I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We are still searching for that one chocolate egg, but I trust we will find it by Christmas.
I have been throwing away stuff today. I went through my closet, and threw away all the clothes I haven’t worn for at least two years. The yield was two big black garbage bags of clothes that I brought to the Samaritans’ collection container. Then little man and I sorted out one big bag of toys. Next went one garbage bag of bed and table linen, some of it received as wedding gifts from a marriage that is on the brink of oblivion. But that isn’t all of it. There is a big plastic container of pregnancy clothes in the storage room that I need to throw out, because as things stand now number two is not likely to come anytime soon. Problem is, it’s hard to get to. The storage room is full of stuff, that is not really mine - my husband bought it - but why do I have to live with it? I feel buried in stuff, and I want it gone… like yesterday.
After all the throwing-away, I saw a TV program about hoarders. Boy… at least our mess is confined to closets and storage rooms, but seeing the program reinforced the need to lighten the load. Of course there is that slightly guilty feeling of “you are throwing away things that are perfectly fine” but “I don’t want to be buried in stuff, that I don’t use” is much stronger.
So I am going to continue the theme over the next couple of days. There are more of little man’s toys to sort through, stacks of Cosima Inc. papers, shoes I haven’t worn in years, and nick nack that just gathers dust. I want it all gone.
And then there is the stuff that my husband bought, and has promised to take away soon. The promise was made a few months ago. The stuff is still here. Twenty kilos of electrical cables , an air cleaner that was switched on only once, a hi-fi system too complicated to use, hard case suitcase too heavy to take anywhere, and and and…
I spent a lot of time in my flat. It is my home as well as my work place, and I feel increasingly unhappy about the chaos in the corners. It needs to go.
i think it’s a sign of spring. time to open the windows, air the place out and clear out the junk. good luck with it.
Comment by lime — March 27, 2008 @ 1:38 am
I’ve got stuff to get rid of as well… but I’m doing the clean-up in spurts.
Comment by lecram — March 27, 2008 @ 7:37 am
When you are finished with cleaning your home, please come help the wife and I. Our basement alone could be a 2 month project. I understand how hard it is to clean and then let go of items that you don’t use, though you think you might need them 10 years from now. At least we live in a time and place where we can enjoy more than the bare necessities. I don’t know about you, but my kids toys would fill a truck. Of course I didn’t buy most of them, I think.
Comment by Larry w. stammer, jr — March 27, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
I too am needing a cleaning out of my space and things that are of old. Sounds like you are on the right track. I’m heading down a similar one this weekend. Yard sales and good will trips here I come! :)
Good luck with the rest of it!
Comment by Solitaire — March 29, 2008 @ 2:49 am
I’ve been getting rid of stuff for the last 2 years. When I left London in 2006, I had to give/throw away more than half the stuff I had, and still had to store a lot of stuff. Now I am in the process of getting rid of the rest. In mid-June, I intend having only 1 bag of clothes, 1 “bag” of musical equipment to store, and will travel with 1 small bag of clothes, 1 small bag of recording stuff/lap-top, and 1 guitar.
Good luck and best wishes!
Comment by kien lim — March 29, 2008 @ 6:28 am
::aside::
kien and his bags…..
:)
Cosima — I find it….cleansing…..to throw stuff out. My daughter usually comes and helps me do MY closet, with, “Mom, this is ugly. this is old. this makes you look fat.” In no time at all, the closet is done….
Comment by APj — April 1, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
When I found myself on my own after many years of having been part of a couple I did exactly the same thing. It was cathartic. I claimed my space. I put my stamp on everything. I recognized that the things left behind were never going to be missed or questioned, so I tossed and I painted and I re-arranged and from it all, I found a bit of release from my anger.
Is that what you’re doing? It’s a very healthy and helpful exercise!
Comment by CeeCi — April 2, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Yes, it has to go. Not only will it be cathartic but - when all around you is in some kind of order - the mind tends to accept a bit of organisation too.
Haven’t been around for a while, and I forgot how gorgeous the colours here are! Hope you’re well, Cosima.
Comment by wdky — April 8, 2008 @ 7:04 pm