KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

GreyQueen

Sayschezza wrote: »

Thanks GQ. I panic a bit when I have too much of anything and I am a neurotic control freak with too much time on my hands?

Apropros of nothing, I asked a gathering of pals, mostly professional women from late thirties to mid-fifties, if they considered themselves to be control freaks?

I raised my hand first, and so did the rest of us, control-freakery is a very popular pastime, it seems. Mine is limited by not having too much time on my hands but I could see myself getting twitchy if I had the time.

Decided the aforementioned skirt will go to the chazzer after w*rk tomorrow, no point in hanging onto it, I can use every inch of the 3 ft wide clothes rail then.

PollyWollyDoodle

Kittie, it's lovely to read your statement 'all the sadness has been drained out of that room'. So often I find it's the other way round and that a room drains me of happiness and energy, and that's been the biggest impact of KM for me - uncluttered, peaceful rooms make a difference to everything I do.

You're really inspiring me over on the sewing thread! I'm going to start altering some clothes now, not an area I'm very skilled in but I'm determined not to keep stuff that isn't joyful.

SparksAlive

Little while since I posted, still working on decluttering the house bit by bit. I've had some success throwing clothes into a bag - I have three pink sacks in my spare room now with clothes in them, but I don't feel weird about it because I haven't thrown them away yet. If I can go a while without missing any specific items, then I know I don't need them and can give them away.


I'm also being more ruthless with gifts and decorations. I rarely drink, but I have three bottles of pina colada, wine and liqueur in the kitchen, sitting on the side. They look pretty, but I know I'll never actually drink them. But they were all presents for various birthdays/Christmas and I've felt bad about getting rid of them. Then I realised - the people who gave them to me are never going to notice if I don't have them. It's not like it's normal to quiz people on where their alcohol is! So I'm going to donate them to a raffle at work


I've also had a great idea for some of my paperwork. I have reams and reams of old notebooks and pads of paper where I wrote down poetry or stories as a child. I even have some pictures I drew when I was very young. I don't want to lose the memory but they're taking up a huge box under my bed and I had no idea what to do with them. Solution - take pictures of them! I can store the photos digitally and organise them, and then get rid of the physical copies knowing I still have the memories.

Siebrie

My parents are helping out muchly! My Mum is great at gathering all the mess in one out of the way corner, cleaning the main area, and then working through the mess. She has done 3 loads of laundry yesterday, and folded them in neat piles on our bed. I do have to say that her memory is slowly going, and her ability to group like-with-like is diminishing, so there are many small piles, containing all sorts (e.g. my 2 dds and my pants in one pile - I don't wear timy Hello Kitty pants ) To me it's just funny, and refolding and sorting is not a problem. The help she is giving me is already a great boost.

wort

I have taken down the sympathy cards 85 of them . They were headed straight for recycling when my sister said are you not keeping them it's lovely to read. I put an elastic round them and they are sat on the side. I think I will check who I need to write thank you cards to, and then get rid of them, I don't think picking them up in future is going to be beneficial at all.

I have packed up all hubby's clothes just a few to be kept, dgson wanted his glasses, and I will keep his rugby jerseys till he's older and see if he wants them then. I'm not sure wether to ring usual charity shop or check with local one that helps the towns homeless especially if they can take coats to hand out .

It's been such a shock, that I don't feel it's my life anymore, keeping busy and tidying is helping though.

PollyWollyDoodle

Wort, I would just say don't make any sudden decisions, in case your feelings change - however I am with you on the sympathy cards. I kept ones sent to me after my parents died and rereading them definitely didn't spark joy. There's a growing trend of videoing funerals, each to their own but I can't help wondering if people ever want to watch it again.

You got a lot of cards though - I hope there's some comfort in knowing that so many people cared about you and your husband.

greenbee

wort - my mother has a couple of files with all the letters that she was sent when my dad died. She hasn't started replying yet (people don't expect replies) but there are some lovely memories and sentiments in those letters that provide her with real comfort and make her realise that there was more to my dad than she knew!

With clothes, we sorted out stuff for the local homeless shelter (googled it) and the things that aren't suitable (smart leather shoes, ties, jackets) will eventually go to a CS, but we're not in a rush.

WeeMidgie

I have read of fabric from deceased person's shirts or tee shirts being used to create a memorial quilt, either home made or made up professionally. May be worth considering if this is something you might like, before donating loved one's clothes?

wort

Thank you Pollywollydoodle, I was very moved by just how many cards and how may came to the funeral, hubby was certainly very well loved . Re- cards I know when I kondoed sentimental I had huge amounts of cards and I got rid of almost all and no longer keep them.
I have hubby's wedding ring and his watch which has a link taken out to fit me. Clothes I've picked just a couple of things.
Greenbee I've rung the local charity they said that all the clothes in the shop is provided to the homeless free of charge if they are referred from the sister soup kitchen in town. Other than that the clothes are sold to provide money for the charity.
Weemidgie thanks for reminding me of that it's an idea for something I could do for dgson.
I've just been with him to the new despicable me movie, and he's staying over to keep me company .

x_raphael_xx

wort wrote: »

I have taken down the sympathy cards 85 of them . They were headed straight for recycling when my sister said are you not keeping them it's lovely to read. I put an elastic round them and they are sat on the side. I think I will check who I need to write thank you cards to, and then get rid of them, I don't think picking them up in future is going to be beneficial at all.

I know it's not the same thing...but we kept all our wedding cards and glued them into a scrap book. I can honesty say in the 5 years between the wedding and the divorce, we never got them out to look through them once.
We never looked through our wedding photos either for that matter.

SparksAlive wrote: »

I'm also being more ruthless with gifts and decorations. I rarely drink, but I have three bottles of pina colada, wine and liqueur in the kitchen, sitting on the side. They look pretty, but I know I'll never actually drink them. But they were all presents for various birthdays/Christmas and I've felt bad about getting rid of them. Then I realised - the people who gave them to me are never going to notice if I don't have them. It's not like it's normal to quiz people on where their alcohol is! So I'm going to donate them to a raffle at work

Surely the gifters will assume they've been drunk & enjoyed?