Simplifying Life

icandream

Hello all

What a beautiful day. We're planning to enjoy a walk this afternoon in the hills.

However, just wanted to check on what's happening on this lovely thread and realised I'm getting a little confused with my attempts to simplify my life. As some of you know, I've been ploughing thru the thread - I'm now at page 20! But it's so slow, because I keep following links and suggestions of books, etc, etc, which I look up on Amazon, and it all feels as if I'm getting in more of a state (if that makes sense). Does anybody else feel like, sort of 'hold on, slow down, wait for me!'. I just don't feel I will EVER catch up!
This thread is so absorbing, but take last night. I spent 20 minutes watching the What happens to Stuff link (thank you, Ceridwen, for posting so many truly thought-provoking suggestions). Then I got caught up with JenniO's post (no. 387), which has brilliant suggestions for clearing my kitchen cupboards and meal-planning, so I got caught up in the idea of meal planning and spent this morning cataloguing the contents of my freezer, and throwing out all the old stuff from my cupboards. Huge thanks to Jenni, for prompting me, but it's left me a little befuddled about where to go from here. From small questions - I'm still bemused by a pack of gofio flour. Why have I got it, and what on earth do I do with it! - to larger questions, of how I keep up with all you efficient people! I know I'm failing.
Anyway, my point being, I feel more stressed at the moment. I got into the idea of meal planning, but looking at the other posts, I feel I'm just starting on all this stuff, and drowning in the idea of getting organised. When I look for help on other parts of the forum (brilliant threads on weekly meal planning, but what on earth is the monthly meal planning/budgeting challenge!), I find it frankly scary. I'm so interested in this thread, if I catch up with other threads, I'll become addicted to the computer.
So kind of losing my way - last on the bus, as usual! Any suggestions?
Funnily enough, wmf, I'm just trying meditation again for the first time (and the Summer book is on my shelf - another problem, like so many of you, I cannot let go of my books and I have hundreds). I've tried before and just can't seem to 'get' it, though I see the benefits in friends. I'll be interested to know how you get on. My head is constantly buzzing.
Oh gosh, sorry to ramble on. If you've read this post, thank you. If you get what I'm trying to say, please post a suggestion. I just feel a bit lost. A good long walk will help to clear my mind...

mary43

icandream - No, you're not the only one who feels confused, going round in circles etc. I'm much the same and I think my mistake initially with the re-cluttering was to expect I could do a real blitz on the house - some people can.........afraid I can't. I'm a 'slow, slow, quick quick slow' kind of person. I'll slowly but surely clear maybe the odd drawer.........then have a burst on something and back to the more gentle are of carefully sifting through stuff.
I'd hate to go mad and then regret later something I'd thrown out that was really quite dear to me. We all have our own pace. I'm basically lazy anyway............lol Yes, I have to admit it............I'd rather be sitting down doing something like card making than anything domesticated I'm afraid so its a real effort -then I notice the cobwebs forming a kind of mesh around me.............lol
Our next door neighbour is currently filling his trailer full of 'stuff' -second time this morning - and I'm dying to go out there and rescue some poor little item from being tipped.............how sad is that ?????

Talking of 'stuff'...............that link you were talking about :What happens to Stuff link- where is it and whats it about ? Don't remember seeing that ?

All my plans to randomly fill a box with bits and bobs today have gone out of the window............don't ask why cos I've not a clue. Just when it came to it I quickly found something else to do. Managed to sift through a few little bits but not much else. But hey.........it's Sunday ! It's wearing me out watching my neighbours throwing stuff out........!!!! I did pick a couple of books up then put them back.............lol oh dear..........is there any hope I wonder ?????...............lol

So worry not................enjoy your walk. Life isn't all about clearing out cupboards..............lol (well, not mine anyway):j

rosieben

icandream, you should go at your own pace and dont stress about it. I've been decluttering for 12 months and still loads to go. As Mary says, slowly is best!

