#Microblog Monday 290: Getting Rid of Stuff
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We need to clean out the basement again. I am excellent at forgetting that I want to do this task (out of sight, out of mind), but Caroline Crampton inadvertently reminded me with her newsletter.
She’s the creator of the podcast Shedunnit (which is the best), and she writes an irregularly-sent newsletter about random stuff. A recent one was about taking stuff to the dump and the joy of getting rid of things you no longer need.
There is a joy in it. There is also an anxiety that I am getting rid of something I may regret getting rid of in the future. But I still need to do it. And I know I’ll feel joy in having the space.
What have you gotten rid of recently?
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I haven’t got rid of nearly enough lately. But I’m planning to have a good clean out soon. But then I’m always planning that!
It’s a great time to do something like this, when we’re all stuck at home, right? I took some time a few days ago to go through my bookshelves — which were getting overcrowded again — and do a bit of culling. I’ve found some of the same books that are on my shelves at bargain prices on the Kobo & Kindle websites, so (most of) the paper versions of those particular titles are being donated to the thrift shop. I love paper books, but e-books don’t take up any physical space, which is an especially important consideration in a condo. The books are packaged up & ready to go the next time we’re out. (Which may be a while, with social distancing, etc.)
I’m working on cleaning out clothing and dealing with my closet. Have been sorting and putting it aside, but it will probably be a little bit until it officially leaves the house since everything is closed right now.
I did this when both of my kids were in school full time for the first time ever, this fall. It did feel amazing. I donated a lot of baby stuff. I kept a few things I felt attached to. But I did have a moment of paralyzing fear after I filled my porch with bags and boxes of kid and baby clothing donations.
What if? What if I accidentally got rid of something special? And then I went about my day. And I do LOVE having the space now.
And especially in this moment, when we are all home together for a month, I am so happy to have the feeling of organization. To not be tripping over things. It is one positive I am feeling in all of this. In this way, I was very prepared.
I spent the weekend in that space of “it feels good to make space, but what if I discard something I’ll need later?” We cleaned out the office. I have done some sorting but not the actual discarding. Yet.
Not as much as I’d like to! I want to declutter and get rid of things, but time and energy to do so are in short supply. I did get rid of two boxes of kids’ clothes and another box of my own clothes.
Recently made a trip to Goodwill a couple weeks ago. Glad I did, bc we got the stuff out of the house/garage. I would imagine that Goodwill and related shops are closed and/or not taking donations right now.
Ugh! Don’t remind me! I REALLY need to purge, but it’s sooooooooo HARD to get motivated. It’s on the to do list while we’re “social distancing.”
I am constantly thinking that I should NOT have thrown something away later, so I drive Bryce nuts with what he considers hoarding, and I consider “collecting.” However, I did go through the pile of mail and recycled a bunch of stuff, and I went through all my old People Magazines to pull book recommendations and then recycle. I plan to clean my office while I’m home for however long. When we moved last year, it was a great time to purge! My goal moving forward is to minimize waste and throw out less because I’m using all the things (especially food). It’s real weird. But also probably really good to do.