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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 16:14:33 GMT -5
Hurricane J --I've got a tremendous problem letting go of anything creative, much less something creative that someone has personally given to me. It's something I seriously need to address... Artax, it helps if you can totally depersonalize it. I would stand in front of my mom's art, pretend I didn't know her, and make believe that I was shopping for art at a gallery (the things in this gallery were just more affordable!). I chose only those pieces that "sung" to ME. It didn't matter who else thought they were pretty (like another professional artist), or what pieces she'd won awards for (cuz she won tons), or if my mom thought they were great....they had to be special to ME. Some of the pieces I kept were from before my mom became really talented, and they showed her to be a bit of a diamond in the rough as an artist....a few of those pieces I loved more than her "professional" ones. by far, getting rid of my mom's art was the hardest part. I probably went from 500 pieces of her art down to about 30. I don't miss the pieces I got rid of anymore because as far as I'm concerned, I kept the true beauties, and the rest were just noise. Getting rid of it was AWFUL for me, but I'm so pleased with the end result.....trust that you will be pleased with your end result too.
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Post by hangers on Mar 15, 2012 18:49:13 GMT -5
Wow, and I thought I did good today! This thread makes my throwing out my flavored coffee we don't like seem like it's not the big step I thought it was. That sure was a convoluted sentence.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 15, 2012 19:29:40 GMT -5
Hangers, for us . . . It IS a big step!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:15:03 GMT -5
This thread makes my throwing out my flavored coffee we don't like seem like it's not the big step I thought it was. You throwing out your coffee was a start, and that's the most important step.
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Post by eagle on Mar 16, 2012 6:15:23 GMT -5
I am intrigued by those who posted on Seashell's thread that they just threw it all away. This is something I've thought about a great deal in this past year. So as not to further derail Seashell's thread, I started this one. I have questions. As I mentioned in my post on the other thread, the first time I tossed 'everything' I didn't actually toss it all. I kept some things. I kept my kitchen stuff because it was really good stuff, and I still use the same Farberware pans I received as a wedding present 46 years ago. I also kept some other things such as photos in and out of albums (family portraits, etc.), paintings and artwork that had hung on my walls, all my tools, and some family heirlooms type of stuff. I kept some of my school records, probably all of my books, all of my jewelry, most of my files, especially anything having to do with financial records, income taxes, etc. I also kept all my quilting magazines, which I only recently realized, as I thought I had tossed those out long ago. Most of that went into storage though. My houseplants (and there were hundreds) came with me and lived either on my deck outdoors or inside the house. Condo, actually. I was young, so it didn't take me a lot of time. I was full of energy and highly motivated at the time. I decided to sell my house and buy a condo. The house sold quickly so I needed to get it all done within a very short period. I don't recall for sure, but I think I managed it all within a couple of weeks. I don't recall how much help I had from my family. Maybe one of my brothers or my father helped. But mostly I did it all by myself. My goal was to start a whole new life in a whole new place with all new things. I never HAD to replace any of it. But of course, I did replace a lot of it. However, that is not the issue. The issue is that I wanted to start over with all new things, so replacing furniture and some other things was a goal. Starting with NEW things was my plan. Another question you didn't ask in the o.p. but someone may have asked later in the thread: How did you get rid of things? I made many, many trips to the dump (landfill, tip, whatever you might call it) in my pick-up truck and pushed it out onto the pile of everyone else's junk. Back then I didn't concern myself with donating the way I have since. I even tossed out all of my high school clothes, which is surprising to me, even now, considering that they probably still fit me then and clothes have always been one of my weaknesses. I gave some family furniture to other members of my family; pieces that had been in the family that I no longer wanted. Putting things at the curb for people to come by and get was not an option back then. It was not a practice where I lived. There was no FreeCycle and there was no Craigs List. There was no eBay and even if there had been that wouldn't have worked because I didn't even own a computer anyway. There were placed to donate back then, but I don't think I even considered donating back then. As I say, the first time I did a major clean-out was quite a long time ago.
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Post by def6 on Mar 16, 2012 16:30:40 GMT -5
Hey Daye, I got rid of everything that I don't use with the exception of seasonal items like the Christmas tree and seasonal clothing. How did I get rid of the stuff? It is the channels in which uneeded items leave my life: The Dump...Had to pay but not too much. The scrap yard...they paid me A man that buys old batteries (like car batteries)I Got paid I ordered an extra garbage can for $3.00 per month I ordered the largest recycle can and started putting everything that qualified in there. Called the county recyceling office for an update on what to recycle. (found out they started taking glass and wire hangers) Found a family that wanted our clothes. Asked my neighbor If I could put old shingles into her trash...She said YES! Got a metel 50 gal.drum and started burning some things. Stopped by the fire station and asked the Chief if I could burn some things on a fire mound in my back yard...He said YES! Bought a paper shredder...started shredding like mad. Started routinely putting donateable items in my van ...started donating on a weekly basis. Found out from the county that I could make a 6 ft x 6 ft pile (of junk/stuff) on the curb that I could then call for pick up. (Never called for pick up because my neighbors picked it all up.) Took my extra books to a used book store, found some more(not as many though) for trade. Took some old cell phones up to the flea market and offered them for sale to a vender selling cell phones...I made money. Took some extra fishing gear of DH's up to the flea market to someone selling fishing stuff...He took it off my hands and I made money. Dispose of trash (out of my van) everywhere and anywhere that provides a free trash outside or inside of their place of business and in parks , municipal buildings , cashiers.... just everywhere. Daye , (as you may have noticed ) I feel very strongly about making the paths clear to get rid of this stuff. Having a list of different ways to make this happen...Well , it just makes me feel a whole lot better.
