Simplifying Life

mary43

Well I';ve been ploughing through these photo albums and in a bigger muddle than before...............lol There's photos everywhere........well, slight exagerration .........I took a few out but not knowing quite how I was going to sort them it was a daft thing to do. Managed to chuck out a few albums that were way past it and falling apart so now I can condense the photos I've got into some half way decent albums............I'm torn between doing it according to the year or people............but its got to that stage now where I can't move for fear of tripping over the endless stack of them -never realised I had so many. So, having cleared the shelf they're going to live on, they can go up there and stay until I get a cllearer picture of what and how I'm going to do it. All the other 'stuff' is now in the bottom cupboard, dads diaries are almost in his suitcase..........least they're in the right room. So, I'm getting there.............I think
I'm leaving one box down here of 'Dads stuff'...........little bits like autograph books...........they're nice to reach down and read now and then and if I do that, I might find myself sending a few more bits and piece to my sons, thinning it out even more.
I've got folders with postcards in from various places and cards I've had sent me from those 'special' people. They're all in a storage box and handy for me to reach out and read if I feel the need for a 'lift'.

Thinking about getting my son a digital frame for his 40th this year.........not sure I'd want myself. I've got a few photos dotted about that are special to me and I prefer it that way. They take up space I know but I get pleasure from seeing them and that counts far more to me.

So, de-clutter/sort out, call it what you will, is over for todayI think. Mind you -been fun looking through it all.

ceridwen

Still moving slowly towards having my house sorted - and aiming towards being calmer/more detached. Had a knockback on that front just now - been washing bathroom floor and feeling gratified that house is coming to the end of being sorted - and found that an electrician I had in recently for some work has broken my (perfectly okay for years - well it was) vinyl I have down. Not very pleased at that - feeling more tearful, than angry (though I am angry too) - as he just went off pocketing cheque for the work done (AND a tip!) and said nowt. At the very least - he could have refused the tip:mad: . Am pretty upset about that - as the style of the lino is fine and it was going to last me years yet - and now I need it replaced unnecessarily because of him - MORE darn hassle coming up and I would imagine a bill of about £200 odd - which I dont suppose for one second he'll even make a contribution towards (I have emailed him about this).

Its just as well there's the nice/honest/caring people in this world (a lot of whom contribute on this thread) - helps to counterbalance the others. One of the reasons I am such a (very lapsed indeed) Quaker is I really struggle with the Quaker concept of "that of God in everyone" - ie that everyone, but everyone, has something good/etc in them. My trouble is I instantly think of people like Hitler and then move rapidly onwards towards those people I'd rather not encounter personally shall we say?

On a diet right now and being teetotal with it (as good way to drop the lbs as fast as possible) - but have the feeling I might just be heading for the wine again tonight.

mary43

ceridwen - that;s awful about your flooring. One electrician to cross out in the phone book. Hate carelessness like that. Would he do it at his own house ? I bet not.
Pour yourself a glass of the wet stuff if you feel like it........why not and have a weep if you want or shout at the cat.........or pretend you've got one...............or have a rant on here ...........did me the power of good the other day. Cleared my thoughts somewhat.

Photo albums now on the shelf............all as they were except for a few I took out to sort through. So, least now I can reach them and a few more little bits got thrown out (not a lot though I have to admit).
Found some old photos I can't identify so they can be sent off to my local home town history site............no good to me if I haven't a clue where they are. So, I'm getting there a little bit at a time. Now just have to go through some of those paper files - the sort you can make out a cereal packet if you know what I mean.............got four of those on top of the cupboard and really only want to keep the three that match..........so maybe tomorrow or Monday I'll plough through them, along with a miniature chest of drawers thats full of 'bits'.

ceridwen

Thanks mary

Well...I'm still a bit weepy and I am on the "wet stuff" as you put it. I'm trying to be "stronger" generally in life - but it aint easy. One of my hopes recently has been that I could be teetotal (apart from the odd glass just to be sociable when out) - makes me sound like I dont know what - though I only have 2 small glasses say 2/3 times per week - but my ideal is to be teetotal - I'll just have to keep working on that one. But - for tonight - its the 2 small glasses of wine bit again.

I do just wish that people would act with more integrity as a norm - okay none of us are perfect - and I have let myself down occasionally on that front I know.

I know its a Level 2 on the Hassle Scale - Level 1 being minor temporary irritation up to Level 10 is some darn idiot has started World War 3 (literally)..

I suppose the "hassles" impact more than they should if they are coming on top of other "more important" things happening in life. Speaking of which - I feel like I am keeping a bit of a "watching brief" on the state of play regarding my father. I am very aware that things could go any which way - my whole family could still be here this time next year on the one hand or they could all be gone this time next year. Who knows?

We all know there's no certainties in life (other than death and taxes of course) - but it doesnt stop us wishing there were - particularly in rapidly changing times such as now.

I do sometimes have to remind myself very firmly that we chose to be here - we are here for a reason and that reason is personal development of some description (well - thats what I think anyway!).

