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Post by dtesposito on Apr 17, 2010 18:05:49 GMT -5
What a great thread! I am in the action stage in every area of my living space except for books--there I am in the preparation stage or possibly even the contemplation stage. I've gotten rid of a ton of clutter and am ready and in the process of getting rid of the rest of it except for my books.
So either I will eventually realize that a significant number of the books have to go, or I will find a way to peacefully live with my huge quantity of books, since getting rid of the rest of my stuff will give me more space. Perhaps it comes down to this--I am comfortable living with way more books than the average person would enjoy having around them--in fact I want to live with way more books than the average person does. But I also have realized that if I continue to acquire at the rate I am, eventually they would fill up all empty space, which would be as bad as having any other kind of item filling up all the empty space. In the last several months I have sent a lot of books out of the house, but that is only because I'm finding books that are better than the ones I'm sending out. But at least I'm cognizant of the fact that my space is limited therefore I have to address the idea of a limit on books. So I think that puts me in between step 2 and 3 on the books.
In thinking about it, I might be able to say that I'm maintenance on really important paperwork (only important stuff--I still have unsorted unimportant paperwork to go through and get rid of). Paid bills, anything relating to insurance, taxes, warranties, etc. go right into labeled files and can actually be found again when needed. This has been true for a couple of years, so I guess on that I'm on maintenance.
I can't imagine ever feeling that I would be beyond maintenance on anything--I don't think I could have cluttering tendencies for so many years and not have them be able to come back without vigilance. Just like my eating/exercising--it is constant, hard work to maintain--it will never be over as long as I'm still breathing!
Diane
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lotus*blossom
New Member
...emerging from the muck
Joined: April 2010
Posts: 78
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Post by lotus*blossom on Jun 22, 2010 21:39:23 GMT -5
Okey Dokey ~ I just changed my vote from 'preparation' to 'action'... although I had done some desqualoring, it was fleeting, and sporadic. I wasn't maintaining my action, so I had voted 'preparation', sometime in April (but didn't post.) Now I've updated it to 'action'... as I have done some form of desqualoring large or small, I have done at least one thing (usually more,) everyday for the past six weeks.
...movin' on up!
~*~
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Post by Script on Jun 23, 2010 7:00:25 GMT -5
I have slipped back since last year, probably because of my mother's illness, fibro flares, stress at work. I understand that BACKSLIDING is common. I do not think I will EVER reach 'termination', as in: "I don't have to work at this anymore". Right now, I have visible dust everywhere, my very worst kitchen hot spot is terrible [aggravated by mouse problem, so everything removed from cupboards], the floor is filthy, and this morning DH ran out of clean underwear enuff said. I am really glad that this board is here to HELP ME. My participation in the June purge-a-thon has been hugely helpful. In July, I think I will have my own private DUST-a-thon.
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Post by eagle on Jun 23, 2010 7:44:16 GMT -5
Script, dust is a never ending problem, isn't it? I would really like an air scrubber like they have in the hospitals, to grab the particles out of the air and deposit them on filters.
Some parts of the world are more 'dusty' than others, and it seems my mom always lived somewhere like that. The deserts as a child, then as I was growing up, I recall the dust just coming in through closed windows & depositing itself on everything. There was a lot of construction going on around us for a few years when I was growing up. And my mom dusted daily, and not like I do, but thoroughly. Me, it's one little spot at a time, maybe the windowsills one day and the electronics another day.
But I'll be happy to join you in your Dust-a-thon, even though I am a wimp at dusting.
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Post by Peach on Jun 23, 2010 10:32:52 GMT -5
... dust is a never ending problem, isn't it? ... I am a wimp at dusting. No matter how cluttered or uncluttered my rooms might be, I don't "see" dust on furniture, unless I consciously focus in on it. On the other hand, dust is visible to me on the floor. As a result, dusting of furniture gets done about once a year. My solution is to get furniture in the house down to basic pieces only. Anyone else not see dust?
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Post by slothzilla on Jun 23, 2010 13:47:37 GMT -5
I'm not very aware of dust either, unless I make an effort to focus on it. I have some geodes in my living room that seem to emit an inordinate amount of dust constantly...and they are on a black surface, so it really shows up. That's what I get for collecting rocks, I guess!
I voted 'maintenance' because that applies to me in general the best, but not 100%.
I am in maintenance in my downstairs, and my upstairs hall and bathroom - the areas where i spend most of my time (while awake), and the main areas my guests see.
I am currently in 'action' in my bedroom - about 3/4 of the way through a big clean up (the last thorough clean up it had was about 8 months ago, and I haven't maintained it very well).
