Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »HufflepuffGrl9 wrote: »Over the years, I’ve learned to “let go” of comparing myself to people, especially people who were never obese.
I think it’s important for us to acknowledge how far we’ve come & to compare ourselves only to *who we were yesterday* rather than other people or celebrities, etc. 💪🤩🌟
Since doing this, I’ve been sooo much happier. Focusing on being the best version of *me*, not someone else. 🥰💕
MAN oh MAN! If I could jump thru the screen and hug you...I super would!!!
THIS, what you have chosen/decided and are thinking/doing/being is a super mega HUGE break-thru and WIN.
This "business" of comparing ourselves amongst ourselves is so unwise AND the stuff ALL YUCK in our lives begins with. Comparing ourselves with others brings a lot of things we never think of to/for ourselves. Stuff like envying, self-deception/being fake--living in unreality, hopelessness, coveting, anger, depression, bitterness and all kinds of ugly vile YUCK, WOE and UGH. I am so HAPPY for you, mere words can NOT fully described. THANK YOU ever so very much for this post--you sheer unadulterated champion super star you--big BOOM with a dash of BAM!
{{{{
Super Hugs and the highest of fives to/for you }}}}}}
Oh my goodness, you are sooo wonderfully uplifting!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍 thank youuuu sooo much!!! Your words were exactly what I needed to hear!!!! Thank you, again!!! BIG hugs!!!! 💖🌟✨💕
You are MORE than welcomed THANK YOU too...WINNER!
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Decluttered the boot of my car today (I decluttered, aka, emptied, the main part of the car last month after a lovely local career criminal broke into my car, left the valuable stuff and stole an out of date first aid kit - I decided that there would be nothing left in my car for her to steal should she decide to break into it again ).
Amazing what you find when going through stuff. I found a used wiper blade. A USED wiper blade. Absolutely useless as it was split. Why on earth I kept it, I have no idea. But it's gone now, along with the wiper blade I needed to replace today.
The boot of my car is now pristine and the stuff in it is relevant instead of being jetsam.
Also decluttered the junk that had accumulated on my laptop. And there was a lot of junk - pens, coins, receipts, messages of live from my little girl (kept all of these as they bring me pleasure).2 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »Absolutely. Once I started I just couldn't quit. I worked my head off from 6 am - 9 pm for 40 days and 40 nights. I cleaned every closet, nook and cranny. I gave all of my clothes away, the really old ones went into the bin. I had all sizes of clothing but the best thing I did was letting everything gooooo. I threw all of my dieting books with companion cookbooks into the trash, too. Good riddance. I haven't missed any of that multi-cr@p one single day and I'm not dragging any more of it back in here. No more garage sales or here you go...maybe you have a use for this and sigh, I take it. No. The end.
You were really ambitious and dedicated!!! Good for you!
I was thinking of getting rid of some cookbooks and binders with recipes as well. Not because they are "diet" stuff, but because I know that I will never use them again (not that use them much in the past either
). I don't like cooking so all my meals are very simple, and I am constantly editing recipes that I already made; no need to have things that I don't need.
I would like to know how to pass those recipes to other people rather than just toss them in the garbage. Cook books can go to the library, but what about those papers recipes that we some time clip for "tomorrow."
Anybody has an y suggestion?2 -
I threw away 4 bags of Candy/Harvest Corn. I have no issue eating past expiration date food but these have been sitting in the pantry for 1 1/2 years. I feel guilty throwing it away but ill tell myself that it's not food, it's junk.4
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Anybody has an y suggestion?
Why not put them on a blog and recycle the paper ones?
I have boxes and boxes full of artwork that my children have produced over the years. My seven-year old probably produces ten new drawings a DAY (despite digital methods being available to her, she prefers to be able to physically give her drawings to people). That's a lot of artwork. I'm going to photograph each piece and then recycle the pictures. The images give me a lot of pleasure, the volume of paper doesn't.
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johnnys_fitness_ch wrote: »A famous bodybuilder (Jay Cutler) once said to rid your life of people places and things that hold you back. I have started to do just that. I have turned off Facebook, Instagram and twitter. I have also cut negative people out as well. He said when he was training for the Mr. Olympia and someone would call him about negative *kitten* he would hang up on them.... great read...
Absolutely! That said, it's also super ultra important to KNOW and REALIZE and BELIEVE that we have to UNDERSTAND/ACCEPT that "negative" people, places and things will ALWAYS be all around us, all the days of our lives. Be they sociopath, psychopaths, narcissists, wicked rascal and rascalettes and/or just plain "spoiled brats" and
people/places and things that are just ughish, yuckish and woe-is-me-ish...we MUST count it/them ALL joy and see/look at it/them as a type of "exercise equipment" to help build up our patience, mental/spiritual muscles and to ever be learning to handle them with the POWER of grace and I mean business love and boldness, period.
We MUST see people, places and things that work our nerve something fierce as challenges to help us overcome anger, wrath, impatience and YUCK. So, when one throws down the gauntlet of "I see you" and I'm no longer going to be a doormat or "toilet" for you to dump on another second. Doing it with real LOVE (not hollywood, T.V., music and "fantasy" love, but REAL love that is ready, willing and able to get rid of/no longer play the game, no longer be an enabler, no longer putting up with what hurts and destroys you, your heart and mind--guarding your heart/mind with ALL diligence and letting your YES be YES and your NO be NO, period. So...long story short 2 legged monsters can actually HELP us to become stronger and stronger in overcoming confusion (by ONLY accepting what's TRUE and RIGHT AND RIGHTEOUS), REFUSING to feel sorry for oneself NOR the person. Walking/Living/THINKING in a way that truly embraces what is good to/for you and what's not. If the said person, place or thing is NOT GOOD for you (or you for them). Disconnecting your mind, body and soul from them...period.