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Post by def6 on Mar 16, 2012 16:37:52 GMT -5
PS I really want a dumpster... but It costs too much!! I commend anyone that has ordered a dumpster or one of those huge haul away bags. I think it's the best way to go for many.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 16, 2012 18:56:43 GMT -5
Wow, Def! I am amazed at your creativity in getting rid of stuff! Impressive!
I'd love to get one of those giant bags - I think $ for $ they are the best deal. Unfortunately, idk how long it would take me to fill one up. I guess it doesn't matter. Also, I hate to pay, when I can haul it to the highway for free. But a half mile can be discouraging sometimes! I try to just suck it up and do it, but I've missed the last two weeks - been sick - and no one else up here does it. The irony - I'm the only hoarder on the hill, and I'm responsible for getting rid of everyone's trash!
I love the way you did yours!
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Mar 16, 2012 20:33:16 GMT -5
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 16, 2012 21:00:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, Lioness. I just called them. They don't service the area where I live, nor the area where my other houses are.
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Post by artax on Mar 16, 2012 21:27:52 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Hurricane_J.
Giant bags...there's a concept I'd not heard of before.
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Post by Messy Missy on Mar 17, 2012 0:15:16 GMT -5
I have such a hard time tossing my teaching resources (it's the key problem to my squalor) I am still bothered by these silly ABC people that I tossed because I was just going through the place with a garbage bag. I week or so later I came across an activity that they would be perfect for.
But I am certain less is best
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Post by rededen on Mar 17, 2012 4:23:25 GMT -5
One of this things that can happen with hoarders (& probably does) is that we have so much stuff that it all starts to become meaningless in a way. I kept only what was the most important things to me, and then when I had the attack of 'throw it all away' I found that the things I kept became special. ...er if all that makes sense !!
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Post by ontheway on Mar 17, 2012 7:39:44 GMT -5
MessyMisssy - I so understand about the teaching resources! I will be focusing on that during my April break. Overall, I do feel that having less stuff or worth the trade off of possibly tossing or donating something I might use in the future (even if that future turns out to be next week).
Rededen has it right - I appreciate and use what I have more, now that it organized and is less!
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Post by gadget on Mar 18, 2012 8:56:43 GMT -5
I have had two big purges in the last four years. My Father passed away four years ago and my brother and I had to clean out his massively hoarded 10 room house in order to sell it. We did not throw everything away but probably tossed/donated 90% of it. The things we kept had monetary value and/or were useful. For example; my Dad's snowblower and lawnmower and garden tools. I never lived in my Dad's house so I had no sentimental connection with anything. I only took his bronze babyshoes and a ring he always wore and some family photos. I am very proud of my restraint! My brohter took a lot of furniture and sentimental objects. It took us 9 long months to clear the house. It was level 5 hoarding. We used 1-800-JUNK to haul away what we did not need. It cost over $2000 but was well worth it! I can only remember a few pieces that we tossed so I never regretted it and never replaced any of it. Working on my Dad's house made me realize that I was also a hoarder! I was level 2 in my house and I was also a closet hoarder. I cleaned house by grabbing things and sticking it in a storage locker. I had 9 storage lockers in the basement of my apartment complex. We were only allowed one!! I lost the contents of four storage units. One unit had a flood from a burst water pipe and three were tossed out by the complexes maintenance men because they were so old they were deemed abandoned. I was thrilled to be rid of my secret hoard! I couldn't remember a single thing in any of those storage units so I had no regrets and didn't replace anything. It took me almost three years to declutter my apartment. I wanted to move very badly because I had horrible drug dealing neighbors. I didn't toss out everything. I got rid of about 80% of my hoard. I cleaned out my last five storage units by giving a lot of my son's old toys and clothing to a neighbor and every day I ruthlessly tossed things out. Most of the things in my storage units had no meaning to me. They had been abandoned long ago and the stuff was easy to let go. I have no regrets and I have not repurchased anything. My apartment took a long time to declutter because I am a packrat! I cleaned it out by myself and worked on it 8 minutes at a time. Everyday I had the goal of one bag of trash out. I bought a condo and wanted to just toss everything out and start fresh but unfortunately could not afford to do that. I gave half my furniture away to my son's friend who had just gotten married and had no furniture or money. I kept only my solid wood furniture. This last push took 6 months. I kept only the things I needed. I have a wish list of things I want to replace and when I purchase something new I toss out the old item. I have never regretted getting rid of anything. I replace only items that are needed such as kitchen pots and pans or bed linens.
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