You would not believe the crap I had in my a couple of years ago. Stuff everywhere. I WAS a terrible pack rat. But when we decided to put wood floors down, paint the entire house, and put in new windows, and have siding put on, I had to purge. I had most of my mother's stuff that I thought I could never part with. But I knew finally in my heart she would understand if I gave it someone who really needed it.

I brought a ton of boxes home got my sister (the organizer) down here and we purged and purged for weeks. As I went through everything I kept a couple of sentimental things and the rest was given away or put in Hannah Home boxes. It was hard to do, but I will tell you it was the BEST thing I had ever done. I was feeling totally suffocated by all the stuff. When it was gone I felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. It has been such a wonderful feeling having room in my house. It will make you feel better about every aspect of your life.

Now, I know of course that some people can't renovate, but renovate your stuff. It felt like an overwhelming task, but just take one drawer at a time, one closet at a time, one room at a time. Be brutal, believe me you will not miss the stuff that is weighing you down.

Good luck girls!

 

[someone_else]

No one mentioned the piles of dirty laundry most of which were never worn since the last washing. Then if you go on laundry duty strike and any one else actually does a load of cloths most of them need thrown away. That's one way to get rid of the impossible number of cloths the people in my life seem to need. I think I'll just buy garbage bags next week. maybe they will take the hint. I was so down before I started reading this. Thank you thank you ...

 

[Beach Runner]

Here is my recommendation to you. Have your house renovated! You would not believe the crap I had in my a couple of years ago. Stuff everywhere. I WAS a terrible pack rat. But when we decided to put wood floors down, paint the entire house, and put in new windows, and have siding put on, I had to purge. I had most of my mother's stuff that I thought I could never part with. But I knew finally in my heart she would understand if I gave it someone who really needed it.

I brought a ton of boxes home got my sister (the organizer) down here and we purged and purged for weeks. As I went through everything I kept a couple of sentimental things and the rest was given away or put in Hannah Home boxes. It was hard to do, but I will tell you it was the BEST thing I had ever done. I was feeling totally suffocated by all the stuff. When it was gone I felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. It has been such a wonderful feeling having room in my house. It will make you feel better about every aspect of your life.

Now, I know of course that some people can't renovate, but renovate your stuff. It felt like an overwhelming task, but just take one drawer at a time, one closet at a time, one room at a time. Be brutal, believe me you will not miss the stuff that is weighing you down.

Good luck girls!

Good advice. Like top-down programming or the divide-and-conquer approach. Maybe at home I should practice what I preach to my students.

But OMC, my house is in such a mess that divide-and-conquer still leads to modules that are overwhelming to me!

 

[someone_else]

Oh please don't leave ! I will be forced to return to my pathetic life.

 

[SHELLY]

Here is my recommendation to you. Have your house renovated! You would not believe the crap I had in my a couple of years ago. Stuff everywhere. I WAS a terrible pack rat. But when we decided to put wood floors down, paint the entire house, and put in new windows, and have siding put on, I had to purge. I had most of my mother's stuff that I thought I could never part with. But I knew finally in my heart she would understand if I gave it someone who really needed it.

I brought a ton of boxes home got my sister (the organizer) down here and we purged and purged for weeks. As I went through everything I kept a couple of sentimental things and the rest was given away or put in Hannah Home boxes. It was hard to do, but I will tell you it was the BEST thing I had ever done. I was feeling totally suffocated by all the stuff. When it was gone I felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. It has been such a wonderful feeling having room in my house. It will make you feel better about every aspect of your life.

Now, I know of course that some people can't renovate, but renovate your stuff. It felt like an overwhelming task, but just take one drawer at a time, one closet at a time, one room at a time. Be brutal, believe me you will not miss the stuff that is weighing you down.

Good luck girls!

If you don't mind....can you please relate a few stories about the "things" that you tossed. What was the funniest thing you found; what was the most gross; what was the most sentimental thing you tossed; what was the hardest item to get rid of; what item did you obsess over. I'm fascinated by stories like this--as we will be facing the same as we downsize in preparation for our final move to greener pastures.

 

[Lynnie]

Try what I am doing and move stuff from one house to another.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[kathydwells]

If you don't mind....can you please relate a few stories about the "things" that you tossed. What was the funniest thing you found; what was the most gross; what was the most sentimental thing you tossed; what was the hardest item to get rid of; what item did you obsess over. I'm fascinated by stories like this--as we will be facing the same as we downsize in preparation for our final move to greener pastures.

