I must start with all the "stuff". Stuff tends to take over without us realizing it. Before we know it, we are drowning in it. Swimming against the currents of the overflowing piles of toys, clothes and whatever else makes it's way into the waves. It seems to migrate to wherever we are and follow us around like a shadow or a little lost puppy dog. We are scared to shoo it away since we don't know what will happen to it. It intimidates us. It hinders our decision making. It causes stress and anxiety. Stuff.....
In our society today....bigger is better. You are judges by your stuff. Not by your personality or your strengths and weaknesses. You are judged by how big your house is, how many TV's you have, what kind of vehicle you drive, etc. It is all competition. I don't think so. I used to think that. I don't know what clicked or caused a change. I think that simplicity is better. Convincing my husband that is a whole other story.
Simplicity...what is it? It is just living life simpler. Having 2 pairs of shoes insetad of 10, having 5 outfits instead of 28, living in 500 sq. ft instead of 1200...just making your life easier. Anyone can do. It only takes this first step...ridding yourself of all the unwanted, unneeded,poor quality, emotionally draining, stress inducing stuff.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The "stuff"
My inner goal
I have a goal--to attain simple nirvana. I wish to live a simpler life with less things. I wish to live without our current technologically advanced wants. I wish to be rid of the clutter and unwanted items, feelings and desires. To go beyond what is attainable and simply live. I want to find the inner me and exist solely on that alone...with the help of my wonderful children, I believe it will become a reality.
I am slowly chipping away the years of buildup of hurt and anger, the years of desires and wanting, the years of frustration. I am slowly peeling back the layers to reveal the true me. The lost little soul that buried herself not wanting to be found.
To find myself, I must first be rid of the mountains of "stuff" that tend to take up space and multiply. I must rid myself of unwanted objects, unneeded objects and stuff just tossed to the side to be "dealt with later"
Saturday, December 1, 2007
100 Reasons to get rid of it
Because You Have Too Much Stuff
1. 1.4 million Americans suffer from chronic hoarding & clutter.
2. People burn 55 minutes a day looking for things.
3. 80 percent of what we own we never use.
4. 1800GotJunk.comPay someone else to take out the (big, cumbersome) trash.
5. Publicstorage.comLock it up in more than 2,100 locations around the U.S.
6. redshield.orgSchedule a pickup with your local Salvation Army.
7. earth911.orgFind local recycling and reuse programs for all kinds of household items.
Because It's Fun
8. 127sale.comSet up shop at the World's Longest Yard Sale, August 2-5, along 450 miles of Highway 127 in the southeastern U.S.
9. Or peddle your wares in your own front yard on National Garage Sale Day, August 10.
10. Swaporamarama.orgAttend nationwide clothing exchanges and do-it-yourself alteration workshops.
11. Wildzipper.comWatch as a pile of your favorite old T-shirts is converted into a quilt.
Because Someone Else Needs It
Cell Phones
12. Verizonwireless.comPut a refurbished phone (of any brand) into the hands of a domestic violence victim.
13. Eco-cell.comOr let its sale benefit an environmental charity.
14. Care.orgSend a phone to the field staff of a poverty-fighting mission.
Digital Cameras
15. Operationhomefront.netHelp keep service members in touch with their families.
All Technology
16. Rethink.Ebay.comWork with charities to find homes for consumer electronics.
17. youthfortechnology.orgPut scanners, computers, and cameras in the hands of deserving, impoverished kids around the world.
Air Miles
18. Redcross.orgFor Red Cross staff and volunteers
19. Heromiles.comFor deployed soldiers
20. Marrow.orgFor transplant patients
21. Childrenscancerassociation.orgFor terminally ill kids
Furniture & Appliances
22. excessaccess.orgMatch your household items with a local non-profit's wish list.
23. help1up.orgFurnish homes for disaster victims.
24. dressforsuccess.orgGive interview and work clothing to disadvantaged women.
25. makingmemories.orgDonate a wedding gown to benefit breast-cancer patients.
26. www.operationfairydust.orgSend formal wear to teenage girls who need help getting to the prom.
27. onewarmcoat.orgA free coat to anyone who needs one.
28. boulderrunning.comShip shoes and sportswear to struggling athletes around the world.
Other
29. Suitcasesforkids.orgSupply children in foster care with luggage.
30. Uniteforsight.org & givethegiftofsight.orgSend eyewear to men and women in underdeveloped countries.
31. Savethechildren.orgConvert American Express credit card points to cash donations.
32. Cartalk.comDonate a used vehicle to support your local public radio station.
33. Booksforafrica.orgGive everything from storybooks to encyclopedias.
34. Cap4pets.orgSend towels and newspapers to animal shelters.
35. Goodwill.orgFund job training programs and social services.
36. Freecycle.orgPost donations for charities (and regular folks) to claim.
37. Habitat.orgDonate leftover building supplies to Habitat for Humanity's ReStores.
Computers
38. Cristina.orgTechnology and training for the disabled and disadvantaged.
39. Sharetechnology.orgConnecting donations with charities across the U.S.
40. Worldcomputerexchange.orgSend computers to more than 50 developing countries.
Because It Can Be Turned Into Something Else
41. Nikereuseashoe.comRecycled footwear materials become sports and playground surfaces.
42. Patagonia.comDonated Capilene base layers become polyester fibers for new Capilene garments.
43. Pangea organics' packaging becomes an herb garden when planted in soil.
44. Cargo cosmetics' PlantLove lipstick tubes come in plantable boxes that sprout wildflowers.
45. Pencilthings.comOld newspapers become colored pencils.
46. Vivaterra.comRubber tires become sleek purses...
47. Passchal.com...or rugged iPod covers.
48. Gaiam.comPlastic soda bottles become durable hammocks.
49. Recycline.comYogurt containers become colorful plates, flatware, toothbrushes, and razors
Because It Will Make Your Life Better
50. Getting rid of clutter will reduce housework by 40 percent.
51. Erase a $10K credit card debt (with an average interest rate) 65 percent faster -- and pay 75 percent less total interest -- when you pay double the typical minimum monthly payment.
