Day 365 Day 365 Day 365 Day 365

You would think that I would have planned some kind of big fan fare for when DAY 365 came along but I haven’t. I had given it a lot of thought over the last few months and came up with nothing. The 365th thing should be something significant but everything that left the house has been significant in it’s own way. I am very happy that I made it and stuck to my resolution for the whole year. However, the exciting part is the lessons and changes of attitude that evolved along the way.

The idea of 365 Less Things was to take it easy, focus on one thing at a time instead of being scared off by the big picture, and that slow and steady would win the race. It proved to be a very successful way to declutter my home and I am more than pleased with the result so far. Taking my time and really feeling the journey embedded new principals into the way I approach “stuff ” in the first place. This meant that I haven’t recluttered my house as I went along and never will.

Although I have always been quite conscious about reusing, recycling, repairing, re-purposing and not being wasteful, I have now learned to be far more selective and thoughtful about purchasing anything in the first place. This is one of the most valuable lessons of all and it wasn’t nearly as difficult to adhere to as you might think. Even though I can be quite annoying when sharing my opinions on this subject, I found I have nevertheless had an influence on others who at first were reluctant to follow my lead. If being a little obnoxious has had a positive effect on the environment and peoples lives then I am quite happy to live with that label.

I have decluttered my home the fast way so many times but never before have I learned what I needed to learn to stay decluttered. Would I do it again? If I keep playing the game right I won’t have to but I sure am glad I did it this time.

So anyone out there who thinks the job of decluttering your home is too big and you just can’t go there, think again! Just one thing at a time is all it takes and eventually you will have a wonderful clutter free home. If the space that develops around you isn’t enough inspiration the liberation from always wanting more stuff and the peace that brings is something worth striving for. Add to that the free time not spent taking care of your stuff and money not wasted buying it should convince you that you are on a winner.

And to those of you who came looking for some inspiration and found me prattling on about myself and my stuff every day, thank you for listening. I hope I have helped inspire you to begin or continue on you own mission. I’ll be here again tomorrow with item 366 so see you then.

Item 365 of 365 less things

Although I would have liked to have my sports trophies as the 365th thing because they are one thing I would really like to see the back of (it’s a dusting thing). I just haven’t got around to photographing them and finding some way to dispose of them in an environmentally responsible way. So instead I have a selection of die cuts that I cut from scrap cardboard for my mother-in-law as part of her Christmas Gift.

5 Things I am grateful for today

1. All the people/organisations who took my unwanted stuff off my hands.
2. The feeling of cleanliness and space around me – this is especially noticed and appreciated when returning home after I having spent time elsewhere surrounded by clutter.
3. All you wonderful readers who have listened to be for the last twelve months and forced me unwittingly to be true to my mission – It could have been easy to slip off the wagon without you to answer to each day.
4. Having a family who is on board with the decluttering – Even though the kids could do with a lot less stuff they do humour me occasionally and declutter something to keep me off their backs (my daughter has a session each time she visits). My husband has been a declutter champion over the last 10 months (he wasn’t here for the first two).
   
5. Having the idea to start this mission of 365lessthings – I am a very determined person and I pretty much new if I got started with this I would see it through but I had no idea how important it would become to me or how liberating.
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

I know I have written about this subject before but it is one of those issues that are worth revisiting every now and again. Especially for those struggling with it or who have only recently started reading my blog and don’t have the time or inclination to start at the beginning. I know I wouldn’t have that sort of time up my sleeve.

I think most people who read my blog would have a certain number of true sentimental items in their home. These items are often things like baby ID bands, a child’s old teddy, the glasses you toasted with at your wedding, Grandma’s engagement ring… We all have special things that we feel we will never part with. There is nothing wrong with keeping these items after all we are decluttering our homes and if these items are dear to us then they aren’t clutter.

However there is are another kind of  “sentimental” clutter that can pervade your homes. These are  items that we fear have more sentimental value to someone else and we are only keeping them to avoid feelings of guilt or betrayal. Or to avoid that awkward moment when the person who gave it to you notices it is gone. Sometimes this may be true but quite often it is a fear dreamed up in our own mind and the other person involved really wouldn’t care or even remember that they gave it to you in the first place.

Take a look around your home in fact grab a pen and make a list of the sentimental items in your home that you would rather not keep. I am sure you can probably list them all without even looking. These objects are often easy to identify. They are the items that you feel obliged to keep even though they have outlived their usefulness to you or perhaps in some cases never actually had any in the first place. They are usually items given to you as a gift, an heirloom that has been handed down through the family or something made for you by another well meaning person.

