Simplifying Life - Mark II

rosieben

This thread is about so much more than decluttering I know, but I just found this thread - The Complete 'how to declutter and organise your home' collection;

I haven't had a chance to look properly but on first glance it looks quite useful.

mary43

Aril - very true quote.
You're so right about the mealtimes being 'together'' times as much as possible. We try and do that with the youngsters we look after -not easy as their ages mean theyre often out and about and its a case of 'can you put mine in the microwave please?'...........but this time of the year they're in more than out due to the cold and they certainly do talk a lot more over a meal -very necessary with the kids we have and it gives them the chance to 'unload' a few feelings/emotions etc.

Rosie - useful thread...........very scary when I first looked and thought - heavens where would I start:eek: Then I kick myself and remind myself that I did it last year.............keeping on top of it seems to be my problem as it seems I'm a messy person and thats the bit I find I can;t seem to change.
I also fill my head with a load of 'stuff' that needn't be there and keep hoping that if I clear my house I'll clear my head -or is it the other way round

Lula-Hula

Evening to all,

Firework, so sorry to hear you've been struggling with the eternal balancing. It's so healthy to come here & get it all out of your system. I kind of know how you feels as although i work from home so dont necessarily have to despatch DD elsewhere, I still feel the guilt for saying "When I've finished this bit" or " in a minute" or "Sorry but I have too much to do today" etc etc etc.

Here I am dreading half term...again :rolleyes: .

As to the fresh fruit & veg problem, I agree with Ceridwen that many little ones prefer raw stuff they can hold in their hand & nibble on. DD loves fruit but really struggles with cooked veg, yet she will happily eat peas straight from the pod at the allotment. She frequently has sausages, mashed potatoes & raw carrots :rolleyes: . Try not to worry too much & if you find one thing he likes, just give him plenty of that.

Mary - I HAVE DONE ALL THE DRAWERS :j . I started on one, found I had to do another as they were mixed & just carried on. There loads of DDs artwork & mothers day gifts - now safely stored in a box, instructions, warranties & leaflets for appliances that havent been here for years . Repair patches for paddling pools also long gone , school reports - now carefully filed & all manner of bits regarding school stuff , now out of date. Bith certificates, prescriptions & an E111 form. Much of the craft stuff just needed to be tidied & rearranged & I've left the drawer full of hama beads as it was, ditto the glass decorating stuff. However, I now have a drwer for cloths, mats & napkins - so much better than the windowsill wher they've lived for ... as long as I can remember . I also have 2 lovely empty drawers now & another wodge of paper to add to the pile of stuff to be shredded.

What I have learnt is that I must not just shove stuff in a drwer with the intention of filing/dealing with it 'later'. It needs to be dealt with that day.

It was absolutely liberating & as the sun was still shiing when I'd finished we went for a long walk around 'my spiritual place'. Although many trees have fallen & are bare, there were patches of snow & it was beautiful, there were buds on the rhododendrons, some gorse was blooming & it was quiet & peaceful yet definitely stirring from slumber.

I feel as though I've achieved a lot this week end which is comforting as so often I seem to rush around but not actually finish a single project.

Thank you for your daily nagging Mary, I certainly would not have done it otherwise, nor if you hadnt started this thread Ceridwen.

To all here thank you :A

lula

firework

Oh Lula, thankyou for your kind words, well done on your acheivement and what a lovely post... i especially liked the bit about your walk - sounds wonderful. the snow is falling softly here tonight and the trees and rooftops look a picture in the faint moonlight.

having just seen the terrible news about the fires in Australia where whole towns have been raised to the ground, tonight i am counting my blessings, i have a roof over my head, a safe warm home and all my family around me. feel ashamed for my grumbling and it certainly puts these minutae problems into their true perspective.

tonight work was slow, and we actually turned off the tv and enjoyed the peace and quiet, with DS reading !! his comic, OH snoozing and me reading and enjoying DS's school story book lol!

ceridwen

LULA - Our Mary will have to find something else to "nag" you about now.......:D ....oh...go on..list the next thing staring you in the face to declutter....we're enjoying watching this..;)

FIREWORK - We're all entitled to our "down days" - we are human after all. I think we all remember the "perspective" on this, as we moan about our own personal lives (me included....wanna hear about my j*b....you'd be sat there for hours........:cool:. Work has often been a 4 letter word to me - sometimes more than others) - so I think that, whilst we offload a bit about our own lives - we DO remember those who are in an even worse situation (such as those in Australia right now). I doubt that anyone on this thread forgets for long just how bad things are for a lot of people elsewhere in the world..who have been trying their best....but are finding their circumstances very difficult. We all, I guess, "relate" more to those in similar cultures to ourselves - I know I find it easier to mentally "put myself in someone's position" if they look like me/talk the same language as me/etc......and then I remind myself that there's also a lot of people suffering who dont look or sound anything like me (women in many Arabic countries, the ordinary Chinese person in the street working incredibly long hours in factories, etc).

