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Post by dayeanu on Nov 5, 2012 10:48:03 GMT -5
I still have my special spot. Unfortunately, the path to it was long-ago blocked. But the memory of the peaceful feeling it gave me is still with me. Forgive yourself if you mess them up, and then begin again. Yes! You can forgive yourself! Know that sometimes guilt can be a form of clutter. Let it go and start again.
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Post by bobolink on Nov 5, 2012 10:53:56 GMT -5
I really do like to clean out an area at a time. flitting from thing to thing makes me feel unfocused and overwhelmed. But if I can clear and area, however small, I feel like I've accomplished something and can enjoy the feeling of clear space.
Daye, I hope you can clear a path to the heart of your home.
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Post by Freedom on Nov 5, 2012 13:15:54 GMT -5
Thank you for the bump. Bookmarked. I immediately made an emptiness shelf. Looking at it does bring peace. Such wisdom. I'm so grateful and happy to be a part of this community. This hit me between the eyes today: Yes! You can forgive yourself! Know that sometimes guilt can be a form of clutter. Let it go and start again.
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Post by Jannie on Nov 5, 2012 21:49:39 GMT -5
If you don't have a camera, you can use four fingers to make a "pinhole camera". Pinch your thumbs and index fingers together, then bring your 2 hands (four fingers) together, forming a tiny diamond shape. Bring your fingers up to one eye and look through. It forms a perfect photo frame. Forgot where I learned this.
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Post by moonglow on Nov 6, 2012 8:47:01 GMT -5
I love the "special spot" method. I still maintain the first special spot I decluttered many moons ago. Not that it hasn't gotten sullied from time to time, but I am quick to reclaim that spot and DEFEND it (I love that terminology too). I have another special spot which has slid into mess again but I am now even more determined to reclaim it. And I want to make my bathroom - the entire room - a special spot!
Thanks for bumping the thread Lioness and Daye!
ETA: I would love for this to be in the "Favorite Threads" section!!
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Post by dayeanu on Nov 6, 2012 14:38:49 GMT -5
I too vote this for a "Favorite Threads" nomination!
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Post by ellen on Nov 7, 2012 20:24:41 GMT -5
This is something that has helped me when I am cleaning. I usually mark off an area...well, visualize it....being about 5' square. I visualize it having broomstick boundaries. I recently cleared an area that I have dreaded for literally years...an outside area that I called "the pile of junk". It was triangle shaped, about 30' per side, and piled high with junk and weeds growing up through it. Every day for weeks I have worked on it. I am down now to just having to cut down a few more tall weeds. I have to find some loppers to cut them, because my regular cutters won't work. This has been an eye sore that I have dreaded to tackle and finally on one of the threads about doing your worst job and getting it out of the way, I became inspired to do this. I have hated this area for a long time. Hated it so much I didn't want to touch it. I finally made myself work on it one little patch at a time. It took me more than one day to clean up each little patch. The nice thing about conquering this space is that it has encouraged me to go on and conquer more. I honestly look forward now to getting up and getting to work....just because I can finally see progress!
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Post by dayeanu on Nov 7, 2012 20:50:14 GMT -5
This is something that has helped me when I am cleaning. I usually mark off an area...well, visualize it....being about 5' square. I visualize it having broomstick boundaries. I recently cleared an area that I have dreaded for literally years...an outside area that I called "the pile of junk". It was triangle shaped, about 30' per side, and piled high with junk and weeds growing up through it. Every day for weeks I have worked on it. I am down now to just having to cut down a few more tall weeds. I have to find some loppers to cut them, because my regular cutters won't work. This has been an eye sore that I have dreaded to tackle and finally on one of the threads about doing your worst job and getting it out of the way, I became inspired to do this. I have hated this area for a long time. Hated it so much I didn't want to touch it. I finally made myself work on it one little patch at a time. It took me more than one day to clean up each little patch. The nice thing about conquering this space is that it has encouraged me to go on and conquer more. I honestly look forward now to getting up and getting to work....just because I can finally see progress! I am so proud of you for this! I know that feeling, that you hate something so, you can hardly touch it. 30' per side - and dreading it for so long - that's really a significant accomplishment! I hope it becomes a special place of inspiration for you - that every time you look at it, you feel successful and encouraged!
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Post by def6 on Nov 7, 2012 23:45:40 GMT -5
Thank you Dear Lion, I was also very blessed when I read this thread that you started. It just shows your depth of understanding of how hard it can be when you back yourself into a corner and it seems like there is literally no way out . Your little spot has saved many of us. If you can have one clean and serene little spot ...it also means that you can transform your living space ,your car, your purse, your yard , your person( cloths , hygiene, health) your mind, your workplace and your life.
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sloberella
New Member
Joined: October 2012
Posts: 30
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Post by sloberella on Nov 9, 2012 11:17:28 GMT -5
This is helpful to me! I always feel like I have to do everything at once. I will pick a day and say to myself, "This is the day I'm going to clean my house." On that day, it never fails - I'm sick, exhausted, have an arthritis flare up, or a million things to take care of in preparation for an event. I put so much pressure on myself and the guilt of how I keep my house is so heavy that I can hardly bear it. I need help!
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Post by ramatama on Nov 9, 2012 12:18:58 GMT -5
This is helpful to me! I always feel like I have to do everything at once. I will pick a day and say to myself, "This is the day I'm going to clean my house." On that day, it never fails - I'm sick, exhausted, have an arthritis flare up, or a million things to take care of in preparation for an event. I put so much pressure on myself and the guilt of how I keep my house is so heavy that I can hardly bear it. I need help! WELCOME sloberella, Hope you like it here! if you are up to it do tell us a bit about yourself and how you are doing!
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Post by Serendipity on Aug 8, 2013 9:17:20 GMT -5
i have one special spot. right now it has two items on it . it is the topshelf of my new white bookshelf. my ex-partners father loved vintage cars. he was a mechanic and he served in the second world war as a mechanic on tanks. he would come in to where the tank was broken down and get it going again. this was how he became a mechanic i think. anyways what i have from years ago the is very special to me is a large tea cup with vintage cars on it. right now i am looking at my special spot and i have the cup and a clock on it. the clock has no interest to me. it is a perfectly good clock but i dont use it . it just sits there because it looks kind of nice. i am going to donate the clock and then the only thing on the shelf will be the teacup.
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Post by dreamingofchange on Aug 8, 2013 9:36:38 GMT -5
I have used this method (loosly) to clean and clear the whole downstairs of my house. I'm almost in maintenance, I can almost stretch out and touch it and it's Oh so close and I will keep going until I get there. It's been approximately 3 months since I started slowly doing a little bit and keeping it done. This REALLY works
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Post by dreamingofchange on Aug 8, 2013 9:39:07 GMT -5
serendipity, Woohoo for getting rid of the clock-if you don't love it-it's not worth the work of cleaning it or dusting it or deciding where it should live. It's not important enough for you to give it your time
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Post by def6 on Aug 8, 2013 12:01:12 GMT -5
You go Serendipity and Dreaming ! I too made a spot...and it grew.
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