Simplifying Life

groatie_queen

Days 8 & 9, 27/9

The liberation of books continued today - I've hit today's target, all the books are in carrier bags and will go to support MacMillan Cancer Care, who gave Mum brilliant support. I've done tomorrow's 27 too, as I will be back at work and I know I won't feel like crawling into the eaves tomorrow evening.

I just feel overwhelmed by the sheer numbers I've dealt with, 27 x 9 = 243, is an awful lot of books. Knowing I can do it again and still have books left over is another sobering thought too. I've had a lot of pleasure from being a bibliophile and an avid reader, but it was the duplicates that really pulled me up short - three, yes three copies of the Little Earth Book... two copies of a vegetarian recipe book... is my memory really that bad?! Or did I buy the spares to give as presents? I just can't remember. One thing is for certain, I will never buy as many books as I have in the past, this has cured me!

Working steadily away at letting go over the 9 days has been a good process, it has certainly been transformative in my relationship to 'stuff' and I've shifted from intellectually knowing I had too much stuff, to actually feeling and reacting to the sheer scope of it. This inevitably has dented my image of myself as reasonably good to the planet and not a big consumer - I was fooling myself where books are concerned! I knew I had quite a few, but I had quite a few more than I had reckoned on!

If you want to change or explore your relationship to 'stuff', particularly after seeing 'The Story of Stuff' http://www.storyofstuff.com/, this '27 Things' process is a great help. http://www.gratefulness.org/readings/27_things.htm

Wishing us all (me in particular) the wisdom of enough

GQ xxx

rosh12

ceridwen wrote: »

www.you.co.uk/pages/you/article.html?in_article_id=514785&in_page_id=1908

an update from the woman who didnt buy anything unnecessary for a year.

GREAT article Ceridwen (though I'm slightly gutted as it disproves my theory that the Mail is evil...)

ceridwen

rosh12

:rotfl: :rotfl: glad you enjoyed the article. Well - even the Daily Mail can be responsive to the zeitgist:D

I wince a bit at many of the viewpoints expressed - but there are times when they have some good stuff (notably their anti-GM food campaign)

And - on a different note - the dustbin men arent going to be too happy with me this coming week - lost count of the stuff that will be waiting for them. But at least a charity shop might be - for the stuff they are getting. I havent been counting how many bits I've thrown - just operating on a see it/dont want it/chuck it basis.

(edit: just goes to show that one doesnt necessarily know what to expect from any newspaper - I just headed over to the website of the Guardian newspaper - and shock/horror found an article extolling the virtues of supermarkets) - lol

RedSpecs

ceridwen wrote: »

www.you.co.uk/pages/you/article.html?in_article_id=514785&in_page_id=1908

an update from the woman who didnt buy anything unnecessary for a year.

Wow!! We could all take a leaf out of her book, eh?

ceridwen

And what I am pondering today - in response to a newspaper article about the speed we are living our lives at - is slow living.

A link people might like:

www.slowmovement.com/


and the article concerned:

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=515435&in_page_id=1770

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Even though it's half term we've had to get up earlier today in order to drop the small person off with my friend who's holding the fort this morning . I shall return the favour this Friday when I'm off. I shall take the little herberts somewhere that's got lots of space where the little herberts can run and make as much noise as they please. Boys seems to have endless energy..it was such a shock when I had one as I've got a sister:D
We've done a bit more sorting today....or should that read OH has. We managed to get some microwave brackets from freecycle which OH seemed decidely chuffed about. He rummaged about in the garage [another of my....er ....out of sight out of mind areas that I am in denial about:D ]and emerged triumphant with a spare shelf. Result one computer now up on shelf [was going to type "mounted" but had the most peculiar vision in my head for a moment:rotfl: :rotfl: ] and all the area around it has been sorted out and tidied. Me meanwhile...well that's a whole different story. I sorted out some bits under the bed and has discovered that I really need to hoover:eek: [ a lovely little job for tonight:rolleyes: ] and I still haven't done my kitchen cupboards as I know that I'll then need to clean them. I think I'll do them in stages over the next few weeks otherwise the doors will stay firmly shut [other than when I am on a biscuit raiding exercise and tbh I know their exact location and I can be in and out without so much as a sideways glance:D ]
A little thought I had yesterday is about taking blessings from things that don't look like they bear any relationship to a blessing. As many others have had I'm sure I've now got a fair bit of life "experience" under my belt...some of which at the time I would have preferred not to have happened. However, I have to say I always learn a lot more from the difficult times and positive change always happens. I have also realised that althought I am one of life's worriers I am strong over the big things. So my thanks today goes to moaning....yes I am guilty of it..no saint here...I'm not talking about constantly whining. Just the odd mutter. My best friend had cancer last year. She's now thankfully had the all clear and has made huge changes- she's started an OU degree and they have the most gorgeous puppy arriving shortly. However, speaking to her a few days ago she moaned about her Mother [they have always had a tricky relationship]....that was the biggest proof to me that my friend is feeling much back and back to normal after what has been a very stressful period for her. It was such a relief!
Quote for you today:
After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't always mean leaning and company doesn't always mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises. And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and you eyes open. And with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for your plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns you if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you will learn that you really can endure. That you really are special and you really do have worth. So live to learn and know yourself. In doing so, you will learn to live.
Veronica Shoffstall
Aril

mags50_2

That's lovely Aril.... brought tears to my eyes...

xxx

rosieben

Aril, thats beautiful, thanks for sharing it. The poem is by Veronica Shoffstall I believe. I found it some time ago but had lost it again. Now its safely saved in my quotes and poems folder!

Aril

Thanks for giving me the author Rosieben. I've had it for years but never knew who wrote it.
For those of you having a crisis of conscience because you don't think you're decluttering fast enough and doing the guilt thing don't compare and despair! Perhaps you'd like to join my hoopla club instead.....my halo has slipped that far that it's now around my waist and I've found I can hoopla with it instead. Well might aswell turn a negative into a positive:rotfl: :rotfl:
Aril

mary43

Aril - beautiful posting as always and making so much sense. Particularly like the part about 'moaning'............lol

Loved the quote..........definitely one worth keeping to remind ourselves of true values I think.

Well...............I made a start on my 27..............haven't got there yet.....think I'm at around 8 or 9 - really stopped counting but I've got two more carrier bags waiting for colection along with the others,
Will do some more later on..............might even start on books - most of what I've done so far has been bits and pieces that I no longer have a need for or a memory about. Also found a couple of things of Dads to send to my youngest son.

Have cleared my desk of the paperwork I left to build up.........took most of the morning and after getting up at 7am to let in one of our lads who''d caught the bus back from his parents this morning instead of last night.
Eyes now starting to feel the need to be propped up with a matchstick or two.
Finished writing some cards I'd made yesterday so thats another thing done.........next is to re-do Mums day card..........not a big job so why I havent dont it yet I know not !

Had another look at a small cupboard thats in need of a coat of paint. Useful size cupboard and I got it from germany...........it has a memory to me of sorts.........I bought it from a german antique dealer I once knew........tried to strip it to pine but it didn;t work - then gave it to oldest son when he moved to a bigger flat few years back. Now he's living with his girlfriend and they've got baby to consider there's no room.........so back it is living with me. Seems destined to be in our house and with a coat of paint and some TLC it'll have earned its place.

What happens if I don't make my 27 today ? Do I have to carry it forward to tomorrow ? Looking at the top of my other desk (now I can actually see it) it's in bad need of a dust and polish so not sure which is more important........weeny bit of housework or chucking stuff out.

Know what you mean about kitchen cupboards...........weve some surplus plates we've never used (OH can't refuse anything offered........we've enough plates for a restaurant !).............but these ones are in the cupboard thats a bit grotty to say the least.........yuk..........the very thought !!!

Just decided.................my books ! Thats whats next ! Dusting can wait.......not much difference between one layer or two is there...........lol