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Post by clutterborn on Jun 8, 2019 14:52:16 GMT -5
This has all been so hard. I've gotten quite a bit out including numerous pieces of furniture. Donated enough to fill a small apartment's living room, really. And have taken box after box of assorted stuff to various thrift shops. Am not really seeing much progress though when I look around. Boxes are piled up almost to the ceiling now in my bedroom. Closets and inside of drawers, etc are still jammed. When does this end? I can't walk into my bedroom closet anymore. sigh... Plus, the kitchen hasn't been touched yet. The cabinets are jam packed. On a positive note: (Ta-Da's) The garage looks awesome. It's clean & well organized now. The living & dining rooms both look very nice. The family room is orderly & decluttered. (Other than dog toys/dog bed/crate - which can be removed at any time.) The Amnesty Fairy has made plenty of visits, too. Next week am going to focus on hiring help for the yard and some deferred maintenance on the outside of the house. Time is marching on, and I'm not going as fast as at first. The Florida heat is wilting me. Thrift Shops are not cooperative about what they'll take. They're unpredictable. It's been a struggle. There are times when I want to give up, too. I keep thinking of everyone on here. We're all just trying to do our best even when it seems we're fighting an endless battle against "stuff"!
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Post by maryaz on Jun 8, 2019 15:56:46 GMT -5
WOW! THREE!!! Rooms clean and organized? ? I think you must be superwoman! That sounds amazing! Good for you! The rest will come along in time too. We are all just doing the best we can. Somedays our best isn't as good as other days but it's the best we are able to manage in that moment. I'm sure you will get there.
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 8, 2019 16:22:55 GMT -5
Thank you, maryaz. I really like your signature. "Doing the best I can, where I am, with what I have. Clutterbusting 1 thing at a time." That says it all!
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Post by catcat on Jun 10, 2019 16:33:15 GMT -5
Dear @clutterborn---I often find when decluttering that it looks worse before it gets better. Right now, my room of doom is the den which used to be a second bedroom. I can get to things, but there is a lot of stuff----boxes, bins, etc.----on the floor. They are full of photos from many years of marriage, children, etc. They used to live in the attic, but I know if I move them back, they will NEVER get sorted, put into books, etc.--[the photos, not the children]. When we start to pull things out, it usually looks worse than when we started. If you have been getting pieces of furniture out of your place, you have made a great start.Keep it up & someday , you will really see a difference. Don't let yourself get burned out. Good luck ! catcat
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 10, 2019 21:47:46 GMT -5
Thank you so much, catcat . Yes, being in the midst of any project in so annoying. You just want to get it done! Am looking forward to hearing your progress with the photos when you take on that task. Photos are such a struggle. I have plastic boxes of photos shoved under my bed. The photos seem happy there, though. So, I believe that will be their new home! A funny story. The kitchen's a mess. Haven't bothered with it much yet. Today I had a A/C worker come over, and since it was so hot - he & his helper came inside to write up the bill. They walked right into the kitchen (which is right by the front door.) I thought "oh noooo!" and he looked at the dishes in the sink, and stuff piled on the counter and gave me a strained look. Felt like saying "but, you should see the garage!" C'est la vie!
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Post by catcat on Jun 10, 2019 22:03:37 GMT -5
@clutterborn---- I loved your wanting to tell them that they should see the garage. Really grinned at that one ! catcat
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Post by Layla on Jun 12, 2019 3:53:16 GMT -5
Your doing so good reading your thread with all you have accomplished! But yes its amazing as we get rid of things more things become visible! It seems never ending. But it sounds like you have some cleaned out spaces! And I just hired someone to do our yard work, Im in the terrible Az heat and it was just too much. Feels so much better having someone else taking care of it right now so I can focus on clearing out stuff.
Keep up the good work! Your doing great!
