moineau
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 57 
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Post by moineau on May 27, 2008 9:23:57 GMT -5
I just caught myself doing something that harms my progress. I have 2 used plastic food containers, I just washed them up and was going to take them out to the greenhouse because they would be perfect for growing salad vegetables,when I thought "Wait! What are you doing?" I already have tons of other perfectly good containers. I just caught myself in time. It made me think, just because something might be good for a purpose doesn't mean it is destined to become that thing. Now that I have recognised this I shall put the containers straight into the recycling bin AND go to the greenhouse and pick 2 more that I thought were perfect but have not and probably will not use. Have you caught yourself doing something that is counter-productive today? This is not meant to be a guilt producing post more of a self awareness one.  moineau |
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Post by onwardandupward on May 27, 2008 19:43:26 GMT -5
This is such an inspiration. You are developing new thought patterns!! I am so hopeful that this will happen for me at some point.....that the thought will come and I will act on it as you did.
You have inspired me to go in the kitchen and toss something I no longer need....there's plenty to choose from!
Onward
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Post by Raspberry Jam on May 27, 2008 19:49:09 GMT -5
That was such a timely post for me. I bought a new purse/wallet and it came in this really nice thick black cardboard box - I kept thinking to myself - what could I use this for? It seemed too "nice" to throw out in the recycle bin : ) Infact, I have actually wasted quite a bit of time pondering its new use - how ridiculous! I have now put it in the recycle bin and its one less thing I have to worry about.
Raspberry Jam
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Post by Script on May 27, 2008 20:20:01 GMT -5
I have a nice collection of fitness clothes: pants, tops, special bras. At the gym last week, I realized that my pants (tight leggings) were uncomfortable: tight in waist, unflattering, too short. EVERYTHING WRONG with them. I had worn them just a few times: because they were WRONG for my body. Today I had the bright idea:  cut them off to make them into fitness shorts. Which I did. They looked worse and were STILL too tight in the waist. I started going through various scenarios: you can wear them if you ever lose weight...and other idiocies. Eventually I came to my senses and put them in the give-away pile. |
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Post by canna on May 27, 2008 21:00:50 GMT -5
Hello.
The freebie pens from the bank. A few days ago, in the morning stopped in my bank which just changed name and logo after merging with another bank. Oh boy how exciting to see the NEW free PENS with colorful new logo!!! in large containers on the bank's counters!
Took three of them. Put them in my purse. Huh? Why? I have tons of pens at home in the junk drawer black hole. Well those pens didn't make it home. Left them at work on a shelf in the office copy/supply room for others to use.
Enough pens!
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Post by skitter on May 27, 2008 21:04:08 GMT -5
Thank you for this thread. It is very timely for me. It's nice to catch ourselves doing good!
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Post by reesa on May 28, 2008 1:57:39 GMT -5
brought home a cool picture that one of my clients had cut uot of a magazine to show to me for something. I just thought it looked cool and stuck it in my pocket. WHY? I am never going to look at it again, just shove it in a drawer with tons of other meaningless paper that I empty out of my pockets without looking ... I threw it in the trash just now after reading this
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moineau
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 57
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Post by moineau on May 28, 2008 3:54:09 GMT -5
Yay Onward! What did you find to toss in your kitchen? Rasberry Jam you have prompted me to go and throw out a nice sturdy box that a gift set came in. It has a beautiful pattern on it and is strong but in reality I probably won't use it as it has a large diamond window cut out of the front of it. Well done Script on letting the fitness wear go...I am... erm ...almost doing the same thing with some brown jeans which had a bleach spot on them. I have cut them down to shorts with the thought of adding a contrasting hem...who am I trying to kid...the length is not ideal as it was cut to avoid the bleach and not to a length to flatter the body. Okay they are going in the fabric bank this week. Canna, you have inspired me to do a stationary challenge today. Yep more pens than I could use in a lifetime in the desk drawer. What is it about pens...just because they still work we keep them, If we were octopusses ( or is that octopi?  ) it'd be okay I guess, but I can only use one at a time. Skitter I like the way you said catching ourselves doing GOOD that puts a nice positiive twist to it. Yay great going Reesa. I guess if we do it enough it will become second nature eh folks. It is so freeing in many ways.  Moineau |
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Post by hypatia on May 28, 2008 9:17:18 GMT -5