The good news is it is actually possible to part with these items with minimal damage to your relationship with the giver. I have managed to give away many such things over the last twelve months. And believe it or not I have not lost one loved one affection because of it. I have compiled a list of some of these items…

• A calendar holder my father made for me – It was very nice and I am sure another person would love to have it. It soon became apparent that it was not suitable for my needs because I couldn’t turn the pages with out taking it off the wall and pulling the calendar out. I am a person who likes to write my appointments on my calendar and this was just too difficult with this style of holder.
• A silver tea set my parents gave me for my 21st birthday – I just didn’t like to clean it and it only ever sat there looking pretty and was never used to serve tea.
• A crystal duchess set my sister gave me for my 21st birthday – It is a bit dated now and I haven’t used it for years.
• A wooded 21st birthday key plaque my Godfather made me – It has warped over the years of varied weather in the multitude of places we have live and would no longer hang straight on the wall.
• A granny rug made by my husbands grandmother which didn’t suit my decor.
• Wine glasses given to us at our wedding.
• A bead spinner my MIL gave me – I actually gave it back to her and she was happy to have it.
• Shot glasses that were my Grandmother’s – I gave them to a friend of the family who collects shot glasses.

I am sure there are many more things but I can’t think of them right now. Yes I did feel a little guilty parting with them and yes I had to give it some serious thought before doing so and yes all of the people involved still talk to me. No most of them wouldn’t even realise that the items are gone and if they do so they aren’t so rude to ask. And no I do not regret it because I should not have to keep something I don’t want in my own home.

So don’t be confused between sentimental value and obligation. If there is something in your home that you no longer and maybe never did want you have every right to remove it. Hand it on to someone else who will appreciate it more. In some cases that may mean handing an heirloom on to someone else within the family. In another case you may want to offer the item back to the person who gave it too you. Maybe you can sell the item or maybe donate it to charity. Either way you should not feel obliged to keep it there.

Item 364 of 365 less things

I think this cap confirms it, you can sell anything on eBay. It sold for $8, go figure!

5 Things I am grateful for today

1. Christmas is over for another year – That sounds a little negative but I am sure you all understand what I am saying.
2. To be home safe and sound from out road trip – This really is the most dangerous time of the year to travel.
3. One day to go – And I will have successfully completed my New Years resolution of decluttering 365 things.
4. Cool tiled floors on a hot day – They sure help keep the house at a comfortable temperature.
5. Being back in my own bed
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom

The Fear: What if I need it? What if I want it? What if I use it more than I think I do?

It’s real. I know it is. If you can’t jump in, at least stick your toe in the water. It’s fine. You’ll see.

My kitchen is pretty lean and mean, but one day something got cock-eyed in the measuring cup drawer, and I had to jerk with all my might. That made me take another look at what was in the drawer. I had two full sets of measuring cups, plus a couple of unmatched cups and the same with the measuring spoons. As I said, I consider my kitchen to be lean and mean, “just right” if you will, so I wasn’t sure I could part with anything in there. On the other hand, that did seem like a lot of measuring tools. I took out all the duplicates and put them on a pretty tray by the toaster oven – still in the kitchen, not looking too cluttery, and right at hand if I wanted them back. A couple of weeks passed, and I took a good look at what was on the tray. I took back one little measuring cup and put the rest in the thrift store bag. At first I was only able to stick my toe in the water, but a few weeks later, I was able to jump.

When I decluttered the pantry (which I discussed back on day 349), I moved the broom and mops to the laundry room. I planned to hang them on the back wall, so initially I just leaned them there, as I had no hooks. I quickly realized that I would rather hang them where the ironing board hangs. This is a full-size ironing board; we have a smaller one built into our bathroom wall, and my husband uses it daily. I hadn’t planned on decluttering the ironing board. It hangs neatly in an out-of-the-way location, and I use it occasionally. (Very occasionally.) I leaned the broom and mops by the ironing board and confirmed that I liked this location for them much better, but there wasn’t room for them and the ironing board. This was my moment of putting my toe in the water. I left them leaning there, and every time I went into the laundry room I wondered if I would regret getting rid of the ironing board. The fact that I didn’t consider moving the board to a different location was my first clue that I could live without it. A few more weeks passed, I got hooks for the broom and mops, and I very much like them in their new location. The ironing board, I realized, I could live without.

My give-away bag acts as a bit of a safety net too. While most of the time, it’s a one-way ticket to the thrift store, very occasionally, I’ve pulled something back out of the bag. You can give yourself permission to do this too, so long are you’re not undermining your efforts with a frequent in-then-out. If magazines and newspapers are your clutter downfalls, you can use your recycling bin as a safety net. Go ahead and “store” your problem paper items in the basket. When it’s time to empty it, well, you obviously didn’t really need those things anyway.

It’s ok to try before you purge, so come on it; the water’s fine!

Item 363 of 365 less things

I rather like these boots but they are coming apart in the from seam and repairing them isn’t an option. I will donate them though because maybe someone won’t be as fussy as me.

