My closet is one of the closets in the house that is not over-run with stuff.
Or so I thought.
I worked for only an hour or two and came up with 3 bags and a box full of things to get out of the house. It is old craft stuff and shoes I'll never wear again. These things went to the trash or to Goodwill, and the suitcase with a broken wheel is in the trash.
I haven't gone through my clothes yet, and there is a pile of memorabilia that must be sorted through. So much for me thinking that my closet was pretty well under control! It was, and yet I can easily take perhaps 3 more bags out of there in addition to the 4 I got rid of today.
I was thinking today about what to do with my old high school yearbooks. They seem like something I should save or maybe something other people would expect me to save, but high school was not a happy time for me at all for a lot of reasons. I don't have contact with any of the people I knew in high school, nor do I really want to, and so I think I will throw the yearbooks out and just try to forget about it and move on with my life. Why keep something that brings back unhappy memories? The organizing and de-cluttering blogs and articles I've been reading say to keep things that bring beauty and comfort to your home and your life. In other words, if you don't love it, get rid of it. All of which rings true with something I learned from looking around at the home of a friend several years ago, where I first got inspired to bring peace and tranquility into my home by carefully choosing what items to keep in my home. I realized that I wanted to only own those things that are:
- useful -meaning that I or some other person who lives with me actually do use it, like clothes that fit, for example.
- beautiful -meaning that it adds loveliness to the atmosphere in our home rather than detracts from it.
- functional - meaning that it is in good repair, isn't missing any pieces, etc.
Today I canned chicken. We had run out, and boneless, skinless breasts were on sale at one of the grocery stores in town. I still have more to do tomorrow. It's a bit of work up front, but so much easier in the long run, not to mention that if I have it in my storage, I don't have to buy it when it's not on sale!
Agreed on the yearbooks. I never even bought them in the first place because I thought what a waste of money and there are only a few people I even liked from school. The only thing your family might care about from them is a picture of you, but if you have one already then no point!
ReplyDeleteNow will you come over and help with with my house next? :)
I agree as well. I also got rid of my old journals. Full of crazy. Any way, the idea of something being lovely, and useful is a great idea. I think I will use it. And your home is always lovely.
ReplyDeleteI don't have my high school annuals, and it would have been nice to have them. I didn't have a good time (I thought) in high school, and didn't go to reunions until the 50th. I Told Bobby I was sure I wouldn't know anyone. As it turned out I remembered lots of people, and they remembered me. I wish I had the old books because of all the fashion, text captions, settings, etc. I didn't have very many friends (one or two) but I's still like to look. As for the journals, definitely scrap them!
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