When...NOT if, but when the "pain/heartache" of "missing them" etc comes up--TELL YOURSELF/REMIND yourself that you are believing a lie/a myth/a fantasy and refuse to "entertain" those thoughts again...with the truth!
Like weight blastification, decluttering lifestyle...it's going to take some folk more time that others--it may never be an "I've arrived" but a beautiful place of I might not have "arrived" yet--but I've LEFT the place where I was. That's the beginning to the end of mess, woe and yuck. Lastly, we all have a "treasure" called time...ALWAYS live and think like tomorrow is NOT promised to us and this may be our last day on this earth--so make the MOST of it. When you think this way, it will help to to realize how much time you've WASTED on said person, place or thing and move you into a better and more productive place in your head, heart and life.
ETA: Practice makes "BETTER" not PERFECT...as we practice dealing with negative people, places and things with sheer unadulterated "Nope, not going there anymore, period--because I have CHOICE of who/what I allow in my "space" in my mind/heart and life. I can check a person, place or thing with utter REAL love and real POWER and a REAL sound mind. I don't have to be a "fool/act crazy/get all yuck" to "get rid" of stuff (people/places/things). I don't have to go along to get along, period--neither do you! Making myself no longer believe everything I think is true, but examining closely the people, places and things I'M ALLOWING IN MY LIFE--It's a CHOICE, it really is!2 -
I keep organizing and checking those pretty storage boxes in my closet to find out what is inside. I mostly found birthday, anniversaries, mother and father's day cards, and Christmas cards, exchanged with our kids and within my husband and me. At almost 54 years of marriage (this coming April), there are LOTS of cards to sort out. But I decided to keep them all and let my children take care of them after my husband and I are not longer on this earth. I did discard other cards from old friends, people not longer on our group or on this world (except for immediate family members).
I will be cutting the front part of these cards to send them to St. Jude's Ranch for children in Arizona, recycle program. This organization collects these cards and teach the children how to assemble new ones that are later sold to the public. The organization takes care of abused children.
I have been sending the front of all the Xmas cards to them every January for a very long time, and periodically I send them the front of birthdays cards as well. (https://stjudesranch.org/recycled-card-program/) They do not accept cards from Hallmark, Disney, and American Greetings due to copylaw restrictions.
This is win-win situation because I get to recycle part of the cards, shred the rest and toss them in the recycle trash, while helping this organization with jobs and funding for the children that they help to take care. Here is more information if you are interested.
St. Jude’s Ranch For Children, Nevada
Transforming the lives of abused and at-risk children, young adults and families by empowering them to create new chances, new choices and new hope in a caring community (https://stjudesranch.org/)
It will take me awhile until I am done with this later chore, but it is being done a little bit a the time. The good think is that as I am going thru the house I do not find any clutter. Everything is in order, and I can take my time organizing and getting rid of things that I not longer need or want without much worries or hurry.
Glad to see that everyone seems to be tackling things at their own pace and need. That is the way to do it!
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AliNouveau wrote: »Awww man i let my decluttering go on hiatus when I had my.shiukder surgery
Now I'm doing better I need to get back at it.
Over the holidays we had to replace our furnace so we have stuff piled everywhere. I need to get organizing my spare room which is becoming the storage room. Can't wait to get shelves and everything organized!!!!
Waving and joyfilled {{{{ Hi and Hugs }}}} Ali! I'm so GLAD your surgery went well and your doing better. Cheering you on to meet your vision/goals--YAY YOU!Diatonic12 wrote: »Absolutely. Once I started I just couldn't quit. I worked my head off from 6 am - 9 pm for 40 days and 40 nights. I cleaned every closet, nook and cranny. I gave all of my clothes away, the really old ones went into the bin. I had all sizes of clothing but the best thing I did was letting everything gooooo. I threw all of my dieting books with companion cookbooks into the trash, too. Good riddance. I haven't missed any of that multi-cr@p one single day and I'm not dragging any more of it back in here. No more garage sales or here you go...maybe you have a use for this and sigh, I take it. No. The end.
You were really ambitious and dedicated!!! Good for you!
I was thinking of getting rid of some cookbooks and binders with recipes as well. Not because they are "diet" stuff, but because I know that I will never use them again (not that use them much in the past either ). I don't like cooking so all my meals are very simple, and I am constantly editing recipes that I already made; no need to have things that I don't need.
I would like to know how to pass those recipes to other people rather than just toss them in the garbage. Cook books can go to the library, but what about those papers recipes that we some time clip for "tomorrow."
Anybody has an y suggestion?
Hi G!
Take a deep breath, then...toss em. I promise you won't miss them one wit.Madwife2009 wrote: »Decluttered the boot of my car today (I decluttered, aka, emptied, the main part of the car last month after a lovely local career criminal broke into my car, left the valuable stuff and stole an out of date first aid kit - I decided that there would be nothing left in my car for her to steal should she decide to break into it again ).
Amazing what you find when going through stuff. I found a used wiper blade. A USED wiper blade. Absolutely useless as it was split. Why on earth I kept it, I have no idea. But it's gone now, along with the wiper blade I needed to replace today.
The boot of my car is now pristine and the stuff in it is relevant instead of being jetsam.
Also decluttered the junk that had accumulated on my laptop. And there was a lot of junk - pens, coins, receipts, messages of live from my little girl (kept all of these as they bring me pleasure).