5 Things I am grateful for today

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

key #6 – Don’t over think it

Sometimes when we are faced with what seems like a mammoth task we tend to over think the situation. For my decluttering effort each day I just walk into a room take a look around, peek in a cupboard or too and just find something to declutter. Or I might just spy something on my daily meandering throughout the house. Over thinking can cause procrastination or worse scare you off the task altogether. If you find yourself hyperventilating at the mere thought of decluttering, STOP, and take 5 slow deep breaths clear your mind and start over the easy way.

Item 362 of 365lessthings

Today’s offering to the donation box is a batch of unused greeting cards that have been cluttering up my card box for more years than I care to remember. If I haven’t used them yet I’m probably never going to.

5 Reflections of gratitude toward people in my life this year

1. My husband- for always doing all the work to organise our wonderful overseas vacations. For editing my posts most of the time. For being there for me through thick and thin. For loving me no matter what etc etc etc.
2. My daughter- Although I worry about her far more than I should she never does anything too outrageously frightening. And she loves me enough to phone me nearly every night.
3. My Son – For doing his best to be patient about all the things he isn’t allowed to do while his brain recovers. And for being forgiving when I get too overprotective.
4. Cindy for helping me out in good times and bad – Can’t thank you enough Cindy.
   
5. The other wonderful people who wrote posts for me while I was on my vacation – Donna * Steve * and Betty Jo* (I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone)

Key # 5 Admire your handy work

There is nothing like a healthy dose of gloating over what a good job you’re doing to inspire yourself to keep laboring on. Just stop every now and again and look around you and enjoy the difference you are making. Why not go back and take a quick peak in that closet or drawer you decluttered and re-organized yesterday to give you inspiration to get back on task today. I do it all the time it makes me feel good and encourages me to move on to the next step.

Item 361 of 365 less things

Computer software – no sooner do you load it on but then it is out of date again.

5 Reflections of gratitude for my neighbourhood this year

1. Spring flowers and Summer showers.
2. All the beautiful birds that live in my neighbourhood.
3. New neighbours – People come and go in my life a lot but that is OK, I am used to it. Variety is the spice of life.
4. The variety of architecture – The landscape is forever changing around me and I love it.
5. The location of my home – It is handy to so many things and I can get there on foot if need be.
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Key #4 Don’t reclutter while you declutter

Decluttering is a complete waste of time if there is as much stuff entering your house as there is going out. Limit your purchases to the things you really have put a lot of thought into whether you will get good use out of it or if it really suits your needs. Don’t wonder aimlessly through the stores looking for stuff you didn’t know you wanted. And try to convince your friends and family not to buy you gifts unless they are consumable in some way.- Fresh flowers, chocolates, beauty treatments and the like.

Item 360 of 365 less things

My mother-in-law probably will think I have gone too far now but as cute as this bear is Liam gave it to me to declutter. It was a nice thought at the time but he is all better now.

5 Reflections of gratitude from the most frightening time of this year

1. All the family and friends that kept in touch when Liam was hurt.
2. Modern medicine- Something we often take for granted but makes a big difference to a lot of lives.
3. All the health professionals who cared for Liam, aided and are still assisting in his full recovery.
4. All of the prayers and well wishes of my readers and their families, friends and church groups during that awful time.
5. Both my husband and I being able to give Liam our full attention during his entire recovery time – that is truly a privilege in this day and age. Planning for a rainy day really is a good idea.
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Key #3 – Get the entire household on board

I know it isn’t always easy to accomplish this one because, lets face it, you have no control over it what so ever. If you can’t verbally convince the other members of your household to comply maybe you can entice them with your success. Once they see how much more organised your spaces are and how happy it makes you, they may be more inclined to join in. When you tell them about your eBay successes and how your bank account is growing because of your retail restraint they may be convinced.

Item 359 of 365 less things

Yet another item hiding away in the back of my closet unused.

5 Reflections of gratefulness for decluttering this year

1. The valuable lessons I have learned during my 365lessthings challenge.
2. How great my home is looking.
3. The wonderful friends I have found through 365 less things.
4. The good feeling I get from helping others with their decluttering.
5. The feeling of freedom – both from my clutter and the desire to have things.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Key #2 -Start with the easy stuff

When it comes to decluttering there are always those items that are easy to part with and items that for one reason or another you feel more attached to. My advice is to start with the easy stuff. Things you know for sure that you no longer want or need. Once you start to see and feel the benefits of your decluttering I am sure you will become more ruthless at parting with stuff. By the time you are done, you will wonder why you were ever so attached to those “hard to get rid of” items.

Item 358 of 365 less things

I wasn’t planning to get rid of this bag but it has hung in the back of my closet for the whole year unused so that speaks for itself.

