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Post by limegreen on Dec 11, 2008 20:01:01 GMT -5
Sometimes I wonder, what would it take to give me that wake-up call about my clutter and get my butt in gear? Well, today I got an intimation of that wake-up call in the form of a near miss accident.
I walked into my lounge, and the next thing I know, I'm on my backside in a pile of clutter, stuck and in pain. And that stupid pile is all over the place with me on top, like an elaphantine fairy atop a Christmas tree. So I swore, and hollered good and loud, and tried to haul myself up with my free arm, and ripped the cover of my ugly sofa trying to heave myself up. At which point my daughter arrived home, and was able to assist me.
I was quite shaken, infact, I did cry a bit. And after ascertaining that no bones were broken (though I expect some really impressive bruises to develop) I asked my daughter to bring me the two large empty boxes from my bedroom, and the roll of trash bags, and I set to work. The two large boxes are now full of stuff that is staying, and five bags went out to the trash. I now have a heap of clutter, boxed and stable, and less of a goat path into the lounge.
I thought clutter related accidents happened to other people, and that only little old ladies had falls. I sure woke up today.
My left hand got some fingers bent back father than they like to go, and I landed heavily on my right ankle, and my back is sore, but nothing life threatening, thank the Lord. It could have been very different.
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Post by limegreen on Dec 11, 2008 20:13:03 GMT -5
Thanks Pickles, I hope I can continue to motivate myself, I got a heck of a fright, and fear is quite a powerful motivating force. And now I'm going to take my aching bones off to bed.
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Post by Little_Ninja on Dec 11, 2008 20:43:25 GMT -5
I'm glad you weren't hurt seriously, limegreen! I had a problem about five years ago. I got up too quickly while sitting at my computer and my foot had fallen asleep. I ended up spraining it. It was very PAINFUL! I immediately hobbled to the bathroom and doused it with cold water from the bathtub. While that helped reduce any swelling, I was still helpless and crippled the entire weekend. I had to crawl around the house on my hands and knees. I was too embarrassed about my squalor to call a friend over who could drive me to an ER or even a drugstore to buy some crutches. I remember lying in pain on the couch all weekend, being a shut-in with my four dogs and wishing I was 100% well so that I could just take them for a walk in the fresh air. When I did get back to being 100% (it took about a week), I was so thankful for being healed. I never want to have that happen again and be helpless because of my squalor. The last time I really cleaned in "panic-mode" was two years ago when my water heater broke down and leaked. I had to scramble to hide all my squalor. I hated that feeling of panic and anxiety! I never want to be that bad off again. Anytime there's a plumbing or water heater or Internet problem, those are the times I really go in to panic mode to clean up the place. But it's only a "temporary" fix to the bigger problem. I'm trying to change my squalorous habits and prevent things from ever getting "that bad" again - just to prevent the need for the panic and anxiety of a mad, frenzied cleaning marathon. I'm still working on this goal...   Little_Ninja |
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Dec 11, 2008 21:00:33 GMT -5
I've fallen in the squalor too. It is no fun at all. Especially when you fall down and another pile falls on your head.
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Post by dayeanu on Dec 11, 2008 22:07:38 GMT -5
Limegreen, I am really excited for you!!!  You have done a LOT it sounds like. Way to go. I'm cheering for you to keep up the momentum. Last year I fell, outside, and broke both bones in my leg. My house was such a mess that I couldn't move around in there with crutches or a walker, which I had to use. I had to go stay with my mother for three months while it healed!  |
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Post by AnnieOkie on Dec 11, 2008 22:11:40 GMT -5
limegreen-First of all....  ...I'm glad no major harm came to you. I'm so sorry you fell. It's interesting where we are led and what finally gets us to wake up and see what we need to do. Keep up the great work, but please be careful.  |
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Post by messymimi on Dec 11, 2008 22:37:04 GMT -5
Hope you feel better soon.