Well done, WELL DONE and YAY!I threw away 4 bags of Candy/Harvest Corn. I have no issue eating past expiration date food but these have been sitting in the pantry for 1 1/2 years. I feel guilty throwing it away but ill tell myself that it's not food, it's junk.
Cheering you on Lovely Char and thank you so much for contributing to this thread!2 -
Annie42019 wrote: »3 years before I started my weight loss journey I started my declutering one. Here are the rules I now live by:
Paper is the enemy of clean. The less paper I allow in my house the cleaner it is. I don't get paoer bank statements anymore. I deal with all my mail immediately and recycle everything possible. I read the news online only.
A place for everything and everything it's place. I of course had heard of this phrase but I never really understood it. Now I do. When you know where something goes you are much more likely to put it away.
The container is the limit ( this is from A slob comes clean...a favorite blog). The idea is this. If you have a container for say, toys and it's full, it's time to get rid of some toys. If your container is really too small you can adjust but once you have a reasonably sized one that's it.
The closet is a container. See above.
Do the dishes ( either by hand or dishwasher ) every day. This more than anything else will help keep a neat kitchen. ( again via A slob comes clean).
I also realized the following: The cleaner my house is, the cleaner my house is. Sounds like a tautology but it’s not. What I mean is that I found when I'm keeping my house clean I'm much more likely to keep it that way because any mess stands out. When the counters were a mess, one more thing would hardly be noticed. When they are clear of stuff anything out of place stands out and there's more motivation to clean it. I also call it " clean begets clean"
My success on my cleaning journey was one of the things that made me realize I could be successful on a weight loss one.
Hi Annie and {{{{ Super HUGS and The Highest of Fives to/for YOU }}}}} Thank you ever so VERY much for your most excellent and doable HUGE contribution to this thread. What you have wriiten/done is so super helpful, inspirational and wonderful. You rock, period.
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »Awww man i let my decluttering go on hiatus when I had my.shiukder surgery
Now I'm doing better I need to get back at it.
Over the holidays we had to replace our furnace so we have stuff piled everywhere. I need to get organizing my spare room which is becoming the storage room. Can't wait to get shelves and everything organized!!!!
Waving and joyfilled {{{{ Hi and Hugs }}}} Ali! I'm so GLAD your surgery went well and your doing better. Cheering you on to meet your vision/goals--YAY YOU!Diatonic12 wrote: »Absolutely. Once I started I just couldn't quit. I worked my head off from 6 am - 9 pm for 40 days and 40 nights. I cleaned every closet, nook and cranny. I gave all of my clothes away, the really old ones went into the bin. I had all sizes of clothing but the best thing I did was letting everything gooooo. I threw all of my dieting books with companion cookbooks into the trash, too. Good riddance. I haven't missed any of that multi-cr@p one single day and I'm not dragging any more of it back in here. No more garage sales or here you go...maybe you have a use for this and sigh, I take it. No. The end.
You were really ambitious and dedicated!!! Good for you!
I was thinking of getting rid of some cookbooks and binders with recipes as well. Not because they are "diet" stuff, but because I know that I will never use them again (not that use them much in the past either ). I don't like cooking so all my meals are very simple, and I am constantly editing recipes that I already made; no need to have things that I don't need.
I would like to know how to pass those recipes to other people rather than just toss them in the garbage. Cook books can go to the library, but what about those papers recipes that we some time clip for "tomorrow."
Anybody has an y suggestion?
Hi G!
Take a deep breath, then...toss em. I promise you won't miss them one wit.Madwife2009 wrote: »Decluttered the boot of my car today (I decluttered, aka, emptied, the main part of the car last month after a lovely local career criminal broke into my car, left the valuable stuff and stole an out of date first aid kit - I decided that there would be nothing left in my car for her to steal should she decide to break into it again ).
Amazing what you find when going through stuff. I found a used wiper blade. A USED wiper blade. Absolutely useless as it was split. Why on earth I kept it, I have no idea. But it's gone now, along with the wiper blade I needed to replace today.
The boot of my car is now pristine and the stuff in it is relevant instead of being jetsam.
Also decluttered the junk that had accumulated on my laptop. And there was a lot of junk - pens, coins, receipts, messages of live from my little girl (kept all of these as they bring me pleasure).
Well done, WELL DONE and YAY!I threw away 4 bags of Candy/Harvest Corn. I have no issue eating past expiration date food but these have been sitting in the pantry for 1 1/2 years. I feel guilty throwing it away but ill tell myself that it's not food, it's junk.
Cheering you on Lovely Char and thank you so much for contributing to this thread!
I love this...thank you. I love what you wrote to JohnnysFitness and I love what he wrote. You're inspirational and motivating; I need it, so thank you again!2 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »Awww man i let my decluttering go on hiatus when I had my.shiukder surgery
Now I'm doing better I need to get back at it.
Over the holidays we had to replace our furnace so we have stuff piled everywhere. I need to get organizing my spare room which is becoming the storage room. Can't wait to get shelves and everything organized!!!!
Waving and joyfilled {{{{ Hi and Hugs }}}} Ali! I'm so GLAD your surgery went well and your doing better. Cheering you on to meet your vision/goals--YAY YOU!Diatonic12 wrote: »Absolutely. Once I started I just couldn't quit. I worked my head off from 6 am - 9 pm for 40 days and 40 nights. I cleaned every closet, nook and cranny. I gave all of my clothes away, the really old ones went into the bin. I had all sizes of clothing but the best thing I did was letting everything gooooo. I threw all of my dieting books with companion cookbooks into the trash, too. Good riddance. I haven't missed any of that multi-cr@p one single day and I'm not dragging any more of it back in here. No more garage sales or here you go...maybe you have a use for this and sigh, I take it. No. The end.
