TOSSING AGGRESSIVELY (thread #6)

[morningglory]

This thing about making it possible for the kids to invite friends over is a huge motivator for me. Or, really, being able to have people to come over at all. The condition of the house cuts us off from social connections and from being able to extend hospitality. It is a burden to our psyches and our spirits.

I am remembering that if all these *things* got thrown away, it would be a blessing in many ways. Whereas hanging onto the piles and boxes gives me little compensation for what they rob from me.

I have made some progress in the bedroom this morning, but then laid down on the bed and slept for TWO HOURS! Felt I could have slept even longer if I'd allowed myself. That's the first time I've really napped during the day in a long time. If I am that tired, it's no wonder it has been hard for me to get as much done as I want.

OK--BACK TO WORK NOW!

[cando]

In a rush, but just wanted to let you know that I got almost everything on today's list done...
CD

[morningglory]

Yay, Cando!!!

[morningglory]

Don't know what to do with this. I found two old prints that my husband found in some rubbish in a basement of a building in Boston about 30 years ago.

One is a cute picture of Laurel and Hardy. That one I can give away and someone will surely enjoy it.

The other is a print of a strange war scene. A drawing that shows a broad landscape, with horses, tanks, soldiers, bombers, buildings on fire, etc. It looks snowy and there are a lot of trees around the city (maybe Russia?). On the bottom is a hand-written inscription of something like: "To my dear friends Marian and Grant, with hope for a better world. David 6/2/43"

I think this is an interesting item, and the WWII theme is of interest in particular. But I have no use for it, personally. I don't know if there is some place I can send it or offer it that would want it. Any suggestions?

[casper]

Morningglory,
We have often offered unusual items to the museum and they were always happy to have them.
It is nice to see them on display with a little note that has our name as the people who donated the items.

[morningglory]

Back!

Here's where I am on my list of goals that I left last time:

Finish clearing out milk crate. Done!

Finish clearing out bin on top of milk crate. There are a few odds and ends still in the bottom of this little bin. A baseball a son caught for me at a minor league ballgame. A bead bracelet my daughter made. A combination lock (not sure if I know the combination). I hate these kinds of things. i don't know what to do with them. That's why they are hanging around in bins in the first place. Help! Done! It was hard. Because, for instance, I asked my son to take the baseball and he acted hurt that I didn't want to keep it, since it got it for me! (He's 16!) But he did take it. I put the other sentimental-ish things in the donation bag.

Put away things left temporarily on dresser (from yesterday's sorting). Put some things away, added more things as I sorted. Need to get it clear again. Even though I have been using it as a place to temporarily stack things that need to be filed or put away, I have not let stuff just sit there for more than a couple of days. And I don't put things there that I don't know what to do with--only things that I have already sorted and determined where they go.

Put away things left temporarily on counter (from yesterday's sorting). Done! I am very pleased that even though I use this counter often as a staging area, I have been able to keep it clear regularly and not let things accumulate on it. The trick for me is that there are only certain things allowed to be there; anything else gets removed periodically.

Make "after" photo of space next to dresser/behind door. Can't until I finish that little bin and move the big laptop that is still stashed there! Finished that area and took photo. Will post before and afters below.

Pack up Snuggler to ship to my sister (now that he has been mended and washed). Packed and ready to ship! My sister told me they are looking forward to his arrival and will cherish him. :-)

Find or buy envelopes to ship a book back to the person I borrowed it from.

Find temporary storage area for laptops that need to be sorted and dealt with, and move them there.

Pick out at least three pieces of clothing to get rid of. Didn't do this yet, but have thought about it and I some items in mind to donate. Should be able to quickly deal with this today. Put several items into the donation bag, and have identified several others for possible purging within the next week. Still haven't gotten to the apple dress yet!

If possible, go through bin on bedroom shelf with my husband (dependent on his being available). Not sure if I will be able to do this today, as my husband hasn't been feeling well for about a week, so probably won't be up to it. However, he might be able to deal with it if it is mostly handled by me.

Finishing up a job is the hardest for me. Mostly because I leave the most difficult parts to the end (the stuff that I have a hard time determining what to do with).

Maybe I am also a little nervous about having it all done. I wouldn't think that would be an issue, after having completed several other projects already--but this is an entire room, not just one cabinet or corner, so it could be. I don't know. We'll see once it's done and I have the totally new experience of an entirely clean and neat room to confront! :-)

I don't remember ever experiencing that before in my own house. Even when I moved into a house and put things away in some organized fashion, there was always clutter, and boxes shoved into hidden places, and so forth. It was never a manageable set of possessions.

[morningglory]

(I am modifying the post above this as I make progress, so check there for updates.)