If one really sat down and thought hard about it - it is very difficult to "face" the thought of all that suffering and I guess we all have our own ways of dealing with this...some people dont actually care about it (but that obviously doesnt include anyone on this thread - as I'm sure we all do care). In my own mind personally - I guess I handle this/explain it to myself with my belief in reincarnation - so I sit there and think "I've been that oppressed woman/I've been that starving peasant/and I've also been a rich uncaring totally heedless spoilt brat type of person - and I watch many of the bankers now and see that they are in the 21st century version of that rich/uncaring/spoilt brat life....and I know how much they will regret having done that in future lives."

sarahs999

Just popping in to say hi. I haven't posted on here for ages but it's always popping up in my user list and it gives me a warm feeling just looking at it! Have just been booking myself some time off, and for three of the days I will be acompletely on my own in the house - am looking forward to taking some control back and simplifying as many areas as I can.

mary43

Lula - :hello:Congratulations :T :T :T :T
Now.............instead of me nagging you can you have a go at me and get me sorting stuff out here ??? I did manage to reframe some pictures this morning and actually put them on the walls but there's still a pile of frames I want to keep ............or do I ???? I'm getting fed up with the cats knocking them over and I know if I put them in a cupboard they''ll still be there in a years time :eek:
And you're so right about the 'shoving it in a drawer for now' habit - something I expect we''ve all been guilty of (still am!!) So, I need nagging, but gently..................lol

firework - we all have those times when the world seems to have fallen in on us and it can take time to realise that we have so many blessings compared to others. Your evening sounds a delight and what a lovely way to spend your time when you get the chance. Not enough people do that nowadays which is a real pity. They don't know what they're missing.

ceridwen - there are always people in a worse situation that ours -despite our quite justified moans at times - and what really annoys me is the lack of compassion shown by many folk. If people lose jobs and homes........well they must have done something wrong, depression ? pull yourself together, etc.
My recent health situation was responded to by my brother with.....''well, you must be living your life wrong somewhere'' and sadly there are many who share that view.
Still, that's their problem and I feel there must be something missing in their lives if the care and compassion has gone if you know what I mean.

Lula-Hula

Hello Mary,

so sorry to hear of your brother's response that must be very hurtful, I'm actually quite stunned so best not to dwell on it I think. Rest assured that ( & I'm confident I speak on behalf of everyone here) we dont share that attitude & wish you many hugs, good news & support.

I am delighted with the drawers ... just wish you hadnt mentioned picutres :eek: . Now, I have to say that I have spent most of my life hoarding all sorts "in case I want them later". However, I now think that this attitude has really held me back; as I never want to get more stuff because I already have old stuff although it may not be exactly what I want or need which is why it sits in a box, cupboard or my favourite - a basket :rolleyes: . You see what I'm getting at ? As well as all the photos I also have many frames ( some were gifts hence fall into the 'sentimental' category) & have now decided that I should just get rid of the ones I dont like or use.

Is is likely that in the event of you wanting new frames in the future that you will be able to find some, or ... will there be a world wide shortage & therefore you need to keep every single one 'just in case' :D .

It's cold wet & miserable here... just the right kind of weather to sort out pictures

Right, I must go now to deal with the 2 bits of mail - most likely junk :rolleyes: - that the postman has delivered...

My thoughts are with those who need them, wherever in the world

lula

mary43

Lula - reading back on my post I've now sorted out a pile of picture frames to go to the charity shop:j
The ones I've kept are ones that are just so nice I just know that eventually I'll find the right picture to go in them.
My son was at art college and most of my gifts from him tend to be drawings or paintings of some sort that warrant wall space, then I did a painting course myself and was so proud of some of them (note only some !) that I felt the need to put them on display as well, if only to remind myself, on those days when I feel useless and incapable of anything, that I can do something.

So, I think the really nice frames will have to go back in the blanket chest until such time they're needed.

Glad you mentioned mail...............couple of things I just must deal with.......today !!!:j

ceridwen

MARY

Good luck with things today - thinking of you.