Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

silentsister

Please excuse this long comment, but I wanted to share some thoughts on what I'd gained this month.
I love books, they are incredibly important to me, my training was in librarianship. Books speak of their contents, their shapes, their previous owners and their contexts. The last time my books were decluttered was by my family after I’d left home (to another continent) and they were moving. I travelled overseas with just three books. From that time on, I acquired. My own interests, books I helped to create, books I inherited, books I was given (I can remember one Christmas travelling home and being saddened by the non-existent book gifts –to find there were actually 7 in my suitcase!). They took over and dictated my life. I have ended up in a large house, just to accommodate the books. A room downstairs had to be lined with shelves so that finally I could see what I had. However, I knew that things had to change. I have retired, I have settled in a new area and I am living a different life. I knew that I needed to assess my books differently. Do they relate to me, to who I am now and to the lifestyle I want? If not they are my clutter. If I just continued to pass on a couple a month to a charity shop there would be no change. I absolutely needed a target. It has helped me so much and (see my sig) I will go on after July. But this month I have ordered two books (2nd hand!); one is a book I make use of each time I visit one friend, so I know I would use it and the other is one that will update and replace about 15 books already on the shelves. I feel free to have a current relationship with these wonderful objects - and I wouldn’t have been able to write all that 30 days ago!

pigpen

August Abolition is good.. I likey that one.

marmiterulesok

silentsister wrote: »

Please excuse this long comment, but I wanted to share some thoughts on what I'd gained this month.
I love books, they are incredibly important to me, my training was in librarianship. Books speak of their contents, their shapes, their previous owners and their contexts. The last time my books were decluttered was by my family after I’d left home (to another continent) and they were moving. I travelled overseas with just three books. From that time on, I acquired. My own interests, books I helped to create, books I inherited, books I was given (I can remember one Christmas travelling home and being saddened by the non-existent book gifts –to find there were actually 7 in my suitcase!). They took over and dictated my life. I have ended up in a large house, just to accommodate the books. A room downstairs had to be lined with shelves so that finally I could see what I had. However, I knew that things had to change. I have retired, I have settled in a new area and I am living a different life. I knew that I needed to assess my books differently. Do they relate to me, to who I am now and to the lifestyle I want? If not they are my clutter. If I just continued to pass on a couple a month to a charity shop there would be no change. I absolutely needed a target. It has helped me so much and (see my sig) I will go on after July. But this month I have ordered two books (2nd hand!); one is a book I make use of each time I visit one friend, so I know I would use it and the other is one that will update and replace about 15 books already on the shelves. I feel free to have a current relationship with these wonderful objects - and I wouldn’t have been able to write all that 30 days ago!

A book can mean so much,not just because of a wonderful or enriching story.You can keep the memory of the book even if you no longer have it.

How many more do you plan to declutter?

I had a day off yesterday.I might manage somnething today.

rumblytum

silentsister wrote: »

Please excuse this long comment, but I wanted to share some thoughts on what I'd gained this month.
I love books, they are incredibly important to me, my training was in librarianship. Books speak of their contents, their shapes, their previous owners and their contexts. The last time my books were decluttered was by my family after I’d left home (to another continent) and they were moving. I travelled overseas with just three books. From that time on, I acquired. My own interests, books I helped to create, books I inherited, books I was given (I can remember one Christmas travelling home and being saddened by the non-existent book gifts –to find there were actually 7 in my suitcase!). They took over and dictated my life. I have ended up in a large house, just to accommodate the books. A room downstairs had to be lined with shelves so that finally I could see what I had. However, I knew that things had to change. I have retired, I have settled in a new area and I am living a different life. I knew that I needed to assess my books differently. Do they relate to me, to who I am now and to the lifestyle I want? If not they are my clutter. If I just continued to pass on a couple a month to a charity shop there would be no change. I absolutely needed a target. It has helped me so much and (see my sig) I will go on after July. But this month I have ordered two books (2nd hand!); one is a book I make use of each time I visit one friend, so I know I would use it and the other is one that will update and replace about 15 books already on the shelves. I feel free to have a current relationship with these wonderful objects - and I wouldn’t have been able to write all that 30 days ago!