[morningglory]

Here is the "before" picture of the space next to the dresser/behind the door, to show what I started out with at the beginning of this thread. The milk crate on the bottom was full of files that were over 20 years old. On top of that was another file box, with 12-year-old files. On top of that was a plastic bin with jewelry, cosmetics, and random stuff. On top of that was piled clothing and anything else we didn't feel like putting away or didn't know where to put away. On floor around that were clothes, an old laptop, window blinds, trash, etc.

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[morningglory]

And here is that same space today.

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[morningglory]

Here's another angle of that space. In this view you can see (in addition to the atrocious blue door) the little stack of papers and small items on my dresser that are waiting to be put away.

I looked through them a few minutes ago and realized that a lot of them were things I planned to make notes about in my electronic note file and then toss. I don't like having to deal with that, and I'm not even sure I need to keep that info. I mean, it's interesting, but I'm not sure it's important that I retain.

Here's the kind of thing I'm talking about:

1) Check stubs from insurance payments for medical care after a car crash last year. I have other records of that medical care. I thought I would just make sure I record the amounts, or whatever. Do I really need to?

2) A letter from an organization through which we used to fund a child in a third-world country. The letter states that the family is now well enough off that they no longer need help from the program. This was all about 25 years ago. We didn't have a personal relationship with the child, because she was only a toddler, so couldn't write to us. I thought I might write down her name and the date of the letter, or whatever. But is it really worth the time?

3) Other letters from insurance about claims that have long been closed.

I feel this need to document my life. Like maybe some day the child in a foreign country will come cross my family's path and we will realize it because I recorded her name! Or I will want to tell the story of our car crash and will want to remember how much it cost to be examined at the hospital.

Obviously another part of me thinks this is silly or at least not a good use of my time. What do y'all think?

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[morningglory]

Casper, thank you for the suggestion! I am considering that possibility.

[phoenixcat]

MorningGlory -

I would suggest letting the stuff go but maybe putting all your "random thoughts" in a notebook or an online diary for yourself. It might help you release the item in question. Online - you could also post a picture if appropriate in your "diary".

My mom keeps very detailed calendar diarys. She has a calendar for every year where she records temperatures, events of the day, etc. Although I have relied on her for information from time to time, I do know that I won't keep them when she is no longer involved. Her handwriting is "tiny" and on a small calendar square - forget about it! Plus she knows shorthand! So, I guess my point is that sometimes people do want the information but it shouldn't be a burden on you to keep a bunch of unused files in case you are randomly asked to provide it.

If writing it elsewhere in a small or virtual location helps you to release the bigger piles - go for it. It might be a tool to move through your paper piles faster.

Good luck

PC

ETA: And after a while you might decide that it is too time consuming to write the stuff down and say the heck with it - out it goes! You've made so much progress and fine toned your purging muscles though all of this - this may be your next workout .

[morningglory]

Thank you, Phoenixcat. So far I decided just to tuck a couple of the items into my keepsake file (saves the work of transferring info), and tossed several other items, because I realized I wouldn't really need or want them in the future.

Right now I am being lenient about what I keep in my keepsake box and folders. It makes it easier for me not to get stuck while I am tossing and sorting. If I think I may want something odd like that, I just stick it in with the keepsakes. But I imagine that later I will do a more rigorous purging of keepsake things, tossing a lot of stuff and more meaningfully filing (or scanning) the stuff I do want to keep.

I appreciate all input on this question, as it comes up with me over and over as I sort and toss.

[cando]

Hi Morningglory!
I'm so happy to read your posts. You continue to progress wonderfully! Love the pictures!

We have so many similar issues.

I was going to suggest to give away or donate them. Casper's suggestions are really good.

It sounds like you are maintaining your "cleared" areas. We seem to be pretty similar.

Great job packing up Snuggler & nice to know caring family are waiting for him to arrive.

Those 3 things you listed that you weren't sure about... those are the types that I have trouble with, too.

MorningGlory wrote, "Right now I am being lenient about what I keep in my keepsake box and folders. It makes it easier for me not to get stuck while I am tossing and sorting. If I think I may want something odd like that, I just stick it in with the keepsakes. But I imagine that later I will do a more rigorous purging of keepsake things, tossing a lot of stuff and more meaningfully filing (or scanning) the stuff I do want to keep." -- I am doing the same thing!!!

Have one quick update! I removed 5 pairs of gloves from the top of my dresser and put them IN the dresser! Brilliant idea, huh?!
(Oh, in case that sounds excessive -- number of pairs of gloves. 1 pr is brown, 1 winter/snow type, 1 black pair, 1 for running, 1 pr. of glove liners).


Haven't done anything else to finish up that area...

CD

[morningglory]

Thanks, Cando. It is funny that we are dealing with the same kinds of issues. It helps to know I'm not alone!

Good work putting the gloves away.