|
Post by Rory on Jul 5, 2010 12:10:13 GMT -5
There is the ice axe. How could I have not noticed?
It had been nearly twenty years that I have been getting rid of stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jul 5, 2010 15:46:03 GMT -5
Sometimes it helps to put things into an ambivalence box. Fill the box with things you know you don't need, but have a hard time letting go of, and write the date on it.
After 3 months, or 6 months, or whatever you feel comfortable with, you deal with the box in one of two ways. If you are a very strong person, you figure that since you haven't dug anything out of the box in all of this time, you don't need it anyway, and you just give it away. If you aren't ready for that quick a disposal, you open it and look through it with fresh eyes, again asking yourself about each item, if you should pack it for a few more months, or just give it up now.
Often, you find that your inner desire to keep the items has waned with time.
When I have a hard time getting rid of something I know I don't need, I often keep it and revisit it every few months that way, with or without the box method. Usually, after a while, I get to where I can let it go.
messymimi I really like this idea!
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jul 5, 2010 15:49:22 GMT -5
Clothes and books I have to revisit a lot -- because each time I sort and purge I am able to get rid of a few more. It truly has gotten easier and clearer which things I do love and want and what can go. VHS tapes -- oh we've been there with those. I still see a stack of them in the garage -- they need to be thrown away. We sold a bunch for very little but still -- money is money -- the ones that were authentic of course -- but the copies we made DH has been tearing them apart to throw them away -- he feels he has to destroy old copies of movies he taped from the tv and such. But that's ok as long as we throw them somehow.
|
|
|
Post by glimmercat on Jul 5, 2010 19:35:22 GMT -5
Having just done the June Purge-A-Thon, I feel like such a success in regards to the videotape thing. I had taped both the entire Buffy and Angel series' on vhs and I managed to throw out 33 of those tapes. I'm still trying to find the last 22 tapes of Buffy episodes so I can toss them, too. There are still 200+ tapes left for me to go through, but those will take longer to deal with. (Multiple things taped on each one.)
I also have a lot of clothes that don't fit yet, most of which I've never worn. I actually own more non-fitting than fitting clothing! I got rid of a few of them last month, but the majority I'm still hanging onto, with no intentions of getting rid of them. (Ok, "yet". I add that in recognition that I have changed my mind about stuff in the past.)
Getting rid of things I no longer am "into" takes patience, but I know I can do it. I used to be a KISS fan when I was a kid, then I got into Duran Duran. It took a couple years, but I ended up taking all my KISS records and magazines (double copies, of course!) to the dump and had a blast literally tossing all that stuff into the pit. In the meantime, I got over Duran Duran and moved on to other bands. I kept a few choice pieces of my DD collection but got rid of most of it. Now that I'm into the Stones, I'll be working next on my Love & Rockets and Stone Roses collections. In time, they won't have the same "pull" they used to and tossing them will be easy.
I also tend to collect purses (for all my money, right?). But just yesterday, I threw one out!! Right in the garbage, and covered it with kitty litter so I wouldn't even be tempted to "rescue" it. Once I thought about why I still had it (in decent shape, the word "stone" is on it) and why I don't use it anymore (it's black and I only use silver purses now) I just took a picture and chucked it. Victory for me!
meow
|
|
|
Post by mrsmess on Jul 5, 2010 19:49:22 GMT -5
Oh wow I am glad I found this thread, feel like I am reading about myself Chris reading how your thoughts go round and round in circles. So relieved I am not the only one who does that! I think clothes are my worst problem area in this regard....I have even thrown things in a bag to go, put them in the car, then taken them out again and brought them back upstairs! Outdated scrapbooking supplies are another problem area...I don't choose to use them yet when it comes to giving them away I always start questioning whether maybe they will be useful one day... Actually as I write this it does strike me that I have been rather silly especially about the scrapbooking stuff....writing it down sure does help clarify one's thoughts.
|
|
|
Post by success19 on Jul 5, 2010 20:13:54 GMT -5
Many of you have things you can easily sell on craigs, ebay or at a yard sale.
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 5, 2010 20:38:32 GMT -5
My wedding dress. I've managed to birth two boys. I hope they're happily married someday, and I'm holding out hope that one of their fiancees will want to wear it.
Yeah, right. Like a bride isn't gonna want to pick her OWN dress.
But dammit, it's BEAUTIFUL! (And it was half price at only $1600.00.)
I honestly would like to see it worn by someone again someday. I like to think -- It comes from a happy marriage. I'd like to see that good omen passed on to another couple.
|
|
|
Post by notsomessyshell on Jul 5, 2010 21:42:35 GMT -5
Chris, I would LOVE that pot. I understand the dilemma with it. I like the idea of putting it away for a few months and then revisiting the save or get rid of question.
MiSC I have my wedding dress, too! I will never fit in it again. I have no delusions of a future daughter in law wearing it. But I still can't let it go. My mother and I picked it out. My grandmother helped alter it in the hours before my wedding! I know someday I will let it go, but right now having it hang in the back of my closet is not hurting anyone.
Jewelry! I have so much. I don't wear it as much because my job is not really one that you can wear a lot of jewelry to. I have some "good" pieces, but most is costume jewelry. I have pared it down a few times. I have not been buying any new pieces. But it is still a lot.
|
|
|
Post by mrsmess on Jul 5, 2010 23:01:32 GMT -5
Many of you have things you can easily sell on craigs, ebay or at a yard sale. True... I mostly donate now to charity though. I have been selling on ebay for years but I am very selective now about what I bother listing as a lot of things can be a waste of time for only a few dollars back....and after paying for listing and ebay's cut you get next to nothing.
|
|