Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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First and foremost {{{{ LOVE and HUGS }}}} to EVERYONE of you first class winners and all time champions for contributing to this thread. YOU have blessed and helped sooooo many people because of your posting here than you will ever hear/know. MANY people have learned and been encouraged for/because of your contributions here, especially lil ole me! Once more, I am delighted at the posts I've read here--WOW, just WOW!!!!!!
Soooooo many wonderful, spectacular and miraculous things have been happening in and thru and for me since adopting this "lifestyle" of LET IT GO and living a simplified life, including some (but not all) things here:
1.) as of today, I've LET GO of 50lbs (actually 49.8lbs--but my status scale here on Mfp says 50lbs gone ). I joined Mfp on 2/14/12 and it's taken me 6+ years to lose be delivered from and to let go of 50lbs. I've gone from my highest of almost 220lbs down to today, I'm 170lbs--words can't described how thrilled I am! I'm at lowest weight I've been in almost 18 years--18 YEARS! But it's NOT just the weight loss--my entire outlook on life has changed/TRANSFORMED and I'm so GLAD it has. I'm at peace today and handle stress, woe and food completely and totally different--after all these many many years of trial and tribulation in the battle of the bulge, I'm a "new creature" at last--WHEW! I'm not done, I've got 30-35lbs more to go to get to my goal of between 140-135lbs, but this is the first time in YEARS that I look at myself and see and believe, "I'm looking GOOD and feeling even better"--BOOM!!!!
2.) No exercise at all in this weight loss, just diligently cleaning (sweeping, dusting, washing, ironing and general housework, etc.) daily. My home is now so clean, pretty and orderly all the time now. Just basic habits of everything in it's place and a place for everything. My lifestyle has changed sooooo much in the past year that I adopted a cutiepie kitten and it brings such joy into our lives. I always wanted a cat, but my home and lifestyle just wouldn't allow me to, because of the mess inside my heart and home--just too much trouble I thought a darling pet would be. No more--YAY!!!
3.) I gotten rid of so much "stuff" just tons of books, clothes, tons of STUFF (including toxic relationships) that now my outside environment and my inner spirit is consistently clean and lovely most all the time--truly and more minimalist and simplified lifestyle and it's wonderful, period. When life happens and stress, strain, woe and ugh rears itself up in my mind and life I now face it with LOVE, JOY and a SOUND MIND (no matter what) instead of going along to get along. Saying NO to myself and others is no longer a strain or fear, it's simple as "is this good for me, is this robbing me of peace and is this (person, place or thing/food/drink) pressing/pushing me or causing me to revert to my old yucky ways/thoughts/feelings and habits in anyway? If so, the answer is NO and at the very least WAIT. I love this!
4.) I'm eating between 1200-2000 cals per day. I eat whatever I want to, just not as much nor as frequently. I eat when I'm hungry, period. At long last, I'm eating to live instead of living to eat and again at comfort, contentment and control--THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!28 -
Very inspiring everyone! Thank you for sharing!
I have been decluttering my house as I declutter my body...it almost seems like the weight and the “stuff” is related psychologically - letting go, moving forward is certainly not easy, but it feels cathartic!6 -
Donated 10 dog beds/rugs today! I've been decluttering my yarn stash, making beds/rugs. I put all my scrap (won't use) yarn on the spare bed. I can see 1/3 of the bed now. The girl at the shelter was thrilled. Working on the next 10.19
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I made myself a yoga studio!! I've been practicing handstands every day since June 1st, and wanted more room than I had in the lounge.
Our only child is 25, and living 300 km away, so I decided to make a studio out of his room. He said he wouldn't mind.
My OH helped me put the desk and chairs in the garage. We put the bed base against the wall so our son can use it when he visits, and the mattress against another wall for me to do handstand wall drills against.
I'm so happy with it!
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I made myself a yoga studio!! I've been practicing handstands every day since June 1st, and wanted more room than I had in the lounge.
Our only child is 25, and living 300 km away, so I decided to make a studio out of his room. He said he wouldn't mind.
My OH helped me put the desk and chairs in the garage. We put the bed base against the wall so our son can use it when he visits, and the mattress against another wall for me to do handstand wall drills against.
I'm so happy with it!
Congratulations, its beautiful!4 -
I spent a good portion of last year and some this year decluttering the home of stuff. Still feel so far off getting rid of all the stuff I'd like to. I've kinda come to a slow at it but will be jumping back into the pursuit of a more minimalistic home. I've got some toxic friends that I have kinda let go somewhat until she clears up her drama. Still some other to work at in the relationships areas though.6
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This is a fascinating topic. My mom died in 2016 and I got all of her clothes as I’m the only daughter. We weighed about the same and I loved having her things to wear, since she had cuter clothes than me! I’ve always hated clothes shopping. I was dreading the time when they would be too big and I would lose my connection to her.
