Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
Replies
-
@BMcC9
If you belong to a church or any other organization, you can donate what you don't need or want anymore. You can also reach to your local schools, including tech schools, to find out if they can use the patterns for sewing classes.
Some communities have a "neighborhood e-mail center" where people advertise the sale or give-away of items that they not longer need. Check if you have it in your community, and also check the link below. Good luck!
Where to Donate or Sell Your Old Sewing Patterns
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/where-to-sell-old-sewing-patterns-2978104#:~:text=Donating Used Patterns 1 Goodwill or Salvation Army:,love the opportunity to sort through your treasures.4 -
I have bought patterns at a thrift shop. Usually 25 cents. Better bargain than what they are at the fabric store.6
-
Thank you @RubyRed427 , @Gisel2015 , and @RetiredAndLovingIt for the pattern rehoming ideas. I will be checking out the www.sprucecrafts.com site in more detail, as it seems to have content of interest in more than one of my "craft and/or aspire-to craft " categories.4
-
RubyRed427 wrote: »What do you do with cards from special people?
I've been kinda stuck on this one myself. I was thinking to photograph them, and then part with the physical objects? Haven't done that yet - but that is my plan this summer. Thank goodness for digital photographs now. They take up so little space that having an "archive" folder of memorabilia doesn't seem so bad.
1 -
Purging and organizing is my hobby. When I’m bored I find a drawer or closet to organize or reorganize.
I do have a “keep it forever bin” (a fairly small Rubbermaid container) for sentimental items but even that I go through occasionally. It mostly contains cards and notes from my husband and kids and homemade gifts from my kids.
Sometimes I find I regret tossing certain items. Particularly clothing. I wish I still had my Benetton rugby shirts from high school and a trucker hat with my name in puffy letters I had as a kid.7 -
My plan by the end of the weekend is to finish sewing the waistband on a skirt (diminishing the clutter of uncompleted projects) and getting all sewing paraphernalia neatly contained in one place. Allowing me me relocate off-season clothes into two newly-emptied tall-boy drawers in my bedroom. And do a "Route out ROT" pass on my work-at-home papers. (that's information-management speak for "Redundant / Obsolete / Trivial" ... like ToDo task - lists that are already weeks old; meeting notes once the Record of Decision has been posted; that kind of convenient-in-the-moment but past its' time and not of ongoing business OR reference value)4
-
I started cleaning out our desk today. Sorted piles of paperwork, and filed or threw it out. Looks better, only have hours to go on it. Lol4
-
Last week I finished cleaning several drawers in my office. Lots of old papers were shredded, and now my folders are more organized and documents are sorted out as well.
I have a big cabinet full greetings cards that I get from the places where I send donations, old pictures, and who knows what else is there, that I need to clean up and organize as well. It will be a several hours job that I have been procrastinating to start and complete. I really need to put my big girls pants and start working on that. I know that I will be pleased when I am done.
Great job, to all of you that posted your accomplishment. I should use your comments as an inspiration and motivation
.
7 -
Skirt is made. Sewing paraphernalia round-up next on the ToDo list.
a "Route out ROT" pass on my work-at-home papers by the end of NEXT weekend (if not before)5 -
no ..... you aren't contemplating pattern / material match-ups YET . .... FIRST finish sewing paraphenalia round-up. THEN cut out next project!
(aren't you the least bit curious about "how all the clothes in the same room" is gonna go together ..... ONCE YOU FINISH EMPTYING THOSE TWO DRAWERS IN THE TALL BOY?3 -
I too have been doing this, when I tackle a closet or drawer. Anything that I do not use or will not fit back into that space neatly has to go! Closet is my biggest challenge, hard to find pants that are comfortable & fit right so I have many! I love cloths but still working on cleaning that part out, and it does feel a lot better and easier to clean and keep that way!3
-
We finished clearing out the desk. The new one arrived yesterday. This one has drawers so I'm hoping to keep this one dustable! Hubby might make it a struggle. We'll see.3
-
We're going to take a lot of random crap that was left in a storage shed here when we bought the house to the dump, and then while we have the pickup truck, we're going to go get lumber and plywood to make some large storage shelves for the garage to put the totes on. We had that at the old house and it worked well, but we definitely need it here.7
-
I'm obviously here because I have way too much clutter in my house and am appreciating all the comments and interactions from others. My main personal problem is an emotional connection to inanimate objects, probably familial as my mother was the same. She was a child of the Depression, and saved everything because it "might be useful down the road". I am addressing my own issues slowly and learning about myself as I plug away.
But aside from me, I have a question and am looking for suggestions. I have a very dear friend who's adult child that lived with her suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. She has left their bedroom untouched, and several years later. is now approaching the strength to start going through her child's belongings. Out of all of her multitude of wonderful friends, she has asked me if I could help her do this. Eeek! I seriously want to help, but with my own inability to discard many things, I'm afraid I might not be the best person to help. I would be crying along side of her and be the most supportive friend to lean on, but how do I help the best with what to keep, what to donate? Anyone with experience in this, any thing I can read? I will probably learn more about my own issues while helping. but I want to be there for her, to help the best way I can. Open to suggestions!8 -
I just love these posts. You are all so inspirational and motivating. I just love your drive and how in touch you are with what you need to do to get to where you want to be. I just starting in that direction. I have just lately been feeling how much I really do love my body no matter at what stage it is at. Congratulations especially to you all for getting rid of toxic former bosses and jobs - they are just not worth it - life is too short - better just to release and let it go (assuming that you are in an affordable place to do so - and all my blessings to those that need to hang in there)5
-
#SbetaK
Nice of you to be willing to help your friend in her time of need. Sometimes sharing stories and sorrows make things, especially the pain, easy to handle. I have never been in yours or your friend’s situation so I don’t have experience on how to handle that task. On top of that, I am also one of those people attached to "things” and inanimate objects. For me everything that I have has a meaning, even if I am the one giving it.
