- went through an old file folder and threw most of it out (they were mostly old bills and receipts from 1998 to 2001!)
- put away the Christmas decorations and the tree (with hubby's help)
- went through one of the boxes from the basement which was mostly junk
My husband checked the box I had gone through, and would you believe he salvaged an old plastic tube which would have been turned into a beverage bottle? He got it when he was on-site visiting a customer several years ago. This has been hidden away in a cardboard box gathering dust in the basement for years, yet deemed salvage-worthy, but he asked me if I wanted to keep my old governor general's medal that I got in high school.
Now I'm thinking, really? I am willing to let go of something that is given to a student as a high honor, but you refuse to get rid of an old plastic tube? LOL! And, after more thinking, I've decided to keep my medal, thank you very much.
What about you? Do you have a hard time letting go of things from your past, or does your spouse sometimes hold onto things that just make you scratch your head? Please share! I'm all ears.
LOL! Over the years I have learned to let go more and more and especially realize it is the memories. AND-if it's been in a box or hidden away for a while...it's gone when I get to decluttering, irregardless of what it is. Now, moving really helped with that and the older Mark and I get we realize we literally cannot take it all with us!
ReplyDeleteYep, yep, yep. So true. I am getting better and better at letting go of stuff--actually, what really helped for me was when I discovered Fly Lady, come to think of it. Danny has gotten a LOT better at it, too. And, if he's in the right frame of mind, look out, he'll clear stuff out in no time! lol!
DeleteGetting rid of unneeded things gives me such a charge, too. Everything is energy and it gets blocked when there is too much clutter. When I let things go, I say in my mind that I am releasing it back into the Universe. :)
It is a very liberating experience! I did a major decluttering in September and October at our house when we painted and it was so wonderful to get rid of stuff! I work part time for an auctioneer and I had accumulated a lot of stuff!! I was ok getting rid of most everything except my mom and dad's old Christmas tree. They had bought this tree in 1969 or 1970 when the first green artificial trees came out and it was beautiful! They used it for many years and when my dad passed away in 1976 my mom gave it to me and I used it for many, many years. I eventually bought a new tree and kept this one because I couldn't bear to part with it. I finally talked myself into donating it so that someone else could make their own memories...this tree was still a very beautiful tree despite it's age. I am glad I finally was able to let go of it and I do have many memories of wonderul times with my family around this tree :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Lu!!!!
DeleteThat is so neat that you work part time for an auctioneer. I can imagine that parting with that tree must have been difficult, but I think what you said about telling yourself that by donating it, someone else would have it to make their own memories is a great way to look at it. It makes letting go of things a lot easier. You didn't give it up, you released it and sent it forward to bring happiness and memories to someone else, and that is a wonderful gift all the way around. And, like you said, our memories stay with us forever. :)
For me I tend to keep too much from the past. I have to do a better job of getting rid of the old. Saying that I have kept old letters from friends when I was in college. Oh yes, and some embarrassing photos.
ReplyDeleteHey, Maripat!
DeleteSo glad you dropped in!
I think letters are worth keeping though. There is something special about written words like that, as well as photos--even the embarrassing ones. I'd be all about keeping them, too. :)
I have moments....for years I kept stuff that I thought, yes, I will use that....can't get rid of that. Then when I had my renovations done I got rid of so much stuff. When I looked at it I thought how ridiculous it was for me to be keeping it. Also, when I saw my new renovations and how beautiful it all was, all that old stuff looked crappy and terrible.....so out it went. Now I can hardly wait for spring to get rid of more stuff.
ReplyDeleteRosalita!!! So glad to see you over here!
DeleteAnd yep, I used to be like that, too, about keeping things that I "might" use some day. Then I discovered "Fly Lady" and something she said really resonated with me. She said that when we keep things because we "might" have a need for them someday, it's like saying that we don't trust in ourselves and the Universe to bring us what we need, when we need it. Don't remember the words exactly, but it was something like that. Anyhow, that really stuck with me and made letting go so much easier.
She also has a saying that goes something like "Do you want to be a hoarder, or a giver?" That one really hit home, too. I want to be a giver!!!! lol!
And, I also believe that when we hold onto too much "stuff" we block the flow of new things coming to us. :)
I like de-cluttering, but a couple of times I've discarded items that I later regretted, so now I have a holding spot where I set items to discard. I keep them there for a few days and if I still feel the same, out they go. As often as possible, however, I try not to throw things away - but to pass them on to others.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving your blog..... can't wait for your guest post! =)
Hey there, Laura!
DeleteNice idea on putting things aside for a few days. I don't think I've ever let anything go that I regretted. Or if I did, I got over it very quickly. lol!
I donate stuff all the time, too. I usually always have a bag on the go.
Thanks on the blog, and I swear I'll get the guest post to you today...lol. Just need to find a decent picture--which isn't always an easy task. ;)