My second bedroom, which is my art studio, computer room, and 'junk' room (where i keep most of my collectibles, guitars & amps, and my more geeky stuff...which I have tons of) has also gotten pretty bad lately, so i am in 'contemplation' on that room. Hope to get started on it this weekend, after I get the bedroom wrapped up. The last thorough cleaning it had was a year ago...there's no food, cans, or garbage in it, just a ridiculous amount of clutter.
(Just today, a coworker sold me a rather large digital recording studio, which is going in my spare bedroom - so I've got to make room for it! I have a spot in mind, just have to clear it out).
I'm also in 'contemplation' of my closets and storage shed - they desperately need a good purging and reorganization. Since I'm the only one who ever sees them, they've been a low priority, but I'll be very glad when they are in better shape.
Also still in contemplation of a book & dvd purge in general...boy do they accumulate fast!
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jan 1, 2011 20:14:28 GMT -5
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Bumping this old thread forward for the newcomers.
Keep in mind that it's an old thread ... and not everyone is currently at the same place that they used to be when they first replied.
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Post by dayeanu on Jan 1, 2011 21:45:16 GMT -5
Great thread and poll.
Lioness, I too relate incredibly to your story.
I think I am in what you referred to as half way into step 2.
"I had embraced the first half of Step 2 "came to believe that I could get help from a power greater than myself" -- which could be the collective wisdom of recovering peers or perhaps a spiritual source.
But I hadn't accepted the second half of Step 2 -- that I could be "restored to sanity". In other words, I hadn't yet accepted that I actually COULD change!"
I think I have tried and failed so many times, I don't believe I CAN change. After all, I've been this way for 40-50 years.
Even though I do take a little action, I think it is really just contemplation.
Great thread, as always! Thank you!
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Post by journeyhome on Jan 2, 2011 8:49:35 GMT -5
I would best describe my current state as being at the levels, contemplation, preparation and action, with the ratios maybe 35/35/30.
With time I hope to change as there is not as much contemplating needed and more action undertaken.
Thanks for this poll, it's made me realize that it's OK for me to spend put in some time figuring out what tasks need to come first and how I'll make it happen
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Post by StuffNoMore on Jan 2, 2011 9:04:05 GMT -5
- Bumping this old thread forward for the newcomers. Keep in mind that it's an old thread ... and not everyone is currently at the same place that they used to be when they first replied. - I'm so happy I'm not at the same place, as now I'm in full maintenance!!! Thank you for bumping this Dear Ms Lioness..... what a nice way to start my New Year!
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Post by TML on Jan 2, 2011 13:31:12 GMT -5
Hi Lion,
I am at action stage. I think that action should be broken down into maybe smaller categories. This stage takes so long.
There is the Digging in stage (getting rid of obvious trash), the worst of it scrub stage, the Purge and putting stuff up stage, the major Scrubing stage... I am sure there are lots more.
I am leaving the Digging in stage and alternating with the worst of it scrub stage. I have just started in some rooms purging and putting up. I did the every room you go in toss 20 items in the trash and put up 5 until I finally went into a room and there was no obvious trash to toss in the bag.
I think we can get lost in the Action stage. It is easy to prepare (at least for me) ... dream of what I want and thinking about how it should look and get the cleaning stuff gathered up.
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Post by Ally on Jan 2, 2011 14:10:51 GMT -5
I just became aware of my problem with 'stuff" recently. I am, hopefully, moving from the preparation stage to the action stage. So far I have desqualored a small area of my kitchen, hopefully this area will continue to grow over the next few days/weeks/months until the whole house is desqualored. That is my goal.
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Post by sporadic on Jan 2, 2011 14:40:50 GMT -5
I finally changed my vote to "maintenance." I've been in maintenance for a year and didn't feel in a safety zone of no-going-back until the year anniversary hit.
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Post by Ally on Jan 2, 2011 17:35:56 GMT -5
I finally changed my vote to "maintenance." I've been in maintenance for a year and didn't feel in a safety zone of no-going-back until the year anniversary hit. I hope I can be where you are in two years!
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Post by penguinectomy on Jan 3, 2011 13:06:30 GMT -5
Here's where I struggle: I would like to think that I'm in the "action" phase because I'm tossing stuff, but the more I read here and elsewhere, the more I realize that just tossing/cleaning isn't recovering. All the head-work - noting my negative thoughts, noting my emotions, learning to coexist with my emotions without engaging in any of my numbing rituals (whether they center around food, stuff or money) - that's where recovery is. The tossing is a manifestation of doing the head-work. Or rather, the -consistency- of the tossing is a manifestation of doing the head-work. If I don't do that, I will run out of steam and it will be just like before. So I guess in some ways I'm still in preparation? Idunno.
Lioness, I like how you listed the different areas of your life that needed attention and evaluated your level in each one. That's a useful way to see progress.
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