Tuesday, January 6, 2009

purging...

I have read about several people who are cleaning out, purging and going through things in their house. I want to do this. I need to do this. But I have attachments to my stuff. "My mom gave me this. I remember when Hannah wore that." Holden made this" I remember when I was with (insert name) and I bought that...." I have sentimental attachments to so many things. And I hate getting rid of stuff that was given to us from family. So we have 2 dining room tables now. The one we bought 10 or so years ago that has memories attached to it from times we did art projects (paint marks and all) on it. It was also one of the first main pieces of "grown up" furniture we bought together. I now use it for scrapbooking. The other table is one my parents gave us. It was the one I grew up with, so I have lots of memories of dinners there!
I could go on and on... tables, chairs, couches, clothes, knick knack stuff, papers..... and of course the kids stuff. I get so frustrated at myself, but it seems everything reminds me of someone or something. We don't need it all. We have a large garage, which helps. But I need to take pictures of what we don't use so I won't forget it, then send it to Hannah Home or Goodwill. I say that, but saying it and doing it are SO different! Maybe if I lived closer to my family I wouldn't feel the need to hang on to stuff... to be surrounded by it instead of them. Does that even make sense? Or am I rationalizing?

Well- I am subbing now.... time to get the darlings from PE!
Please excuse any typos or misspellings.... no spell check here!

8 comments:

Lisa said...

it makes sense. i used to have a harder time with this but have just realized after moving many times that some stuff has to go. and now i look at it as i'm passing the blessing forward. all the great things we've loved and outgrown or don't need anymore - someone else will be able to make new memories with those things!! :) that's how i rationalize hee hee

Linh C. said...

I hear you! I'm in the same boat.

Now that I have two young nieces, I'm thinking "I should save this for them."

HoweverAlthough said...

Two books you should read: "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Big?" and "It's All Too Much." Read "It's All Too Much" first. Both by same guy - Walsh, I think...anyway, I was able to incorporate lots of his advice and I am going to re-read them and try to pick up more tips...sometimes books like this are great in theory but not in practice. I didn't feel that way about these two.
Going through my mom's things over the last several weeks has taught me a huge lesson in this, though. I really don't want someone to have to make a decision about every little thing I have saved when I'm gone...because unless I have those things displayed or preserved in some meaningful way with some story to back them up - how will anyone know what to do with them? It's exhausting...wondering what this stuff meant to her and wondering if it should mean anything to me...
I'm totally motivated to CLEAN out and purge now. And even more motivated to leave a story behind.

Andy said...

i'm the same way. i hate to get rid of something that is somewhat sentimental. i hope that you are able to purge things that you find out that you don't need. i know that it may be hard though

deenanour said...

i should be there to help :) i LOVE getting rid of things....mainly because it makes me not feel guilty for buying new things :)

Apryl said...

Take pictures of the items you truly cherish, write the story that goes with it and put a scrapbook together with those pics and journaling. When we moved to Iowa I did this with pictures of my favorite places in B-ton so when I got homesick I could look at home. It really helped me and I'm sure it would help with the items. You know it's the memory you're attached to not the item itself. Good luck!

Apryl said...

Since it's the memory you are attached to and not the item itself, take pictures of the truly cherished items, write the story behind the item and why you love it so much and make a scrapbook of the items. When we moved to Iowa I took pics of my fav places in B-ton and made a small book so when I was homesick (which was A LOT the first year) I could look at home and remember why I had fun at that certain place.

Good luck!

Christa said...

I am a major purger. Anything I don't look at, use, or otherwise engage with for 6 months or so is gone. I can't stand clutter, and I can't stand holding on to stuff I don't need or use. Try not to look at your extra items as emotional attachments to people, but just as the "things" that they are. The attachments will still be there without all the stuff.