Sunday, August 19, 2012

Simplify

We invited company over last night, but something came up and we had to postpone until tonight. Today both Jilda and I were scurrying around like a squirrel gathering hickory nuts for winter and about mid afternoon, we sat down to catch our breath.
We both started to say something at the same time, our words colliding in the space between us. She went first, but her words mirrored what I was about to say -- We need to de-clutter.
Our house is fairly small and it's jammed full of the things we love and things we can't bring ourselves to part with.
I think we both reached a point in our lives where it's more important to have less clutter than it is to hold on to dusty memories.
So, the plan is this: take one room at a time and be brutal. If something has sentimental value, snap a photo of it, and put it in Goodwill.
The truth is, we often keep magazines we'll never read, books we've read, but kept because one day we might want to re-read them. 
I've got junk in my shed that should have been tossed when Clinton was in the White House.
We both pulled out our day planners and set a date to commence. Only time will tell if we actually go through with it. But I think it's past time we simplify.


10 comments:

  1. Hope you write and tell how it goes. Its on our list too, and very small amounts of 'stuff' have left the building to go to new homes.

    I do read your posts and Jilda's every day and appreciate that you are sharing your daily highs and lows and teaching as you write.

    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have tons of stuff as well with the kids growing up. I want to one day sit down and frame things, film things and frame things. I love books so those I'll keep in spite of Kindle.lol
    Sew things into things fix things into art work. Make more book shelves
    which close to keep dust off. I feel you can keep a lot of stuff if you know how to organize and label.This way the kids have sentimental things they can keep and value when you are gone or see what you loved and kept when you were alive.I still have my Dad's old hat and oil can.I can still see him with both.I'd like to frame them with his picture for posterity.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "I've got junk in my shed that should have been tossed when Clinton was in the White House"

    Sorry but having a filthy mind, I spluttered my coffee out reading this! Ahem!!!

    Anyways!!

    De-clutter?!?! Jamais!! Then again I'm a natural hoarder bordering on the psychotic so maybe I should follow suit too!!! Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Now you're talking my language! There's nothing like a good clear-out because you suddenly have the luxury of empty space and open air to breathe.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm doing that very same thing. I'm almost finished with the first room. Unfortunately I found out that moving junk from one room to another room in the same house isn't really decluttering. I'm hoping eventually it will make it down to the garbage can in the garage! I'll keep on keeping on though...good luck to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I recently went through my BELOVED books and was brutal. I was able to sell half of them to a used bookseller and the other half are in my garage but are going to be gone through by my book club and what's left...Goodwill! That was hard as I LOVE books.

    ReplyDelete
  7. One method is to put things in boxes and seal them, write the date on the box. If in a year you haven't opened the box, donate it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rick,
    I can tell you from experience that it will be well worth the effort. when we moved last year (after 21 years in one spot) we chucked everything that we did not REALLY need or REALLY love.

    Everything else went to neighbors, charity or the dump. We really like having less stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous5:40 PM

    I don't drop many remarks, however after looking at a few of the remarks here "Simplify". I actually do have 2 questions for you if you do not mind. Is it just me or do a few of these responses look as if they are left by brain dead visitors? :-P And, if you are writing on other places, I would like to keep up with everything new you have to post. Could you post a list of every one of your social networking pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
    My web page :: Hainan Airlines

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous3:14 PM

    Amazing! Its actually amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea concerning from
    this paragraph.
    Here is my weblog : topografía

    ReplyDelete

Please consider sharing

Email Signup Form

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required