I sure will.

The funniest: Could have been my pig collection. I had been collecting them for years. I probably had over 100 of them all over the place. As I was purging them I picked the 3 that were most sentimental to me. The very first one I ever got that my father gave me. The second one I kept was from my stepmom, and the third from an old boyfriend.

The most gross: Very OLD pot holders that I had for over 20 years that were filthy, oh they had been washed many times, but were burned, and had holes all in them. I hadn't parted with them because they were given to me by relatives. They had to go though.

The most sentimental: I had my mother's dishes, silverwear, pots and pans, and some other stuff from her kitchen. I also had all of her knick knack stuff. She loved knick knacks. I had them everywhere, they shared space with the pigs. Those things were all sentimental to me because they had belonged to her and I felt like when I had them, I still had a part of her with me. However, when it came time to box it up I just had a little talk with her. I said "Mom, I think you know that parting with this stuff, will help me, and it doesn't mean I am purging myself of your memory. I hope you understand". I am sure that where ever she is in the after life she agreed with me.

The hardest to get rid of: A lot of my son's arts and craft stuff that I had from his daycare years through about 6th grade. I felt so guilty tossing them. I went through all of them and kept out a few of the "better" ones and put them in a keepsake box. I tossed the rest. It was very hard.

The one I obessed about: Actually, I am still obessing over it. I have rocking chair that was my grandmothers. It isn't antique or anything. When I had my son she gave it to me and I painted it white. I had it in his nursery. It then moved to the living room when we bought our house. After the renovation was complete I bought all new furniture and the rocking chair just doesn't fit anymore. I have moved it to the back covered porch. I decided I would see how I felt if it was gone. I know it is out there, and I am still not sure if it will go or stay.

SHELLY and all, it is not an easy process, but I promise you if you can rid yourself of the clutter in your life, other good things come to you. I know this because it has happened to me. About 5 months after I did this, out of the blue I was offered a better job, with much better pay. I know it sounds crazy but I attribute it to the purge. Good luck, SHELLY and I hope you are able to purge without guilt.

 

[Beach Runner]

Thanks, Darlene. Sorry there is no Thanks button to click on.

 

[Miss Critter]

Oh, did I tell y'all I have a pinball machine in my basement?

DD wins. :shock:

BB...unless the pinball machine is stacked with sheet, I don't get the point.

She's just showin' off.

DD darling, you have to do like I do, I only let FFF have one room for his "crap", that's the tv room I refuse to pick up.

DON'T! get me started on his remote crap. Perfect example, did y'all know for Christmas one of MY presents was a new PS3 (orwhatthehelleveritscalled) with the blue ray technology? Please, keep in mind I don't play games. Well night before last FFF comes home with a new DVD player, I ask "Can't you play DVD's on that new PS3thingymabob, he looks at me as if I have lost my mind. PLUS! For my birthday (which is over 4 months away) he tells me he got me a new surround sound, I asked what's wrong with the old one, he looks at me again as if I have lost my mind. SO, I'm not speaking to him and he starts showing me this box that goes with new surround says and says "You can take this upstairs and put it anywhere and play whatever we are playing downstairs on the ipod attachment......I give him that look (you girls know the look) and say "Or, I could just turn on the stereo upstairs. :roll:

The point is if he does not get rid of some of his crap, I'm gonna sit his sheeet on the street for Hannah Home to pick up.

I am thinking FFF would LOVE a pair of Manolo Blahnik's for his birthday, ladies size 6. Or maybe a nice diamond necklace? ;-)

I sure will.

The funniest: Could have been my pig collection. I had been collecting them for years. I probably had over 100 of them all over the place. As I was purging them I picked the 3 that were most sentimental to me. The very first one I ever got that my father gave me. The second one I kept was from my stepmom, and the third from an old boyfriend.

SHELLY and all, it is not an easy process, but I promise you if you can rid yourself of the clutter in your life, other good things come to you. I know this because it has happened to me. About 5 months after I did this, out of the blue I was offered a better job, with much better pay. I know it sounds crazy but I attribute it to the purge. Good luck, SHELLY and I hope you are able to purge without guilt.

How in the world could you afford to feed all those pigs???

I do believe that there is a spiritual/law of the universe component to purging unneeded stuff. There are many stories like yours KD. That's why I love Peter Walsh; he sees organizing from the emotional perspective that it truly is.