5 Reflections of gratefulness and sanity this year

1. Finally seeing sense and quitting my thankless job.
2. Finally feeling at home in Australia again – It took a while
3. Having good friends that stick by me through thick and thin –I do the same for them.
4. Learning how to say no more often to things I don’t want to do or believe in – People really do respect your wishes and I haven’t lost any friends or loved ones over it.
   
5. Managing to stay sane through all the ups and down of this year – It sure has been an interesting one. Dear Lord can I please place my order for a much less stressful one next year. Amen.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Key 1 – Don’t bite off more than you can chew

If you are finding the idea of decluttering your home daunting maybe you are thinking too much about the big picture. Maybe you are picturing turning over entire rooms and disrupting the household. That isn’t necessary. Just work on one small area at a time. Even if you want to focus on one room at a time just clean out a drawer, then another, then one side of the closet, then the other, then under the bed… Limit yourself to one hour jobs so you can easily get finished in one time period and leave no mess when done.

Item 357 of 365 less things

One short conversation with a friend and this VCR had a new home. They wanted to digitise their video collection but no longer had a VCR and we were only too happy to help.

5 Reflections of gratefulness for the highlights of this year

1. The miraculous recovery of our son from his head injury – This one has to go to the top of the list.
2. Our wonderful one month vacation in Italy.
3. Starting this crazy resolution to declutter – It has made a big difference to my life.
4. The big family get together – It was nice to see my mother-in-law surrounded by all her children and grandchildren.
5. Surviving a four month separation from my husband while he was in the Middle East.
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom

Audra is eight years old and a fashionista. The lucky girl gets hand-me-downs from her sister and her sister’s friend, plus she occasionally gets new clothes of her own, typically from the thrift store. Audra changes clothes many times a day (thank goodness she wears a uniform to school!) and makes some really wonderful outfits.

I have been of several different minds about Audra and her clothes. Initially I would tell everyone, “Don’t buy her clothes. She doesn’t need any clothes,” etc. Then, as I started decluttering and reflecting on our choices, I realized that Audra enjoys a good shirt far more than any other toy, game, or art supply she could receive. If you’re going to buy a gift, it should be one that the person really loves, so then I thought, “Good, clothes it is.” Unfortunately, I quickly regretted my choice. Why? Audra never cleans up after herself. Her clothes were thrown over the bar instead of hung, or they were dropped on the floor barely worn but would quickly become dirty after being stepped on. I got mad, ridiculously mad. I resented the mess; I resented the extra laundry; I started resenting her.

One of Audra’s excuses was that she didn’t know how to hang her clothes properly. I spend several hours teaching her how to hang the clothes and rewarding her a nickel an item. This strategy was only mildly successful, but I used it to justified my anger. Now I knew she was just being careless. Time passed, and I wasted precious time and energy steaming.

Then one day, I had a calm moment when I realized that I was handling the situation backwards. I realized that Audra didn’t have a problem; she didn’t care that her clothes were on the ground or that I was intermittently angry at her. (She’s got a temper too and a very resilient personality.) It was me who had a problem, and it is my job is to solve my problems. I got a big trash bag and picked up everything from her floor and everything that was not hung properly, except stray uniforms, which went into the laundry, and I put the trash bag in the bottom of my closet. To my stunned surprise, Audra didn’t notice. About a week later, I made the same sweep. Audra started to notice that she was having a bit more trouble matching outfits, but she didn’t see the bigger picture.

The third time I made the floor sweep, Audra walked in while I was stuffing my plastic bag, which now bulged like Santa’s sack. She was shocked, but we had a calm discussion. She rightly pointed out that she has more clothes than anyone else in the family but less hanging space. We brought in a rolling rack from the spare room. She helped me figure out how the clothes should be organized, and we started unpacking the bag of confiscated goods. She was surprisingly merciless, weeding out everything that she thought she no longer wanted. After a while, she got tired, we stopped hanging things up, and she has never asked for the remaining items. Her clothes have really not been an issue since, and we finished this project at least six weeks ago.

I realized that I let this problem – my problem – go on and on because I was too chicken to diminish her clothing pile. I really thought it would break her heart and that I would win the Mean Mom of the Year Award. How wrong I was. Audra still loves her clothes, but we both realized that in the land of plenty, it’s easy to have plenty too much.

Item 356 of 365 less things

Yet another thing that I have been passing over during the year. I don’t think this has been used in 3 years. Out it goes.

5 Things I am grateful for today

1. A roof over my head and a bed to sleep in – That is more than some people have.
2. The good times together with family.
3. Being organised for Christmas – The gift is bought, the pudding is ready and the house is clean.
4. Stone fruit – Peaches, cherries, plums, apricots etc they are one of the best things about a summer Christmas.
5. My little car – It’s compact, easy to park and cheap on the gas.
   

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.