You were really ambitious and dedicated!!! Good for you!
I was thinking of getting rid of some cookbooks and binders with recipes as well. Not because they are "diet" stuff, but because I know that I will never use them again (not that use them much in the past either ). I don't like cooking so all my meals are very simple, and I am constantly editing recipes that I already made; no need to have things that I don't need.
I would like to know how to pass those recipes to other people rather than just toss them in the garbage. Cook books can go to the library, but what about those papers recipes that we some time clip for "tomorrow."
Anybody has an y suggestion?
Hi G!
Take a deep breath, then...toss em. I promise you won't miss them one wit.Madwife2009 wrote: »Decluttered the boot of my car today (I decluttered, aka, emptied, the main part of the car last month after a lovely local career criminal broke into my car, left the valuable stuff and stole an out of date first aid kit - I decided that there would be nothing left in my car for her to steal should she decide to break into it again ).
Amazing what you find when going through stuff. I found a used wiper blade. A USED wiper blade. Absolutely useless as it was split. Why on earth I kept it, I have no idea. But it's gone now, along with the wiper blade I needed to replace today.
The boot of my car is now pristine and the stuff in it is relevant instead of being jetsam.
Also decluttered the junk that had accumulated on my laptop. And there was a lot of junk - pens, coins, receipts, messages of live from my little girl (kept all of these as they bring me pleasure).
Well done, WELL DONE and YAY!I threw away 4 bags of Candy/Harvest Corn. I have no issue eating past expiration date food but these have been sitting in the pantry for 1 1/2 years. I feel guilty throwing it away but ill tell myself that it's not food, it's junk.
Cheering you on Lovely Char and thank you so much for contributing to this thread!
I love this...thank you. I love what you wrote to JohnnysFitness and I love what he wrote. You're inspirational and motivating; I need it, so thank you again!
My absolute pleasure and honor {{{{ Hugs again }}}}
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This thread is AMAZING!!!! My husband and I are currently preparing to move into a new house, so we've been slowly organizing and packing up our home. I have thrown out and/or donated so much stuff, and OP- you were right on the money in saying that it is SO FREEING.
The thing I am struggling most with letting go of is unnecessary and unproductive guilt. It is so ingrained in me (and in many women I think) to always give, to be humble and selfless, to not cause a scene, to smooth things over when they're getting heated, to act as if we are grateful for everything and never push back when we deserve more. I certainly don't act like a doormat all the time, but I often feel guilty making the decisions that are best for me when I know other people won't like them. It weighs on me for no good reason.
As I get rid of a multitude of physical things, I am letting go of that mental garbage as well. I don't need it.6 -
This thread is AMAZING!!!! My husband and I are currently preparing to move into a new house, so we've been slowly organizing and packing up our home. I have thrown out and/or donated so much stuff, and OP- you were right on the money in saying that it is SO FREEING.
The thing I am struggling most with letting go of is unnecessary and unproductive guilt. It is so ingrained in me (and in many women I think) to always give, to be humble and selfless, to not cause a scene, to smooth things over when they're getting heated, to act as if we are grateful for everything and never push back when we deserve more. I certainly don't act like a doormat all the time, but I often feel guilty making the decisions that are best for me when I know other people won't like them. It weighs on me for no good reason.
As I get rid of a multitude of physical things, I am letting go of that mental garbage as well. I don't need it.
Super YAY YOU for your decluttering...decluttering is the stuff tough peeps are made of, because for a LOT of people, it doesn't come "natural or easy"...so BOOM! I LOVE what you wrote about "letting go (and NOT LOOKING BACK--that's super important) of the mental "garbage" (because that's exactly what it is...GARBAGE), for you to add that "I don't need it" is everything honey--You ROCK, period.
When/AS you start "entertaining and believing" the thoughts you have about "feeling guilty" of loving and taking care of yourself and doing what's good and right for you (instead of going along to get along). Tell yourself (ALL THE TIME, like decluttering/weight blastification--this is a new lifestyle, something you must do DAILY and maintain/DAILY) you are CHOOSING to believe a lie, a myth, A FANTASY. Then tell yourself THE TRUTH of the matter, then kick the lies to the curb and embrace the truth and do whatcha gotta do to "be the boss of you". Don't expect cheers and smiles and pats on the back for choosing LIFE/JOY and F~R~E~E~D~O~M over YUCK. When you choose to be/do right and righteously (all the time/daily)...a LOT of peeps aint going like it--AT ALL, so also with telling yourself the TRUTH all the time and REJECTING the lies you tell yourself...TREAT LYING SELF TALK/THOUGHTS like the enemies they truly are--also embrace the POWERFUL and FREEING way of life of "so what" spirit/attitude. Example:
"self-talk": They won't speak to me anymore if I choose to no longer put up with (fill in the blank) IMMEDIATELY countering those thoughts with Telling yourself (and believing) "SO WHAT" is like decluttering on steroids. No longer being a people pleaser, No longer ALLOWING yourself to be wallowing in "FALSE-guilt and fear" is so WONDERFUL...it really is!
As hard as we try, we simply and truly just can not please everyone all the time...what's the solution to this????? SO WHAT! Now we MUST NOT take on/be nasty/evil/bitter nor any such YUCK, train yourself to have a SO WHAT attitude about this false guilt and woe with the finesse, REAL love (of yourself and them) and sheer unadulterated I'm a GROWN woman and I get to CHOOSE how I think/act/behave/live. Again, there is absolutely no need to be nasty/mean with your SO WHAT at all. Like the old saying goes:
"“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head
but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”"
{{{{ Big HUGS and HIGH Fives }}}}}} It took time to think and live the way we/you do and it's going to take some time to learn to embrace doing what YOU NEED to do as well. As you "practice" SO WHAT"...girl--it's gonna to also be as freeing as decluttering and weight blastification is.
