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Post by itsybitsy on Oct 3, 2016 19:06:19 GMT -5
Sitting here with my cup of tension tamer herb tea :-) I am happy to report I did follow through and released 5 bags of clothing, including the kimono, and a bag containing a bread maker (not used in 14 years) and all the bread-making trappings. What a joy to see an empty space in my kitchen cupboard and a lighter look to the closet (still very full but I can put everything in a 'spot.' I again turned down the offer of a 30% off donor coupon as I cannot trust myself to not go back tomorrow or the next day to get "items of value and beauty" but my home is full.
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Post by itsybitsy on Oct 3, 2016 19:29:52 GMT -5
It's difficult getting rid of something like your kimono. Is the deed done?
Yes, the deed is done!
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 3, 2016 20:18:01 GMT -5
Good work! Congratulations.
(Opps.... I messed up the quote boxes and can't fix them. Oh well. )
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Post by itsybitsy on Oct 3, 2016 21:57:29 GMT -5
Haha, I don't know how to use the quote boxes. I tried and messed up as well. You got the drift, though!
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 5, 2016 14:20:36 GMT -5
Yes, those quote boxes do have a mind of their own for anything besides generic use.
Today I realized while scrubbing another non-stick pan, that it was no longer non-stick. So after cleaning it the best I could, I put it with the two other 'non-sticks' in the donation pile.
I tend to keep too many extra pots and pans so there is something clean to use, even if they are no longer effective. But that creates gridlock because there just isn't enough space to keep them organized for easy use.
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Post by magda on Oct 5, 2016 15:38:48 GMT -5
BetsyMarie maybe just toss those sticky non stick pans in the trash. If they don't work for their purpose no one would prob want them
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 5, 2016 16:19:14 GMT -5
BetsyMarie maybe just toss those sticky non stick pans in the trash. If they don't work for their purpose no one would prob want them I prefer to give them to the thrift store. They are nice size, heavy, and still function as frying pans, ...just not as non-stick ones. They function now more like stainless or cast-iron ones. I'll let the thrift store employees decide if they can sell them or choose to toss them into recycling. My donation will be job security for their sorters.
edit: I've been thinking about this a bit more. There are people who can just throw things away and not think much about it. That is not me. While I am getting much better, it is still painful to just toss things into the landfill that I think might have some value or use to someone else. Maybe I'm rationalizing, but if I can think of some possible benefit to someone else when I get rid of something, I'm more likely to let go of whatever it is.
In the end, the goal is to lighten my load and make my home more functional. If I can rationalize to make it just a bit easier, all the better.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 8, 2016 14:07:14 GMT -5
Today I put 3 things into the charity pile: -a set of silicon heart-shaped cupcake molds. ... They are cute, but I no longer bake. -an old glass vase... I have many more vases, but no flowers to pick to put in them. -a French coffee expresser. Nice, a good size... but I don't drink coffee
I haven't used any of these things for ages, yet they are nice things that cause a twinge to get rid of. Every. Single. One. Well, they are only unpleasant feelings. But then drowning in stuff causes unpleasant feeling states too - even nice stuff.
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Post by oust on Oct 9, 2016 20:57:07 GMT -5
Thanks for getting my attention on shoes. i have old 10+ years slip on sandels. I don't wear but look at. ...i will toss them out. Beyond donation stage. i grabbed a few handfuls of old receipts and threw them out.
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Post by Unswamping on Oct 9, 2016 21:24:49 GMT -5
itsybitsy great job on getting five bags of donations out and the kimono. I know that was difficult and im proud of you. BetsyMarie about the pans, i hope the thrift store recycles metal. If they dont, you might suggest it. The thrift store i worked at briefly, did recycle metal. Any thing like non nonstick pans, rusty tools etc was taken to a metal recycler. It wasnt alot of money that they got from doing it but it was something and kept the metal in circulation instead of the landfill. I keep a bin to put metal in to take to the recycler. Great job on getting rid of more pans and more stuff. I know its hard for you. You are right that its only unpleasant feelings and that drowning in stuff is unpleasant too. I think its a big help to remember that. oust great job of letting go of those old sandals and those receipts. I cleaned the frig out today and got rid of a bunch of old food. Took that and the dirty litter out to the can. Have two bags of recycling by tne front door, ready to go to the curb in the morning (its too windy right now).
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Post by oust on Oct 9, 2016 21:46:37 GMT -5
I feel good. I opened the closet. Anything in good shape and too small. I found 5 t shirts that fitted that category. I folded then forgot about how much I spent on them, hung the bag on the door ready for tomorrow. Now I have 5 more coat hangers.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 10, 2016 21:20:15 GMT -5
Tomorrow is trash pick up day, and after putting out regular house trash, I had more than half a can left to fill. Most of the easy stuff from the house is gone, so the stuff remaining in the house is getting more difficult to toss.
I tossed some old food, never opened, but 10 years past their expiration date. I generally don't mind using foods that are old but that is just too old. So out went a large box of oatmeal with 2 sealed bags inside. Also two jars of icky bullion cubes. And several bags of unopened dried prunes bought on a close-out deal. Also a large container of dried mashed potatoes. Ouch.
Also leaving the house was a large rectangle of foam that could have been covered for a nice cushion. But I have had it for many years and it was still just sitting in a back room with no plans in sight. The edges were starting to go, so I cut it up, and out it went.
And now the trash can with these treasures is out on the street, and tomorrow will be gone.
Also leaving the house was about a dozen empty but clean gallon water bottles. I had been saving them to fill for an emergency water supply in case of storm or other disaster... but I already have some water saved for that. And I know I would never fill these extras. So they got crushed and put out in recycling with their boxes.
I would guess I got rid of about 4 to 5 cubic feet of unneeded 'stuff'.
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Post by def6 on Oct 10, 2016 22:12:05 GMT -5
Hurray BetsyMarie I got rid of a game that had missing pieces, donated a bag of clothing and I allowed my child to clean her room and to get rid of everything that she felt she needed to. I walked her trash to the outside can Without even looking to see what she threw out. That was huge for me.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 11, 2016 9:08:29 GMT -5
...and I allowed my child to clean her room and to get rid of everything that she felt she needed to. I walked her trash to the outside can Without even looking to see what she threw out. That was huge for me. That is impressive. My first thought was 'oh, let me look..'.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 11, 2016 10:18:07 GMT -5
Often I don't even see things. This morning in a back bedroom, my eyes focused on a very large box sitting on a pile of stuff, and holding about 20 more empty, clean gallon water bottles. With the recycling truck expected soon, I crushed them down and dumped them in a neighbors partially empty bin. Then I flattened the box. Too large to do more with now, but at least I freed up another 4 square feet of air.
I do not have to be ready for every real or imagined 'emergency' or 'that might come in handy someday' to happen.
It's a matter of self-trust - knowing that I will be able to deal with whatever comes along, even finding the right box for 'that gift'.
I want more free space inside the house! I want to breathe!!
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