Inspirations can be found in the darndest incidents.
messymimi
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Post by notsomessyshell on Dec 12, 2008 2:32:57 GMT -5
Limegreen big, big, So glad you are OK. I have had a squalor related accident myself. If you need something to stay motivated you could take some pictures of the really impressive bruises you expect to develop.  |
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Post by Script on Dec 12, 2008 3:41:43 GMT -5
first off: I am glad that you are ok. That's the first thing.....
Here is my WAKE UP Call fall/story:
Just after 9/11, I had to go on a business trip to Ottawa. I took my mom along for the ride. We were gone 3 days and 2 nights. When I got back, my DH told me that the roof in the garage had started leaking. He had the roof replaced pronto. Cost about $1000, but was crucially necessary because of the old cars, parts and tools stored in there. Meanwhile the roof on the house was still leaking.
I noticed that the drapes in the back of our dining room were falling down. Ok, big deal.
The weather had turned chilly. I decided to get down the duvet which was rolled up (badly) and stored on some cluttered open bookshelves in the bedroom.
When I tried to take the duvet down, the whole unit fell on me: heavy wood, massive shelves. I was knocked to the floor (squalorous carpet). I picked myself up, and prepared myself for heavy brusing.....
The next day, I sat down in the back of my dining room, for my regular 'morning meditation programme'. I was sore from the fall. I could see the new garage roof from my chair. Also the wobbly curtains (also filthy: hadn't been washed in 10 years?).
Instantly, tears welled up in me. And this pathetic thought: "everything in this house is broken". I think that was one of the turning points for me in getting ready to really tackle this house. Not just cleaning up mess, but seeing things that were:
*old
*broken
*ugly
*dirty
*unsuitable
*in need of replacement.
Then, not just SEEING....but DOiNG.....
one step on my journey
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Post by snailspace on Dec 12, 2008 8:48:49 GMT -5
 limegreen! I'm so so glad you're all right! And thank you for deciding to turn that into something positive and to post about it... as soon as I read your story I got immediately out of my chair and went in my room and picked up about five articles of clothing I'd left on the floor the last couple of days. I remember thinking at the times I tossed them there: oh well the whole floor's clear, what's the big deal if I leave a little stack or two of clothes along the edges until I figure out whether to re-wear them or wash them? Well, it's a big deal because cloth on flooring is slippery, and because I was sliding on maintenance. The clothes are on the bed til I sort them out. And I am cheering you on while you make your lounge safe and comfortable! 
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Post by dayeanu on Dec 12, 2008 9:58:22 GMT -5
How are you feeling today?  Hopefully not too sore. Do you have the bruising yet? (When I broke my leg, I never even had a bruise). Keep up your good work. (Pardon my asking, but what is a lounge? Where I come from, it's a bar where alcohol is served. I'm just curious. Thanks.) |
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Post by gottaproblem on Dec 12, 2008 10:41:18 GMT -5
limegreen: I am so glad that you are not seriously hurt. My goodness you got a bunch done. I love your way with words. I also have fallen before and when you said "like an elaphantine fairy atop a Christmas tree" I so related.  Take care and I am sorry it took this as a wake up call.  |
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Post by Script on Dec 12, 2008 11:02:18 GMT -5
When I tried to take the duvet down, the whole unit fell on me: heavy wood, massive shelves. here is the hutch that fell on me: I think I took this picture in 2005 after a massive de-squaloring  I have been able to maintain this area thanks to one rule: NO CLOTHES on hutch, or bed linens. Just books and cds. today, thanks to reading this and posting here, I found on the hutch a good carved Polish box (never used: I think it was a gift to us). I am going to pass this along to a friend, as part of the xmas exchange. |
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Post by gottaproblem on Dec 12, 2008 14:04:29 GMT -5
Script I am glad you are ok. The hutch looks great. Found gifts,  , I found a set of new wrenches, an air compressor and an electric screwdriver set. (all in boxes) I was thinking of using them for gifts.
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Post by dayeanu on Dec 12, 2008 15:01:39 GMT -5
Script, good Lord, it's a wonder you weren't killed. That looks like a heavy piece of furniture! Lovely now. So. . . empty. WOW!
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