When did my decluttering start?
Really 27 years ago when I had to move from north to south Wales to stay in work.
(Or was it the year before when myself and four children kicked out their father...who was then divorced for mental cruelty?)
Each subsequent move you try and sort a little, but run out of "oomph"..and just box up what's left!
Moving up to Scotland in 2012 , my belongings came in small loads as we visited Wales and returned with stuff...but after five months we had to move ...from a three bedroom shepherd's cottage to a wee "but and ben"....one bedroom, one living room...and we both each had Stuff from three bedroom properties!!
Much reduction had to happen then...but not enough..we were busy doing gardening as a job, cycling and travelling!....then after a year together Pirate's first cancer diagnosis.
A short lived disastrous move then happened...and the move to this present house almost ten years ago.
Having moved so often, the feeling of security was lacking...things just stayed packed for a long time...just in case!
But eventually we did start gently on the process of sorting and reducing.
Not easy for either of us... everything holds memories....and then with his second cancer diagnosis everything changed.
Now there is still so much needing to be done.
Some people would just clear everything not needed into a rubbish skip.
However there are many things that could have a useful life elsewhere....some things to give away, some things that need to be sold.
All to give me physical and more importantly mental space to get on with my life.
I'm trying not to be like a rabbit caught in car headlights!!
Perhaps that is one of the reasons that I travel..apart from the fact that you see and learn interesting things...you go away from the job and return with more energy!
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21 comments:
Energy is not something you seem to be lacking! I am often in awe when I read your blog posts.
It's just keep on keeping on...even if slowly... sometimes as if through treacle!!
I laughed out loud at the”27 years”. That’s us right there. A friend of mine was shocked when I was mentioning that we were doing some decluttering and said “ but you started that two years ago…”. Keep on plugging on you are doing just fine.
KJ
There's such a wonderful sense of lightness of being once clutter is cleared away and moved on!
When we moved and downsized a year ago, we got rid of so much stuff. Its been very liberating having less, and as there isn't much storage, I can't keep/hide things. No garage anymore either, just a smallish shed. Xx
You sort and declutter in a very balanced and well thought out manner.
For me, I declutter and sort seriously when my relatives come to stay for a month. I look forward to their stay and also the motivation it gives me to get everything nicely arranged.
I've lived a similar life-style, with so many places I called home due to jobs and family decisions. There are boxes that I dare say will stay packed past my demise, just because I prefer to look at sunny days, read blogs, write blogs, meet with friends, and less and less to travel also. It's all a matter of what we wish to spend our time on, at least for me. I'm so glad that you share about your life here, and continue being creative!
Thanks KJ x
I've always insisted that nothing was put in the loft!!
Yes.... daughter and SIL will be here for a couple of days in two weeks' time....
The writing keeps me going..and at times writing about something...and going back to read it..can give me a different view
I stared to declutter after seeing what hubby and his brothers had to deal with.
That was about ten years ago now. I’ve been mindful of collecting lots of “stuff “. I really don’t have the space for storage anyway.
It’s so difficult that I tend to do it in spurts. That way it’s not a shock to my system
Well that’s the theory anyway
I’ve gone the other way in the past three years:
—after reducing to a couple carloads to live in a room, I’ve been gathering stuff in my one-bedroom.
Feels luxurious…
But sometimes I miss having almost nothing! 😄
For us with decluttering, it can often feel like one step forward, two steps back.
It ongoing isn't it? The challe ge is huge here, as we buy and sell, so we always have stuff coming in. I take at least one large box to the thrift every week, not junk but stuff we no longer need, don't wear or use, bought to sell but realized it was a mustake, or came in an auction lot, or haven't been able to sell. And then, lime today, someone gives us a load of stuff and only about 25% of it is syllable in our booths or online...and on it goes.
Decluttering is good, we always do it in large amounts every time we move. Also I've changed my blog name it's here at https://blue-day3.blogspot.com/
Oh dear, gz...that last sentence! my brain danced on ahead 'you go away and return...' My brain took me straight to 'with more stuff' and my brain said Nooooooooooo. Then the 'with more energy' registered. That's good then. More energy is good.
I think many people struggle with too much "stuff" -- it's the curse of modern life! (And also a blessing, I suppose.) I admire your slow and methodical approach to disposing of things. I don't put things in skips (if I can help it) but I do donate to charity shops!
We've lived in our house for 24 years. We raised our family and now find we are surrounded by a lifetime of crap.
One step at a time. But you seem to be taking giant steps. We have too much "stuff" too but I can't seem to gather the energy to do anything about it. But, as Scarlett O'hara said, "Tomorrow is another day."
Do a small bit every day....allow 20 minutes....
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