Anyways - I've had my vent so to say.

Now - come on Mary - how are things with your mother? I do think at intervals throughout day about how your mother is doing and MoanyMoany is on my mind at the moment too - with her mother not being at all well the last time I heard from her personally. Thinking of you both <<hugs>>

...and well I've had my little laugh today with Hester on her blog (as I spotted her comment about me putting her in the way of all these interesting blogs again) - laugh....as I find it rather amusing that Hester and I are "virtual friends" - and we're probably polar opposites. I sometimes wonder what she thinks about the "little puritan" (aka ceridwen) heading into her "x-rated blog" to see how shes getting on But then - I also have a couple of pagan blogs I head into regularly - as they are also a "window on a world" to somewhat "austere" me! Maybe they both represent the "other person" I could have been - if one had the time/energy to be more than one "persona" per lifetime (one of my theories about life is we all have it in us to be several different types of people to the one we have basically decided to be this time - but, well, one cant keep ones options open permanently:D ).

mary43

Interesting thought provoking stuff in that last paragraph ceridwen
Not sure that I could cope with being 'another type of person' sort of switching personalities............I get confused enough as it is.............lol
Came across some 'pagan' blogs myself by accident when googling for something totally different and have to admit to backing off straight away on most but then strangely drawn to others. Then I start to feel wicked for doing so...............how daft is that really ?

I know what you mean about your father...........just how I am about Mum. I try very hard to put her at the back of my mind otherwise she tends to 'take over' everything else...........still in control as always. Sounds awful I know but I have to get on with my life. Last I heard the other day she was sleepy and 'wandering'.................thought she'd been on a trip to London and was sick in the coach coming back, so she said.................lol At least she's getting to travel around a bit. I must get to see her now big bruvs back in spain and not returning till August. I'll just go one day and back the next.......makes it almost two days with her and if she's in a daze she might not even know I'm there which won't do much for me or more importantly her.
It is all such a worry and I dread the phone ringing but life has to go on otherwise so much of it is wasted.
Hadn''t realised moanymoany's mother was poorly - do wish her well from me next time you hear from her.

Now relax..............enjoy your glass of the wet stuff ( won't call it 'falling down water' - you're not having enough for that...........lol) and forget about the hassles or 1-10 or inbetween.............just for a while anyway.
(Says she having a fret about builder not popping his quote for the roof through the door yesterday as promised............lol)

ceridwen

Hi Mary

I know what you mean by some of the pagan blogs on the one hand - but, on the other hand, some of them are really quite beautiful. I do like my "Solstice Dreamer" one and Pixie's "The Creative Spirit" one and I have the feeling I would get on with them both if I met them. I do know where they are coming from in some respects - there is inexplicable stuff that happens in the lives of many of us (and that has included me) - and I really respect the reverence for our planet that comes over so strongly in these blogs and this is the only "place" where I have found this emphasis which I do feel is extremely important. There is a lot that appeals to me personally therein.

I do think that many of us are capable of being attracted to several different lifestyles besides the one we actually have - and I tend to think that, hopefully (maybe) that makes us a bit more tolerant and accepting than perhaps we might otherwise be (as we see aspects of ourselves that are unexpressed in our current lifestyle in someone else's lifestyle).

Maybe I'm more concerned with these sort of things and trying to be accepting of other lifestyles (dont always succeed - often dont succeed) because I have parents that are vastly different to me, whereas I'm guessing that a lot of people have parents who are pretty similar to themselves. With this - I have had decades of having a father who is hugely different to myself - and we have both had a LOT of adapting to do to deal with how different we are to each other and have come over the years to where we do both care about each other, despite these huge differences, and have some understanding of where the other one is "coming from" and I will miss him when he's gone - because I know he basically cares for me even when he totally disapproves of me.

mary43

Well we can all certainly 'wear many hats' to suit whichever occassion.
We can be stern, tolerant, sympathetic, funny, as well as varying the roles we play.............work/home etc.
Certainly food for thought there.

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

One of the reasons I am such a (very lapsed indeed) Quaker is I really struggle with the Quaker concept of "that of God in everyone" - ie that everyone, but everyone, has something good/etc in them. My trouble is I instantly think of people like Hitler and then move rapidly onwards towards those people I'd rather not encounter personally shall we say?

Perhaps Hitler's problem was that his light was too small to shine out from under his bushel

Gers

Is it possible to declutter the recently dead from one's thoughts? I find that my brother is increasingly in my mind, cluttering it up. How can one erase that??

ceridwen

Hi Gers

I'm not qualified in such things at all....at a guess, I am wondering whether it might be an idea to try the Gestalt-type therapy, as I understand it to be (dont know much about it I hasten to add)....of "picturing" him sitting opposite you and (mentally speaking) having the conversation with him you would have if he was physically there (if you see what I mean) and thinking what he (for his part) would be likely to reply....as a way to deal with "unfinished business" between you.

But - I do hasten to add - I am not qualified in dealing with such things....its just my two pennorth for what its worth.

Hope things go well with you.