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 12, 2019 9:24:49 GMT -5
Thanks, Layla . Good idea to hire someone for the outside work. It's just too hot to do yourself, when you live in the desert. We're on the same wavelength. Declutter for a move in the future. (I've had to postpone my move for awhile, as there's just too much to tackle. I over estimated my abilities.) But, like you - will persevere and focus on the things that can be done. As long as we make some progress each day, then it's all good, and we're working to achieve our ultimate goal!
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 12, 2019 10:31:19 GMT -5
Am cheating today. Breaking the rules.
Realized this is all too much at once. Am tired of plastic tubbies stacked several feet high in the bedroom, am going to "jam" them all into my closet. Shouldn't do this ... but, can't think of any other solutions right now.
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Post by dtesposito on Jun 12, 2019 10:43:07 GMT -5
he looked at the dishes in the sink, and stuff piled on the counter and gave me a strained lookClutterborn, I would have hustled him back out the door and told him to make up his bill in the heat, if he was offended by your kitchen! I think packing (and construction jobs) always take twice the amount of time we think they will. And decluttering takes at least 3 times as long, it seems. You'll get it done, it will just take a little longer. Diane
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Post by creativechaos on Jun 20, 2019 17:44:04 GMT -5
i was reading larataylor's blog and she mentioned her "general" post on your thread. so here i am - 4 pages later! - i read your entire thread - it's so inspiring! you and the work you have done, no matter how discouraged you feel, is not only inspiring, it is an example to all of us hoarderss/ruminators (well, me. ) and there are so many practical and do-able tips from others! YOU have done the work and are thinking things through rationally and step-by-step. it's awesome to read how much you have released and that you have 3! rooms sorted out! and by all means, get help with the big stuff. was thinking of someone i used to know, poor like us - she had one great skill... knitting. she would trade sweaters she knit for construction and electrical work and she got a ton of work done for her that way. i don't have such skills but if you did, perhaps someone would do a work trade with you and ease the time crunch while fixing things up a bit. just a thought. thank you for remembering 60isolderthanithot - i think of her so often, because as many difficulties as she had, she kept on trucking and was so creative about it. she dropped off the site so suddenly and i keep hoping and praying she is ok and one day will come here for a visit. i miss DJ and others too from the "old days." ETA - ponygirl!!! i saw your "like!" waving at you and sending
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 21, 2019 21:08:38 GMT -5
awwww, thank you creativechaos. What a sweet post! You truly warmed my heart.
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 23, 2019 8:48:45 GMT -5
A strange find today & a breakthrough of thinking. I found an old pair of reading glasses that belonged to a family member who passed away over 30 years ago. I was tempted to keep them ... but, remembered - that, when he died - he was an organ donor and donated his corneas to help others.
I decided to break from my hoarding mindset and donate the glasses to The Lions Club to send overseas. That's what he would have wanted and is the right thing to do. Will donate them tomorrow.
My hoarding mindset tends to be narrow and unfocused & I'm working hard to broaden it, and am learning to be more logical about the things to keep.
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Post by creativechaos on Jun 24, 2019 15:47:13 GMT -5
i meant every word, clutterborn. and now, this latest decision to honor that family member by donating his glasses to the Lions - they are a wonderful organization. What a thoughtful and kind thing to do! WTG!! you continue to inspire me.
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Post by clutterborn on Jun 25, 2019 20:32:03 GMT -5
Today, I've been churning. Moving things around with no rhyme or reason. Not doing too well today. It's hard to let this stuff go. I've got one box and two 13 gallon bags filled today and in the car - but, it should be much more.
Today's issues: Sunk cost fallacy, and I might need that someday...
Am working on my closet and drawers. The final frontier, and it needs conquered. My closet is ridiculous. Am making some progress, though. Not much - but, some.
I donated one pair of glasses yesterday, and also have a big bag of dog toys that are new and still in their bags - for the Humane Society.
Am hoping to be ready enough for a Realtor to stop by after the 4th of July and at least give me an idea of what more I need to do to list this house.
It's a fine line I'm teetering on of decluttering, while stocking up on hurricane supplies though.'Tis the season.
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