It sounds so simple, but it's so hard for me to do. I might as well confess that I'm a packrat. I don't have any problem with the "beautiful" part, but I never want to throw away anything that I think might be "useful" someday. Note that I said "MIGHT be useful someday." That means I have a lot of junk in closets and drawers that I don't KNOW to be useful at all. I'm just hanging onto it on the off chance that I might find a need for it eventually. If I truly took William Morris's sage advice, I could probably throw away at least 10 garbage bags full of junk that I'll never have any earthly use for...ever.
That is just for what I know I do not use, but someday I may need it. I find that I did unload many things before moving here and find now I need what ever it was and I must go and replace that which I got for free or next to nothing with something new at a high price.
My wife would love that, and hope to enforce it. We've a tiny old mass produced house and I have it filled to the brink with things she does not think useful.
I thought I did a good job of purging and weeding all the useless junk when I moved into this house a year ago, but the stockpile has grown in that short time to the same size it was before I moved. I simply can't throw away hardware or paper goods or craft supplies that I might need six months from now.
So true. I wish I could live by that rule, but sadly, I'm a packrat too... I just cleared out the kitchen cabinets a little bit today, but I could hardly see any difference when the "keepers" were back in again!
I've always been a cosmetics hoarder. A few days ago I found an article listing the shelf life of specific kinds. It explained that after a certain length of time, makeup might contain so much bacteria that it could actually cause health problems. I was shocked at how old some of my lipsticks and eye shadows were, most of which hadn't been used in ages. Some of it didn't even smell good anymore. I threw it all away and started from scratch, which was a far more agonizing thing to do then most people realize. Even knowing it was too old to keep, I still had trouble throwing it into the trash can. :)
I've ditched most of mine too. Interesting how the more we learn about something, the more our ideas about it change. I know our criteria have certainly changed in the store. That's not to say one preference is necessarily better than the other...but sometimes what we consider beautiful changes.
I'm a terrible packrat, and love to hunt at thrifts, flea markets, estate sales, on and on. It's a hobby I love, so I make myself donate, hold a yard sale, or sell at the flea myself when I'm feeling overwhelmed by it all. I recently started consigning at a sweet shop in town. it is very hard for me to take the first step in letting things go, but when I do I feel unburdened and don't regret selling or donating the item. Except tablecloths, lol, my main addiction.
I always feel better when I donate or sell things...but it's the throwing away of bits and pieces of metal, cardboard, wire or string that I MIGHT need someday (things nobody but me would see as anything but trash) that puts a knot in my stomach! :)
Around here, that's called "champagne taste on a beer budget," and it seems to afflict a lot of people. Wright had more problems, both personal and financial, than many realize.
Sage advice!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds so simple, but it's so hard for me to do. I might as well confess that I'm a packrat. I don't have any problem with the "beautiful" part, but I never want to throw away anything that I think might be "useful" someday. Note that I said "MIGHT be useful someday." That means I have a lot of junk in closets and drawers that I don't KNOW to be useful at all. I'm just hanging onto it on the off chance that I might find a need for it eventually. If I truly took William Morris's sage advice, I could probably throw away at least 10 garbage bags full of junk that I'll never have any earthly use for...ever.
DeleteOh. Now I must fill a few dump trucks!
ReplyDeleteThat is just for what I know I do not use, but someday I may need it. I find that I did unload many things before moving here and find now I need what ever it was and I must go and replace that which I got for free or next to nothing with something new at a high price.
My wife would love that, and hope to enforce it. We've a tiny old mass produced house and I have it filled to the brink with things she does not think useful.
I thought I did a good job of purging and weeding all the useless junk when I moved into this house a year ago, but the stockpile has grown in that short time to the same size it was before I moved. I simply can't throw away hardware or paper goods or craft supplies that I might need six months from now.
DeleteSo true. I wish I could live by that rule, but sadly, I'm a packrat too... I just cleared out the kitchen cabinets a little bit today, but I could hardly see any difference when the "keepers" were back in again!
ReplyDeleteI've always been a cosmetics hoarder. A few days ago I found an article listing the shelf life of specific kinds. It explained that after a certain length of time, makeup might contain so much bacteria that it could actually cause health problems. I was shocked at how old some of my lipsticks and eye shadows were, most of which hadn't been used in ages. Some of it didn't even smell good anymore. I threw it all away and started from scratch, which was a far more agonizing thing to do then most people realize. Even knowing it was too old to keep, I still had trouble throwing it into the trash can. :)
DeleteWise words... I find Spring cleaning so liberating.
ReplyDeleteI find it daunting, because I'm always absolutely certain that days or weeks after I throw things out, I'll need them desperately. :)
DeleteIn the midst of a big clean out here. I'm ditching the kitsch Dana. Well, most of it ;)
ReplyDeleteI've ditched most of mine too. Interesting how the more we learn about something, the more our ideas about it change. I know our criteria have certainly changed in the store. That's not to say one preference is necessarily better than the other...but sometimes what we consider beautiful changes.
DeleteI'm a terrible packrat, and love to hunt at thrifts, flea markets, estate sales, on and on. It's a hobby I love, so I make myself donate, hold a yard sale, or sell at the flea myself when I'm feeling overwhelmed by it all. I recently started consigning at a sweet shop in town. it is very hard for me to take the first step in letting things go, but when I do I feel unburdened and don't regret selling or donating the item. Except tablecloths, lol, my main addiction.
ReplyDeleteI always feel better when I donate or sell things...but it's the throwing away of bits and pieces of metal, cardboard, wire or string that I MIGHT need someday (things nobody but me would see as anything but trash) that puts a knot in my stomach! :)
DeleteWright said " Give me the luxuries and I will willing do without the necessities." He also was in debt most of his life.
ReplyDeleteAround here, that's called "champagne taste on a beer budget," and it seems to afflict a lot of people. Wright had more problems, both personal and financial, than many realize.
Delete