I also learnt that once a person passes, we should a little bit at the time clear rooms, closets, and belongings as a way to accept their deaths. At the same time keeping something special to remember them can be comforting. Encourage your friend to choose few things, including clothing, that were special for her child and to put them in a box of memories. Maybe by doing this will make it easier to detach herself from the rest,
1) Books can be donated to a library, school, or church.
2) She can contact children’s hospitals, shelters, and or/churches to find out if they would accept clothing, books and/or toys and posters for their recreation centers.
3) Military families are often in need of help, so that is another source to reach out to.
4) There are many organizations that will happily take clothing of any age and size since so many people are now out of work or with limited income (American Red Cross, United Way, Good Will, to name a few)
5) Humanitarian organizations sometimes collect clothing and books to send to central America or to third world countries where the need is great.
See below the information that I got online
• Donate Your Old Clothes to a Women’s Shelter. One of my favorite places to give clothes away to is …
• Donate Clothing to Crisis Centers and Homeless Shelters. There are also likely many other crisis …
• Give Away Clothes to Disaster Relief Organizations. During times of crisis and natural disasters, the …
• Give Old Clothes to Local Churches. Some churches work hand in hand with different group of …
•
See full list on whatsupfagans.com
If your friend has attended grief sessions with a therapist, he or she may be able to help her place her child's belongings as well. I hope that some of these ideas are helpful to you and your friend. I am sorry for the loss of her child, and she is lucky to have your help.
G.
5 -
I'm obviously here because I have way too much clutter in my house and am appreciating all the comments and interactions from others. My main personal problem is an emotional connection to inanimate objects, probably familial as my mother was the same. She was a child of the Depression, and saved everything because it "might be useful down the road". I am addressing my own issues slowly and learning about myself as I plug away.
But aside from me, I have a question and am looking for suggestions. I have a very dear friend who's adult child that lived with her suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. She has left their bedroom untouched, and several years later. is now approaching the strength to start going through her child's belongings. Out of all of her multitude of wonderful friends, she has asked me if I could help her do this. Eeek! I seriously want to help, but with my own inability to discard many things, I'm afraid I might not be the best person to help. I would be crying along side of her and be the most supportive friend to lean on, but how do I help the best with what to keep, what to donate? Anyone with experience in this, any thing I can read? I will probably learn more about my own issues while helping. but I want to be there for her, to help the best way I can. Open to suggestions!
I’ve been in your shoes to some extent, and I helped someone with a problem while I was learning to work on my own and I’m still not done sorting and getting rid of my stuff.
I worked with an agency that sent people to my house who taught me how to sort through everything I had. I threw much of it out, donated a lot, and kept some. I learned how to make these decisions about my things and they worked with me while I did that. It was great support. Everything had a story and I was able to share those stories with the helpers as I worked on my apartment.
I imagine you would be a good helper to your friend and could support each other while you both work on and learn how to do this. There is a book called Buried in Treasures by Tolin, Frost, and Steketee that I read some of. It’s a practical guide that is help for compulsive Acquiring, saving, and hoarding. I worked on my place without the book. Going through stuff is hard and your friend has to sort through the things. You being there might be just the support she needs as she goes through things. You could help each other. I hope it works out, whatever you choose to do.5 -
Thank you mssue18 and Gisel2015 for taking the time to share thoughts and sources with me, I really appreciate it. Hoping this challenge will be beneficial to both of us down the road, especially for my friend.
2 -
@SbetaK First I will share that many of us here, including me, struggle with being too sentimentally attached to our belongings. I can't help but think your dear friend asked you to help her for a reason. I think she really trusts you and can be vulnerable with you as she sorts through these possessions. I agree with all the other posts on this matter, that you may even gain some valuable insights about sorting, decluttering and saving as you work on this together. Mostly, I think you will help a friend tackle more than just a physical task of the room, I think you will go on a real sentimental journey together and that will help her enormously. You sound like a really valued and trusted friend. Blessings to your friend who has lost her child as there is no greater loss. Good luck to you and please let us know how it goes when you finish this project. (I have friends that take pictures of some sentimental things before they let them go as a way of still "keeping" it without keeping the actual object.)6
-
@SbetaK - I agree with what others have suggested, especially the photos of treasured items.
Your friend obviously values your advice and feels that you will be compassionate and sympathetic in this vital healing process.
Encourage her to see the donation of her child’s belongings as a last final act of generosity on their behalf.
She could find a special container of some kind to hold the items she chooses to keep.
Good luck be with you both as you navigate this delicate task.6
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 388 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 911 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.2K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions
Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!