I’ve lost almost 30 pounds and wanted my closet to be a “walk-in” once again, so I cleaned it out last month. In going through her things, instead of feeling sad, I practically heard her saying, “You deserve nice new smaller clothes, so get rid of these! I’m proud of you!”. I was even able to give a lot of them to a friend who just started working, so they’re not even really “gone”. It’s such a relief!
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I made myself a yoga studio!! I've been practicing handstands every day since June 1st, and wanted more room than I had in the lounge.
Our only child is 25, and living 300 km away, so I decided to make a studio out of his room. He said he wouldn't mind.
My OH helped me put the desk and chairs in the garage. We put the bed base against the wall so our son can use it when he visits, and the mattress against another wall for me to do handstand wall drills against.
I'm so happy with it!
Handstands??!!!!???? What kind of wonderful/impressive winner are you???!!??? I'll tell ya....a REAL one--wow!
I'm not quite sure which is more superb...your doing HANDSTANDS (wow) OR your super cool, super NICE new ultra minimalist and pretty workout room. I love both. O, you are a sheer unadulterated blessing and have/are encouraging me (and MANY other folk you'll never hear from) soooo much. You ROCK girlfriend, GET IT--Boom!!!!!6 -
rundgrenrocks wrote: »This is a fascinating topic. My mom died in 2016 and I got all of her clothes as I’m the only daughter. We weighed about the same and I loved having her things to wear, since she had cuter clothes than me! I’ve always hated clothes shopping. I was dreading the time when they would be too big and I would lose my connection to her.
I’ve lost almost 30 pounds and wanted my closet to be a “walk-in” once again, so I cleaned it out last month. In going through her things, instead of feeling sad, I practically heard her saying, “You deserve nice new smaller clothes, so get rid of these! I’m proud of you!”. I was even able to give a lot of them to a friend who just started working, so they’re not even really “gone”. It’s such a relief!
Wow...just WOW! Thank you so much for your contribution here on this thread--what an inspiration!6 -
Donated 10 dog beds/rugs today! I've been decluttering my yarn stash, making beds/rugs. I put all my scrap (won't use) yarn on the spare bed. I can see 1/3 of the bed now. The girl at the shelter was thrilled. Working on the next 10.
Absolutely tremendous! Way to go, you winner you!3 -
ShrinkinMel wrote: »I spent a good portion of last year and some this year decluttering the home of stuff. Still feel so far off getting rid of all the stuff I'd like to. I've kinda come to a slow at it but will be jumping back into the pursuit of a more minimalistic home. I've got some toxic friends that I have kinda let go somewhat until she clears up her drama. Still some other to work at in the relationships areas though.
Yay you! This getting rid of the multitude of EXCESS "stuff" (including toxic friends, family etc.) is so much like our weight loss mind-set. It's NOT a one size fits all nor a I've "arrived", it's truly a developing and nurturing of a new "frame of mine and new habits" and choices. It's a daily thing and genuinely new type of lifestyle/thinking/living. Just like it took some of us YEARS to become overweight, obese and morbidly obese, it's going to take many (if not most) of us time to get into the mode/pattern/inclination of living with less and keeping our inside and outside homes and lives in real order and less mess/stuff. You're on your way and again, YAY YOU!!!!1 -
I LOVE THIS POST! Very inspiring, OP - gave me some motivation and helped me remember where I've come from!
Two, almost three years ago now, I had a shift. I cut out drinking year one. I cut out smoking year two, and this year I've cut out relationships that no longer serve me. In that time I've also managed to let go of a lot of stuff - clothes, shoes, trinkets, school supplies, etc. And also, habits - no more going out every weekend, or having to see every concert that strikes my fancy. No more wanting for the weekend and wasting the week. I planted my roots firmly with my family and started cultivating a better relationship with myself first, and then with my partner. I realized that stuff does not fill me up - it just fills up my house. I can't pour from an empty cup so I had to find out what actually did fill me. It was fresh air. It was heart to heart talks with my partner. It was waking up early and earning overtime to save for a house. It was playing with my dog till we were both dog tired. I tripped - I stumbled - I got back up and I'm back at it! Do I have plenty more stuff I could still do without? Sure do! Will I continue to press on in the directions of my dreams? Sure will!
...W W 1,000,000 Kudos, hip hip HOORAY for you, you winner you--.W W again. Talk about inspiring this post sends me to the moon (and back) with joy, encouragement and delight--Boom!!!!! You Rock, period.2 -
amazsplendor wrote: »I am looking forward to reading here..Thanks OP!!
