How on earth did I end up with so much stuff? When I moved in to my current apartment back in 2000, I didn’t have time to go through everything I wanted to toss out before I moved. Unfortunately, most of it was packed up in boxes then and moved along with me, stuck in the back of Jason’s closet and left to sit for two and a half years.
Until this weekend. This weekend, I cleaned. I cleaned, and cleaned some more. I ignored the computer, neglected my e-mail, didn’t read a single blog after noon on Saturday. (Thank you to Mike for all of his incredible help!) I cleaned. I still had to go through the boxes slowly though, as some had photos randomly stuck in the middle, or old paycheck stubs and bank statements. I have moved out over eight boxes worth of stuff so far, and kept one consolidated box. From some boxes I only kept a small stack of papers. Others, more. But everything was thoroughly purged and sent off to be recycled.
Old school papers from Jason’s days in Kindergarten were probably the hardest thing to throw away. I saved a few, but most of them are gone now. I can’t save everything he ever did – if I did, my house would be overflowing. The special things are worth holding on to for now.
The easist thing to throw out were the old papers I had printed. It seems that at one point in time back in 1998-1999 I was convinced that I had to print the entire Internet. I found articles from WebReview and other sites in the boxes, things that are still online today. Tips to do things like how to create websites in frames (*shiver*) and CSS tutorials that I never read because they made my eyes bleed. Amazing amounts of stuff, all off to the paper recycling bin now because I can find it all online if I need it. Funny how the Internet has changed things like that, isn’t it?
It’s incredible how much stuff we can end up with if we try to hold on to everything. It is very liberating when you let it go.
14 replies on “Liberation!”
Yes it is very liberating! I cleaned out an entire storage room over the period of a month. I think the guys at the dump know me by my first name now!
I kept some things, but you have to toss others. I shreded a lot of things. I did find some program information I printed out after buying the program. I’m glad I kept those, saved me some money by buying them twice!
okay…will you help me and come over and do the same thing at my house? i have the hardest time letting go of things …”oh, my grandmother gave me this card back in 1985!” like…come on, i gotta DO IT!
someone once told me, if you don’t KNOW you HAVE it, you’ll never MISS it. and i think that’s why i’m so afraid to even start opening up those old boxes….
good for you, though! 🙂
Ok, I kept things like cards from Grandma. Those I couldn’t toss. But you’re right – if you don’t know you have it, you won’t miss it – I haven’t looked at any of this stuff in over 2 years. I don’t need it and it’s taking up space! Plus I figured the next time I move, I don’t want to have to pay movers to move JUNK!
It is liberating, isn’t it? Every three or four months, I like to go through my stuff and be really ruthless about throwing things out. I always feel so good afterward!
you’re right. it is a good feeling when you free up space. but it IS definitely hard to let stuff go. i’m a packrat and i have a hard time throwing stuff out. i usually procrastinate till i’m totally out of closet/storage space.
Cleaned really should be in all caps in this post. I’ve never seen a woman possessed like Christine was this weekend. (I’ve also never put together so much furniture, hauled stuff out to the dumpster, moved boxes, gone crosseyed over a **** spreadsheet, and so forth in my life.)
The change is visible, though – it’s really opened up a lot of space. Now, if only I was so motivated…
What I left out of the last comment is, despite my labor involved (it’s not really slave labor if you’re willing, is it?), I really only did the lesser share of the work. It was definitely an impressive weekend.
Wait, are you trying to motivate me? I think you are! How dare you! LOL I’m just kidding of course.
I have about 3 rubbermaid containers of papers and stuff that I need to go through. UGH, I dread it so much but maybe you HAVE motivated me a little today. 🙂
Being something of a packrat myself, when I moved in November I tried to get rid of lots of stuff. I even went so far as to get rid of all the stuffed animals I had been keeping in the attic for sentimental reasons.
I had considered scanning all of my papers (term papers, stories, school things) into my computer, but I got lazy real fast. Hence the boxes that still remain in my closet.
Congrats on the cleaning spree. Freedom is good 🙂
When I moved back to Texas from NC I had to go through the same process. I was sever. I left so much stuff I actually got the shakes for a few days.
It is amazing the way we identify with our stuff. I feel better, clearer, and yet letting go of so much was a challenge.
However, there is a quote I don’t know who said it but it goes something like “don’t own more stuff than you can carry.” I like that. I want to be free.
LIBERATION!
I own a book about the joys of decluttering and how to do it successfully. I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s known around our house as the Little Green Book. I love it and my husband hates it.
(I can look up the title if you want me to. Drop me an email.)
it is incredible how much energy all of that stuff takes up when you have it sitting around. i have gone from :keep it for a rainy day: to :get it outta my sight!: i’ve read clearing your clutter with feng shui and it is fantastic. highly recommended.
House Junk
Reading Big Pink Cookie’s blog today makes me realised that I have to move to a new house soon. I guess is “PURGING” time again. Yucks! When we really think about it, 80% of the stuffs we buy end up…
Whirlwind weekend
This post should give you a good idea of how I spent my weekend. I suppose it’s not slave labor