Thanks silentsister, that's a really thought provoking post.

It has got me thinking about my own clutter. I have severe depression which is being medicated, and I have no doubt that my clutter is a symptom - running away from life - parking it in a corner until I can deal with it. When the clutter - and all the other symptoms - starting overtaking the house, and I curled up and became incapable of facing the day - that's when I admitted I was ill and needed to seek some help. I know that I'm feeling well again for the first time in a decade - albeit with the help of drugs - and I suddenly seem able to tackle a whole shed load of stuff - metaphorical and literal :rotfl: I'm hoping to reduce the medication at the end of the year, but am hoping that my attempts to tackle 'stuff' of all shapes and sizes will make my recovery more achievable.

rumbly x

bonnie_bumpkins

loopychriss wrote: »

I'm calling mine 'August Abolition'....

Oooh yes, August Abolition, that's a good one! Will add to signature in readiness

silentsister thank you, that was a lovely post, very helpful. Food for thought, & I need to digest! If I struggle to get rid I will read your post again for inspiration xx

This morning is being spent catching up on housework. I might do a bit of light decluttering this afternoon before we go to Mum & Dad's for dinner.

Onwards!

BettiePage

BettiePage wrote: »

Second chance bidder has just been and collected the headboard. £30 better off now

72. Old epilator - binned (although it has been replaced with a snazzy new one).
73. Empty 1ltr bottle bodywash - recycling.
74. Empty bottles of shampoo and conditioner - recycling.

75. 2x empty plant pots - recycling.
76. 2x half used bags of compost - used to repot 2x lavender plants.


I won't be hitting the 100 mark this month, but over the last 3 months have definitely chucked out more than 300 items. We moved house which was the big incentive. It has also changed my shopping habits as I don't want to accumulate more 'stuff' just for the sake of it after all the hard work we've put in.

So, a BIG thank you to you all for your inspiration and tips. I'll keep popping in occasionally if I may to make sure I'm kept on my toes in the clutter department.

:beer:
xx

Jinx

Dug up a chipped area in the garden today, laid some weed suppressing material and rechipped - only had the material from my last house - emm over 5 years ago, so thats one little space in the shed.

Having family over for dinner so thats a roast beef joint decluttered from the freezer Does this count? lol

suzeesu2000

rumblytum wrote: »

Thanks silentsister, that's a really thought provoking post.

It has got me thinking about my own clutter. I have severe depression which is being medicated, and I have no doubt that my clutter is a symptom - running away from life - parking it in a corner until I can deal with it. When the clutter - and all the other symptoms - starting overtaking the house, and I curled up and became incapable of facing the day - that's when I admitted I was ill and needed to seek some help. I know that I'm feeling well again for the first time in a decade - albeit with the help of drugs - and I suddenly seem able to tackle a whole shed load of stuff - metaphorical and literal :rotfl: I'm hoping to reduce the medication at the end of the year, but am hoping that my attempts to tackle 'stuff' of all shapes and sizes will make my recovery more achievable.

rumbly x

That really brilliant Rumbly. I empathise totally as I have suffered with depression for over 15 years. I have good days when I can see "the light" and have the motivation to deal with the accumulated clutter. When I have that, it gives me a huge surge of good feelings which motivate me to do a bit more - hopefully a new circle. I also feel, personally, that having tidyness and order around me makes a peaceful, calm and tranquil place where all the stress is easier to let go and dissolve. Its really a win/win situation.

keep it up, :T

katie89

I had a sort out of my wardrobe yesterday and got rid of a big bag of clothes for the cs that either don't fit properly, that I don't feel happy/ comfortable/ fabulous in, or that I just haven't worn in forever. I can actually close the wardrobe door now!

short_bird

3 plants, 2 plant dishes to bin: 1 pack blank cards, 3 books, 1 magazine added to charity shop bag. Oh, and more shredding and recycling of assorted papers!

20.33: 7 items out via Ebay.