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Decluttering "operations" for the next few/SEVERAL weeks:
1.) re-organizing slimming down my perfumes and bath products and "pretty-fying" those areas.
2.) now that my closet is much more empty, making it cuter and designing/"pretty-fying" some kind of area for my shoes
3.) cleaning the shutters in ALL the rooms
4.) getting rid of more books to make a dedicated/lovely looking but practical space for my candles and incense.
5.) start selling some stuff. I been telling myself for a LONG time, that I don't like/HATE to sell stuff, because it's a PITA (pain in the "attitude") I've talked myself into just giving stuff away or tossing it. This is/will be a BIG ONE for me. I'm going to humble myself and DO IT!
6.) I super decluttered the attic last year, but there is still more I can get rid of.
7.) de-clutter the kitchen pantry once more
8.) slim down my fur-baby's toy & stuff collection...stuff it doesn't play with and is just collecting dust and taking up space.[/quote]
#2 DONE and looking marvelous, nothing looks or feel so terrific as good looking and practical spaces and places--YAY and it was a LOT more work than I thought...So GLAD it's done--BOOM!
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Well, I have been thinking about going through some of the drawers in my bedroom. The sock drawer is a hot mess and I waste time digging around looking for what I want. Time to purge!4
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »Decluttering "operations" for the next few/SEVERAL weeks:
1.) re-organizing slimming down my perfumes and bath products and "pretty-fying" those areas.
2.) now that my closet is much more empty, making it cuter and designing/"pretty-fying" some kind of area for my shoes
3.) cleaning the shutters in ALL the rooms
4.) getting rid of more books to make a dedicated/lovely looking but practical space for my candles and incense.
5.) start selling some stuff. I been telling myself for a LONG time, that I don't like/HATE to sell stuff, because it's a PITA (pain in the "attitude") I've talked myself into just giving stuff away or tossing it. This is/will be a BIG ONE for me. I'm going to humble myself and DO IT!
6.) I super decluttered the attic last year, but there is still more I can get rid of.
7.) de-clutter the kitchen pantry once more
8.) slim down my fur-baby's toy & stuff collection...stuff it doesn't play with and is just collecting dust and taking up space.
#2 DONE and looking marvelous, nothing looks or feel so terrific as good looking and practical spaces and places--YAY and it was a LOT more work than I thought...So GLAD it's done--BOOM!
[/quote]
any pictures?
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »Decluttering "operations" for the next few/SEVERAL weeks:
1.) re-organizing slimming down my perfumes and bath products and "pretty-fying" those areas.
2.) now that my closet is much more empty, making it cuter and designing/"pretty-fying" some kind of area for my shoes
3.) cleaning the shutters in ALL the rooms
4.) getting rid of more books to make a dedicated/lovely looking but practical space for my candles and incense.
5.) start selling some stuff. I been telling myself for a LONG time, that I don't like/HATE to sell stuff, because it's a PITA (pain in the "attitude") I've talked myself into just giving stuff away or tossing it. This is/will be a BIG ONE for me. I'm going to humble myself and DO IT!
6.) I super decluttered the attic last year, but there is still more I can get rid of.
7.) de-clutter the kitchen pantry once more
8.) slim down my fur-baby's toy & stuff collection...stuff it doesn't play with and is just collecting dust and taking up space.
#2 DONE and looking marvelous, nothing looks or feel so terrific as good looking and practical spaces and places--YAY and it was a LOT more work than I thought...So GLAD it's done--BOOM!
any pictures?
It looks like a combo of these closets...only maybe a wee bit BETTER (because I put my heart and sweat into it and the wicker baskets I have are GORGEOUS) All of my clothes, shoes and handbags are color coordinated and the IKEA shoe rack hold 18 pairs of shoes--I LOVE it so much!
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Well, I have been thinking about going through some of the drawers in my bedroom. The sock drawer is a hot mess and I waste time digging around looking for what I want. Time to purge!
YAY YOU!!! "Thinking about it" is very start of something fabulous. Also, in my decluttering adventure I've learned how to keep up with socks (miracle of miracles), when me and the gang take off our socks--we put them TOGETHER/FOLD THEM UP immediately after taking them off, then putting them in the dirty clothes baskets--AND put them up immediately after getting them out of the dryer...BOOM! I LOVE that you're thinking "time to purge". You can/will do it and I'm so GLAD for you--THANKS so much for contributing to this thread
{{{{ HUGS }}}}}} 0 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME last month
Last recorded weight: 137.2 lbs on 12/22/2019
lost 1.4 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 82.6 lbs so far.
REACHED/EXCEEDED my ultimate/ultra/mega/dream goal weight today...
Last recorded weight: 134 lbs on 1/23/2020
lost 3.2 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 85.8 lbs so far.
These are tears of JOY 
and so much more. Seriously, the last 10 pounds were just as tough as all of the big ole AH-MAZING total of 85.8 pounds/ounces and inches. I DID IT! It took over 7 years AND 31 days (31 days to blast the last 3.2lbs) to get here ( I started the I MEAN BUSINESS lifestyle change of decluttering AND weight blastification in Nov-Dec of 2017--so about a 9 months to a year + to blast and achieve my first dream goal of 150lbs (69lbs) and then another 9 months to a YEAR to blast the rest to FINALLY blast forever to the place where the sun will NEVER shine,185.8lbs--but 7+ LONG/HARD/MISERABLE years of trying/when I first joined Mfp in February of 2012), but here I am.