52. Download security software like Stopzilla to keep a lid on computer pop-ups.
53. Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.
Because You Can Get Something Back
54. Return six MAC Cosmetics containers to any MAC store and receive a free lipstick.
55. Trade in an old iPod and receive a 10 percent discount on a new one.
56. Coinstar.comEasily convert spare change into "real" money.
57. Craigslist.orgSell it to your neighbors.
58. ebay.comSell it to anyone.
59. giftcardbuyback.com.Get cash for gift cards you'll never use.
60 Paperbackswap.comTrade the books you have for the ones you want.
61. Peerflix.comTrade the DVDs you've seen for the ones you haven't.
62. Spun.comClear off your CD shelves, and make money in the process.
63. Titletrader.comThe great entertainment exchange: books, music, movies, and games, all swapped in one place.
Because It's Old/Expired
64. energystar.govReplacing old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones saves money and fuel.
65. Running shoes should be retired after 300 to 500 miles in order to prevent injuries.
66. Deep-six your toothbrush every three to four months.
67. Swap your pitcher's water filter every two months (or as directed).
68. Change out disposable air conditioner filters once a month during cooling season.
69 Replace the batteries in your smoke detector at least once a year.
70. foodsafety.govFind the USDA's recommended storage limits for refrigerated and frozen food.
71. Throw out mascara and moisturizer after three months.
72. Discard foundation and sunscreen after six months to a year.
73. Keep concealer, lipstick, eye- and lip liners, fragrances, powders, blushes, and shadows for only a year and a half to two years.
74.-76. Say goodbye to the dried-out remnants of your favorite no-longer-available lipstick, and check out threecustom.com, T.J.Maxx stores, or Lancome's beauty bye-bye program for replacements or duplicates of discontinued cosmetics.Because You Don't Want to Suffer from "Stuck Song Syndrome"
77. And these five tunes are among the most persistent: Chili's "Baby Back Ribs" jingle, "We Will Rock You," the "Mission Impossible" theme, "YMCA," and "It's a Small World After All." (Tip: Try drowning them out with classical music, which is less likely to haunt you after it's turned off.)
Because the Last Thing You Need Is More Paper Lying Around
78. File your taxes through an authorized IRS e-file provider.
79. Eliminate paper statements by banking and paying bills online.
80. Call 1-888-567-8688 to stop unwanted credit card solicitations.
81. Opt out of mailing and telemarketing lists by logging on to dmaconsumers.org.
Because There's a Better Option
82. Search for phone numbers online instead of storing bulky Yellow and White Pages volumes.
83. Lose the road maps and get a GPS system to download up-to-date travel guides.
84. Read "Dating Up: Dump the Schlump and Find a Quality Man," by J. Courtney Sullivan (Warner Books, $14, 2007).
Because You Don't Want to End Up Like Them
85. Miss Havisham in "Great Expectations"
86. Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale in "Grey Gardens"
87. Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple"
88. The family in the documentary "Packrat" (packratthemovie.com)
89. The Bronx, New York, man who, in 2003, was trapped in his home under an avalanche of books and newspapers for two days before being rescued.
Because If They Said It, It's Probably True
90. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo da Vinci
91. "Less is more." -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
92. "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris
93. "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." -Johnny Mercer
94. "The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want." -Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, "Going My Way"
Or Just Because...
95. It has no value, sentimental or monetary.
96. It hasn't been used in over a year.
97. There is no logical place to keep it.
98. It doesn't work.
99. An ex gave it to you.
100. And what's the worst that can happen if you throw it out?
Marthastewart.com
Guidelines for decluttering the kids room
TOYS
*Anything that makes noise or is annoying
*Toys that are plastic
*Anything broken, missing pieces, cracked, etc.
*Anything not played with within the last 2 months
*Anything not put away where it goes
*Toys that take up too much room....ie..the whole toybox
*Toys overflowing out of the toybox onto the floor
CLOTHES/SHOES
*Too small
*not in season
*Anything that won't fit over my sons big head
*Too big (goes into a storage bin)
*Things that he has never worn
*Things that he doesn't like
*Anything stained or ripped
*socks missing mates
*shoes that are too small
*shoes that are torn or splitting
*shoes never worn or worn only once
*anything annoying or uncomfortable
GAMES/PUZZLES/BOOKS
*books with ripped pages
*books with writing
*books never read
*books with bad content
*missing pieces
*never played with
*boring
*too advanced (goes into storage bin)
*games that are confusing to play
Thrift Stores
There are certain rules that I follow when going to a thrift store.
*Only go there if you actually NEED something
*Go there with a list of specific things you are looking for and only buy from that list
*If you bring 1 item home that you already own, get rid of the other
*Just because it's on sale doesn't mean that you need it
Footprints
As you declutter your house, you will simplify your life.
As you simplify your life, you will live more mindfully.
As you live mindfully, you will need less.
As you need less, you will consume less.
As you consume less, you will pollute less, and over the course your life, you leave a much shallower footprint on the Earth.
---Leta(MDC)---