Me too...reading these posts are so tremendous to/for me--I'm learning a LOT and am getting so many fabulous and helpful/doable tips and pointers here. My pleasure and thanks for taking the time to post here!1 -
I found out that Habitat for Humanity will take kitchen items, well household items, but my kitchen is on my list.2
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nutmegoreo wrote: »
Then you are letting things go. I follow. Thanks2 -
These are some of the things I've been "CHEWING ON/thinking" about in this journey from fat to slimmer and from a "junkie/STUFFaholic" so to speak to a much more simplified, clean/orderly, happy, prettier lifestyle. BTW, I'm in the 160's today 168.4 and my body fat percentage (from my body/water/fat scale--I don't care one wit about how "scientific" it is), I'm just super THRILLED to see this info...my bodyfat percentage has gone down from as high as 48+% to today 22%=W W!!!!
Also, when I said NO exercise during this "renewed mind and transformation process" for my now 51.4lb loss thus far (wow), I actually do put on some jams/uplifting & "groovy" music and dance a bit while I'm ironing and sometime when I'm doing housework/cleaning (dusting&mopping and general "maintaining" my more minimalist lifestyle), etc., so yeah I guess I am exercising, but it's/my daily exercising is purposely natural fun moving this body of mine daily, absolutely no stress, no ugh, just fun---BOOM, I love this simplified lifestyle sooooo much---YAY!
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I read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up around the same time I started counting calories and I totally agree that decluttering can help with the mental part of weight loss. It's so much easier to cook when I'm not having to dig around a bunch of clutter in my small kitchen, easier to exercise when I can't use cleaning as an excuse, and having a clean space is so much better for my mental health which is very very helpful. I think I've gotten rid of at least 15 kitchen garbage bags of stuff and I haven't missed a single thing yet.
I highly recommend the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up if you're interested in doing a big decluttering. The author is straight up crazy but I don't think the book would be nearly as good if she wasn't nuts. I took a slightly less aggressive approach than she recommends but still more aggressive than most (ie haven't used it in a year or two). Her philosophy is very helpful for reminding yourself that no, the world will not implode if you get rid of something and need it later, and you most likely will not need it anyway if you're debating getting rid of it.7 -
happytree923 wrote: »I read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up around the same time I started counting calories and I totally agree that decluttering can help with the mental part of weight loss. It's so much easier to cook when I'm not having to dig around a bunch of clutter in my small kitchen, easier to exercise when I can't use cleaning as an excuse, and having a clean space is so much better for my mental health which is very very helpful. I think I've gotten rid of at least 15 kitchen garbage bags of stuff and I haven't missed a single thing yet.
I highly recommend the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up if you're interested in doing a big decluttering. The author is straight up crazy but I don't think the book would be nearly as good if she wasn't nuts. I took a slightly less aggressive approach than she recommends but still more aggressive than most (ie haven't used it in a year or two). Her philosophy is very helpful for reminding yourself that no, the world will not implode if you get rid of something and need it later, and you most likely will not need it anyway if you're debating getting rid of it.
WOW Isn't it utterly and completely amazing that you don't miss a single thing you've rid yourself of...AMAZING!!! I've (to my utter amazement) have gotten rid of a ton of stuff (almost literally) and I don't miss a single thing AT ALL, again WOW!
Even of ridding myself of toxic relationships, which I use to think impossible and too scary to do, BAM! I don't miss a single one and actually am at sooo much peace/contentment and even joy without them. Letting "stuff" (people, places and things that contributes to one's self-destruction--even if "LETTING GO" may mean even if the person is still in your life, NO LONGER going along to get along and "minimizing" contact, fellowship and company of said toxic person...NO longer allowing them to have your "power over and in you and NO influence whatsover, no matter who or what or where" and not giving them a split second of your peace of mind or "inner-space" AKA learning to say "NO" and with a loving, but I MEAN BUSINESS spirit/attitude, period. TO TOXIC PEOPLE AND EVEN YOURSELF WHEN YOU FEEL THAT yucky thang coming on and over you-refusing with total and uncompromising giving way/place to any person, place or thing that hinders your walk and new way of thinking, living, being, period.) and once we do learn to say NO and mean it consistently, how y/our general unhealthy thinking and living is minimized and is so FREEING, like a monkey and albatross off of your neck and back. YAY, thanks so much for posting this--I didn't even think of it until you posted. YAY YOU!!!!2 -
Thanks for sharing (everyone!). I donated another 2 bags to a local place today. They basically know me there now, and love when I bring in books - which is what I initially brought in a TON of.
I have so many more books to go through, part of which I am going to tackle on Friday. This week has been mostly about clearing out all the magazines and old papers that I'm never going to look at again.
Thanks for inspiring me to keep going at it!5
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