Two things pop into my mind right off the bat. First, I was unloading the dishwasher yesterday and putting up a mixing bowl, I had to move aside 2 plastic tupperware containers to make room for the bowl. These tupperware containers are several years old (I remember moving with them 2.5 years ago, and perhaps 2 years before that as well) and are missing the lids, scratched up and I never use them. But I've been holding on to them "just in case", even though I have an entire cupboard of neatly stacked plasticware and lids that I actually enjoy using. Today, I'm tossing that tupperware! The second is a bag of carpet powder that came with my new vacuum that I've been planning on putting up in the hall closet to save for later. Why?  The carpet in the basement is horrible, and getting the basement clean is on my short term to do list. So why would I stuff this new bag of cleaner up in the closet, just to have to buy a different carpet cleaner to use downstairs? There's nothing wonderful or special about it, I need to just go ahead and use it! If it works then great, if it doesn't then at least it's not taking up closet space. |
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moineau
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 57
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Post by moineau on May 28, 2008 9:33:55 GMT -5
Great on the tupperware Hypatia. I reckon sometimes we just get used to seeing things in our homes without really SEEING them if you know what I mean...we are just used to them being there...reading your post has brought to mind a plastic steamer thing meant for the microwave that I never use. That is going out today. Go for it with the carpet cleaner! I am finding everyone's catch yourself moments are prodding me into action. cheers, Moineau. |
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Post by ramatama on May 28, 2008 14:34:14 GMT -5
caught myself today looking at racks of books for sale --- (my all time weakness: to go past a book shop and NOT buy a book) had two books in hand, heading to cashiers, stopped, turned around, spoke sternly to self: "you have over 50 books you bought or got in last 5 years waiting to be read! put those down!" i did, and now at home realised that i already owned one of those books. !  |
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moineau
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 57
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Post by moineau on May 29, 2008 13:13:06 GMT -5
Ramatama, Now that IS discipline, I am impressed. Books were sent to try I am sure I caught myself again today, putting something "there for now", I went and put it straight in the rubbish bin before it sat on my kitchen floor for the next month. Moineau |
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Post by WestsideStory on May 29, 2008 19:09:23 GMT -5
What a great topic!
A good portion of my clutter is stuff that I have saved just in case. I really resonnated with the tupperware and boxes.
I have gone through several purges of my tupperware and plastic containers since I have been decluttering. The first was for really useless ones and the worst ones which were missing lids or lids missing the container. Containers and lids of newer or better quality ones were kept to see if the other half turned up. Then I did another purge, and separated out a few more. Then I tried to contain all the tupperware in two plastic containers, and more had to go to make room.
My Mom, who grew up in a family deeply affected by the Depression, taught me to save both boxes and gift wrap and ribbons for reuse. I've had to do the same gradual purging of these items. For a while I could justify holding on to larger boxes because I was desqualoring so much that I needed them to take things to give or throw away. The smaller boxes for mailing presents across the country were harder to get rid of. But many have found their way to the recycling bin.
I've purged non-working pens and pencils with erasers with hardened rubber ... But I still have about a dozen here on the desk in a coffee cup.
Maybe posting about this will help. This = how hard it is to go minimal and to trust that the universe will provide what I need when I need it.
Thanks for starting the topic!
WestsideStory
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on May 30, 2008 10:00:53 GMT -5
I ,too, save stuff "just in case". Tupperware lids without bottoms, and vice versa, in case the missing piece shows up. Unmatched socks. I found one in the drain of my clothes washer this week. Things I planned to put in a scrapbook but never did. School treasures from my 2 girls. Like pre-school diplomas, hand written stories from first grade, handouts from school plays, all kinds of "treasures." At one point I started a box for my own collectibles. things that bring a tear to my eye. The dog tag from my first dog,Lady. The Christmas card my future husband signed "love", the first time he ever wrote that word to me. Dried rose petals from my wedding bouquet. Why didn't I toss it after the wedding? I mean toss it to a crowd of women, not toss it in the garbage. I don't remember.
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gr8wuf
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Post by gr8wuf on May 30, 2008 11:44:23 GMT -5
I've purged non-working pens and pencils with erasers with hardened rubber ... But I still have about a dozen here on the desk in a coffee cup. Your comment made me laugh. Kudos to you for purging the pens and pencils. Recently while washing dishes I came across a coffee cup with a loosening handle. First thought was to use it to hold pens on my desk. Then remembered my pens are already in a broken coffee cup. So I tossed the cup into the trash. It felt SO good! |
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