There is a post or two earlier in this thread (you may not have got to it yet) where we talk about the fact that when we first start to declutter things seem to get worse for a while, even more chaotic; this will pass though and you will begin to see a difference.

Don't try to do everything at once, meal planning and your store cupboard inventory is a very good start, you're making more progress than you realise! :T

groatie_queen

I found this by chance this afternoon and it resonated, and stirred my heart, so I wanted to share it with you:

http://www.gratefulness.org/readings/27_things.htm

I will do this.....


GQ xxx

boddy

Really love this thread. Ive only posted once since reading it all the other day. But in the meantime Ive been looking at my books as have others on here. I actually have one shelf of books I have not read yet. So promised my friend I would not get any out of the library and work my way through them. The ones I am humming and haaing over are the subjects of counselling/spirtuality/diet books/. If anyone iis interested in these subjects just pm me. I dont know whether to sell them on greenmetropolis or take them to a charity shop. Ive always been of a mind to recycle things I no longer have use for.

By the way I loved that book Little Women and read it loads when young. I used to love reading Charles Dickens too. For me reading was a means of escaping.

Then of course there is the spare room. Im a believer in Feng Shui so think it will be getting the treatment soon. Then that will mean there is no clutter over my head if that makes sense.

Im going into the city tomorrow and I know I will look in the bookshops. Hopefully I will keep my hands in my pockets.

Hope you have all had a lovely Sunday.

ceridwen

Hi icandream

A suggestion for what its worth about reading this thread - perhaps if you just read straight through it and made a note of posts with links you wish to follow-up on (and perhaps the topic the link is on);

eg post no xxx, topic yyy link

and then go back and work through the list of posts you have noted later.

You could also bookmark the links you think are possible - putting them all on a "temporary" file in your pc - and then come back later for a flip through them to see which you wish to read just the once and which ones to transfer to a "permanent" folder.

ceridwen

mary43 - I mention the "Story of Stuff" video and give link to a blog its on in post 293, page 15.

If you dont want to scroll through all her blog entries since - another way would be:

www.storyofstuff.com/downloads.html

and scroll down to heading "movie download".

groatie_queen

I know some of you are further down this road, but I now feel extremely motivated to simplify my life. There are layers and layers to it, and the outer reflects the inner. We all go at our own pace, with our own realisations and epiphanies.

Right, today is my Day 1 of the 9 days in the 'Twenty-Seven Things' article - like the author I think it will get more of a challenge as the days go on. It's reminiscent of Flylady's 27-fling boogie, but I guess by staying with it for 9 days, 'stuff' will come uo to be dealt with! I know from past experience it's easy to have one 27-fling boogie and then leave it for 6 months!! Or a year....

I'm starting with easy stuff - the cassette tapes, I no longer have a cassette player, and ditto for the video tapes. Between the two, there are two carrier bags for the charity shop - will they thank me for them?!

Tomorrow I'll start on books - that's a toughie. I did a clothes purge a short while ago, but that will be the focus of day 3. Day 4 - 7 - more books (I have rather a lot). day 8 - general clutter, day 9 anything else I haven't finished by then!

I'll keep a note of the challenges = attachments! And then if necessary I'll repeat the process. I'll keep what expresses the essence of me.

GQ xxx

mary43

Sounds like you've got it all well organised. Why is it my little brain drifts from books to drawers and whatever is in them ? Result.........lot of 'looking and thinking'..............not a lot else
Good luck..........sounds like a method worth following:T


Sorry, hadn't read your link ........well worth bookmarking (which I have)

ceridwen - thanks for the link............I'll have a good look at it once we've had dinner.

ceridwen

Just seen a link to the "Story of Stuff" on the website Groatie Queen gave us:

www.gratefulness.org

Click "Topics"

Scroll down to "Simple Living" heading. "More Simple Living resources".

On that page scroll down to "Story of Stuff" link

..right -back for another look at that website.