I purchased these "special victory/goal achieved slippers" when I was around 190lbs over two years ago and have never worn then until TODAY...just waiting until I reached the phenomenal goal weight of 135lbs to wear them and BOOM--I'm at 134lbs--BETTER than my dream goal weight. I'm now DONE with the weight-blastification and officially into maintenance now. Thank you Lord , I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's some receipts:
P.S. The answer is YES, period.
11 -
Over the years, I downloaded recipes from different websites, ripped from magazines, ended up with a huge boxful that planned to eventually organize into binders. Sounds somewhat like yours. When my office moved, started doing that organizing - it was the most boring, dreadful pain. After one binder, I tossed the rest and told myself no more downloading. Only keep a recipe if you actually tried and liked it. Chuck the rest.Diatonic12 wrote: »Absolutely. Once I started I just couldn't quit.
I would like to know how to pass those recipes to other people rather than just toss them in the garbage. Cook books can go to the library, but what about those papers recipes that we some time clip for "tomorrow."
Anybody has an y suggestion?
@newlifestyle Thank you! I love to see how everyone has organized any area, it is so inspirational Already color coordinate my work wardrobe clothes as it makes it so much easier to find what I'm looking for. But to have a shoe rack that closes up into a bureau - it looks so much more clean and polished!1 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME last month
Last recorded weight: 137.2 lbs on 12/22/2019
lost 1.4 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 82.6 lbs so far.
REACHED/EXCEEDED my ultimate/ultra/mega/dream goal weight today...
Last recorded weight: 134 lbs on 1/23/2020
lost 3.2 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 85.8 lbs so far. These are tears of JOY and so much more. Seriously, the last 10 pounds were just as tough as all of the big ole AH-MAZING total of 85.8 pounds/ounces and inches. I DID IT! It took over 7 years AND 31 days (31 days to blast the last 3.2lbs) to get here ( I started the I MEAN BUSINESS lifestyle change of decluttering AND weight blastification in Nov-Dec of 2017--so about a 9 months to a year + to blast and achieve my first dream goal of 150lbs (69lbs) and then another 9 months to a YEAR to blast the rest to FINALLY blast forever to the place where the sun will NEVER shine,185.8lbs--but 7+ LONG/HARD/MISERABLE years of trying/when I first joined Mfp in February of 2012), but here I am.
I purchased these "special victory/goal achieved slippers" when I was around 190lbs over two years ago and have never worn then until TODAY...just waiting until I reached the phenomenal goal weight of 135lbs to wear them and BOOM--I'm at 134lbs--BETTER than my dream goal weight. I'm now DONE with the weight-blastification and officially into maintenance now. Thank you Lord , I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's some receipts:
P.S. The answer is YES, period.
Congratulations...!!! That is great news!2 -
There are some threads that are super lengthy and I tend to ignore them because I just don't have that much time. But I skimmed most of the pages on this one and have to say it's truly inspiring and uplifting, in countless ways!
Ever since my oldest child was 1 1/2 yo(he's now 38)I was an-home childcare provider in our home of just under 1000 sq. feet. We became eventually a family of 5 ourselves so you can only imagine how crowded our small house became. I seriously think it became a source of anxiety and depression for me, along with my job, and being the primary carer or our children, and being in a not so great relationship. As our children grew up and moved out, then 12 years ago my dh and I separated, it became only me here, with 2 dogs and the daycare. This house was still too over crowded with toys, books, and all kinds of child paraphernalia that you can imagine. Think pack'n'plays, mini-cribs, stuff upon stuff. It felt like every single time I got one area cleared up, it refilled magically within days.
The stress it caused me was unreal. I retired last May, had a huge yard sale-give away event and my house has been reclaimed as an adult home again. My dh moved back in, last June and I cringed every time I watched him bring something useless into the house. Picture a case of shaving cream someone gave him. I spent months clearing out so he could have space for shaving cream??? He has a room upstairs and I try not to think about all the crap that he saves and is taking up space, because I literally got rid of everything upstairs.
BUT the main floor is still uncluttered and makes me much happier. It only has things we need or use often(such as a treadmill
). There are still areas I need to work through to totally clear our(my dds both still have a few things stored here) and my own very small closet needs a good overhaul, which will be a spring project, but I'm so much happier with the way things are now. Less stress(as long as I don't go upstairs(he's even got his TV up there, no way was he putting it back in the living room where it would create constant noise), less anxiety, and less depression. It sure makes a difference.
So now, when I think about decluttering it only involves a box, 2 at the most, of things to get rid of, not 5 carloads.
In fact, I just dropped off a bag of books at a local used book store and now I've got $12 credit there. But books are sometimes a weird thing to get rid of. I never knew it could be so difficult. Our library doesn't take them, Sal. Army very seldom takes them, the thrift stores only take certain ones, it's getting really difficult to get rid of them.
I've used Craigslist and FB to give things away, plus Freecycle.
Looking back, I just can't believe how much stuff accumulated in here and that most of it is G O N E. 8 -
There are some threads that are super lengthy and I tend to ignore them because I just don't have that much time. But I skimmed most of the pages on this one and have to say it's truly inspiring and uplifting, in countless ways!
Ever since my oldest child was 1 1/2 yo(he's now 38)I was an-home childcare provider in our home of just under 1000 sq. feet. We became eventually a family of 5 ourselves so you can only imagine how crowded our small house became. I seriously think it became a source of anxiety and depression for me, along with my job, and being the primary carer or our children, and being in a not so great relationship. As our children grew up and moved out, then 12 years ago my dh and I separated, it became only me here, with 2 dogs and the daycare. This house was still too over crowded with toys, books, and all kinds of child paraphernalia that you can imagine. Think pack'n'plays, mini-cribs, stuff upon stuff. It felt like every single time I got one area cleared up, it refilled magically within days. The stress it caused me was unreal. I retired last May, had a huge yard sale-give away event and my house has been reclaimed as an adult home again. My dh moved back in, last June and I cringed every time I watched him bring something useless into the house. Picture a case of shaving cream someone gave him. I spent months clearing out so he could have space for shaving cream??? He has a room upstairs and I try not to think about all the crap that he saves and is taking up space, because I literally got rid of everything upstairs.
BUT the main floor is still uncluttered and makes me much happier. It only has things we need or use often(such as a treadmill). There are still areas I need to work through to totally clear our(my dds both still have a few things stored here) and my own very small closet needs a good overhaul, which will be a spring project, but I'm so much happier with the way things are now. Less stress(as long as I don't go upstairs(he's even got his TV up there, no way was he putting it back in the living room where it would create constant noise), less anxiety, and less depression. It sure makes a difference.
So now, when I think about decluttering it only involves a box, 2 at the most, of things to get rid of, not 5 carloads.
In fact, I just dropped off a bag of books at a local used book store and now I've got $12 credit there. But books are sometimes a weird thing to get rid of. I never knew it could be so difficult. Our library doesn't take them, Sal. Army very seldom takes them, the thrift stores only take certain ones, it's getting really difficult to get rid of them.
I've used Craigslist and FB to give things away, plus Freecycle.
Looking back, I just can't believe how much stuff accumulated in here and that most of it is G O N E.
Wow! Reading your post is like a wonderful breath of fresh air, so real--so relatable and inspirational. Girl...I KNOW whatcha mean about getting rid of books, it isn't as easy as it was, say 5-10 years ago. I APPRECIATE you mentioning old book store though...I forgot about that and know of a few that buy (or give credit) for old books--YAY! I just love your attitude/the way you think and thank you ever so very much for your contribution to this thread! {{{{ Hugs }}}}} 3 -
I have a problem...I'm not a hoarder, but I am a pack rat. Difference, at least as far as I understand and from my own experience, a hoarder seeks things and it accumulates until life in the home is or almost is uninhabitable. A packrat, like me, finds a sentimental attachment to so many "things." So...
This weekend I went through my closet and got rid of so many pairs of pants I'll never wear again and a few shirts too... I also cleared out a baby swing, still in good working condition and clean and it all went to Goodwill. I got rid of a high chair to Goodwill and to my ex-husband's house, I took a bouncy seat that I had because his wife is pregnant and she likes the seat. It was hard...I don't necessarily know why, but it was...9 -
@LoveyChar
My Husband is a pack-rat, as you described the term. He doesn't want to give up anything even if he has not worn/used it in a long time, or never will.
I wish I could go inside his closet and purge and donate a lot of his clothing that are there taking space, specially when he buys new stuff without getting rid of the old one
. But it would be a violation of his privacy and personal space, and I don't want and shouldn't do that. So I stay away.
On the other hand, I have been cleaning other areas of the house and either throwing away or donating things that I not longer want or need, and he hasn't noticed anything Baby steps.
Note: I found this clarification on line:
What is the Difference Between a Hoarder and a Packrat?
The primary difference between a packrat and a hoarder is that packrats suffer from a relatively mild compulsion to store things, while hoarders have a crippling version of obsessive-compulsive disorder. A packrat may feel a strong need to collect items, and they may even have trouble throwing things away, but a hoarder can have his entire life controlled by the overwhelming compulsion to save everything. In general, being a packrat is seen as a minor eccentricity, while hoarding is considered by many psychologists to be a severe mental disorder requiring treatment.
One thing that separates hoarders from packrats is the motivation for their behavior. Packrats generally have fairly logical reasons for the things they keep, while hoarders are often motivated by irrational ideas or compulsions they can’t explain. For hoarders, it can be almost impossible to throw away anything, and many of the things they keep have no purpose at all.
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hoarder-and-a-packrat.htm4 -
Well, I learned something today - I hadn't even heard the term "packrat" before. Interesting.
DH has DARED to put stuff on my clutter-free bedroom floor. I asked him why, to be told that he has nowhere to put it. I cleared out some more stuff from my bedroom (decluttering the decluttered clutter) and told him that there is now more than enough room for all the things on the bedroom floor, even if he wants to keep it all (that's up to him).
I also told him that it's a time-limited offer and that he has until I go to bed tonight to deal with it, otherwise I'm repossessing the space
I did find some amazing photos of the children though. That was the nice part of it. I really need to get these on display once the house is decorated and carpeted. I'd really like to have a feature wall that's covered in photos. Although I probably have enough photos to cover the whole house . . . I also made a decision to keep the first teddy bear I was given, at the age of two months. Much loved, often patched back together, bare (excuse the pun) in places but a reminder of good times in childhood.
I still have more decluttered clutter to declutter in the bedroom though. There's stuff that I know I'm never going to look at, at any time so it might as well leave the house. My family cannot understand why I want to get rid of this stuff and I cannot understand why they cannot understand why I want to get rid of it!8 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME last month
Last recorded weight: 137.2 lbs on 12/22/2019
lost 1.4 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 82.6 lbs so far.
REACHED/EXCEEDED my ultimate/ultra/mega/dream goal weight today...
Last recorded weight: 134 lbs on 1/23/2020
lost 3.2 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 85.8 lbs so far. These are tears of JOY and so much more. Seriously, the last 10 pounds were just as tough as all of the big ole AH-MAZING total of 85.8 pounds/ounces and inches. I DID IT! It took over 7 years AND 31 days (31 days to blast the last 3.2lbs) to get here ( I started the I MEAN BUSINESS lifestyle change of decluttering AND weight blastification in Nov-Dec of 2017--so about a 9 months to a year + to blast and achieve my first dream goal of 150lbs (69lbs) and then another 9 months to a YEAR to blast the rest to FINALLY blast forever to the place where the sun will NEVER shine,185.8lbs--but 7+ LONG/HARD/MISERABLE years of trying/when I first joined Mfp in February of 2012), but here I am.
I purchased these "special victory/goal achieved slippers" when I was around 190lbs over two years ago and have never worn then until TODAY...just waiting until I reached the phenomenal goal weight of 135lbs to wear them and BOOM--I'm at 134lbs--BETTER than my dream goal weight. I'm now DONE with the weight-blastification and officially into maintenance now. Thank you Lord , I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's some receipts:
P.S. The answer is YES, period.
That is amazing! I started at 190 and I’m down to 156. Can’t wait until I hit that 135 mark!
4 -
I have a problem...I'm not a hoarder, but I am a pack rat. Difference, at least as far as I understand and from my own experience, a hoarder seeks things and it accumulates until life in the home is or almost is uninhabitable. A packrat, like me, finds a sentimental attachment to so many "things." So...
This weekend I went through my closet and got rid of so many pairs of pants I'll never wear again and a few shirts too... I also cleared out a baby swing, still in good working condition and clean and it all went to Goodwill. I got rid of a high chair to Goodwill and to my ex-husband's house, I took a bouncy seat that I had because his wife is pregnant and she likes the seat. It was hard...I don't necessarily know why, but it was...
Hey Char!
Girl...the "issue/problem/struggle" is REAL--so REAL. That said, L@@K at how you took the bull by the horns and got rid of some stuff, anyway--that's just too POWERFUL and AWESOME. This decluttering business is a whole lot like weight blastification, in that as/when we throw the gauntlet down (with ourselves and our "mind-sets" and thoughts) and just draw the line with our habits and what we've trained ourselves to believe what we are ("pack-rat"). We can start examining our "belieif's and thoughts" and tell ourselves..."Honey, I'm nobody's RAT anymore--aint nobody got no time to be ANY kind of "rat", period. CHANGE your outlook/mind-set and the your actions WILL follow, FOR REAL. Instead of thinking/believing "you are a (fill in the blank), you can tell yourself you are a (fill in the blank with something you are/can be--something terrific like I'm a "work in progress neat organizer" I'm a clean queen, I'm a lover of a cleaner/simpler lifestyle, etc.
It's amazing how we put our own selves in boxes and prisons of...I'm (fill in the blank). Okay, now be (fill in the blank)--it will take time as most good things do....change your mind and self-talk with the oppposite and watch what happens. It sounds simple...because it is. We make it hard(er) by what we say about and tell ourselves. We are NOT our thoughts and we no longer have to go along with what we call/tell ourselves. We can speak life, hope, TRUTH to ourselves and replace TRUTH with self-deception/what we think/feel/even "see" about ourselves--knowing that things CHANGE all the time and so can we. Slowly but surely--right and righteously.
Lastly, Example...(thought--we MAY really believe or feel) "I'm a packrat"....Kicking that thought to the curb with sheer viciousness (no self-pity/mercy) CASTING THOSE THOUGHTS DOWN AND OUT. Replacing them with thoughts like this instantly and all the time I'm really far more powerful and mindful that I ever thought or knew--I'm growing and learning and getting better and better with clutter and yuck more and more everyday. Let me get my tail up and take care/get rid of (fill in the blank).
{{{{ Hugs }}}}
P.S> ALWAYS REMEMBER...when/as I'm writing/talking to you and others--I'm ALWAYS talking to myself just as much, if not more/firstly and letting you/others listen!3 -
natashamcn wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME last month
Last recorded weight: 137.2 lbs on 12/22/2019
lost 1.4 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 82.6 lbs so far.
REACHED/EXCEEDED my ultimate/ultra/mega/dream goal weight today...
Last recorded weight: 134 lbs on 1/23/2020
lost 3.2 lbs since last weighing in! Newlifestyle4me's lost 85.8 lbs so far. These are tears of JOY and so much more. Seriously, the last 10 pounds were just as tough as all of the big ole AH-MAZING total of 85.8 pounds/ounces and inches. I DID IT! It took over 7 years AND 31 days (31 days to blast the last 3.2lbs) to get here ( I started the I MEAN BUSINESS lifestyle change of decluttering AND weight blastification in Nov-Dec of 2017--so about a 9 months to a year + to blast and achieve my first dream goal of 150lbs (69lbs) and then another 9 months to a YEAR to blast the rest to FINALLY blast forever to the place where the sun will NEVER shine,185.8lbs--but 7+ LONG/HARD/MISERABLE years of trying/when I first joined Mfp in February of 2012), but here I am.
I purchased these "special victory/goal achieved slippers" when I was around 190lbs over two years ago and have never worn then until TODAY...just waiting until I reached the phenomenal goal weight of 135lbs to wear them and BOOM--I'm at 134lbs--BETTER than my dream goal weight. I'm now DONE with the weight-blastification and officially into maintenance now. Thank you Lord , I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's some receipts:
P.S. The answer is YES, period.
That is amazing! I started at 190 and I’m down to 156. Can’t wait until I hit that 135 mark!
Wow! from 190lbs ( how I remember 190...
) to 156lbs is nothing less than fabulous--YAY YOU! Thank you so much for taking the time and care to post...you ROCK, period. 2
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