It’s been a while since I read this book, back in April/May to be exact. I have been undecided as to whether to write a review about it or not. When I read the title and the front cover of the book it sounded like it would be more about learning to live without the desire to acquire stuff than it actually turned out to be. The blurb on the cover read ~ “My JOURNEY from ADDICTION and OVERCONSUMPTION to a SIMPLER, HONEST LIFE.”

The book certainly was about overconsumption in the form of addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, food, work of relationships but the section of the book dedicated to overconsumption of material goods was quite a short one. Nevertheless there is a lot to be learned from this book and I feel it is well worth the read.

In her own words TV news journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell tells about her life, her overindulgences and her journey of self-discovery. The first issue she addresses is her addiction to alcohol. She then applies the 12 steps program she learns at Alcoholics Anonymous to the other areas in her life that were out of control. The chapter on material overconsumption begins like this…

     “For some addicts, the substance of choice is alcohol. For others, it’s drugs, For still other, it’s food. But there’s one addiction that virturally all of us share. You and I and nearly all Americans are hooked on things.

     We’ve been conditioned to identify ourselves as consumers. We are constantly being indoctrinated to buy, buy, buy. And we’re all “drinking the Kool-aid”! It’s a cult I’m fighting to escape, But it’s hard. There are guards at the exits. And they have instructions from the powers that be: Don’t let anybody out! “

She talks about how overconsumption is affecting the environment and the changes she has made to lesson her  own carbon footprint.

She also writes about her switch to veganism, her work against animal cruelty and about her coming out as gay. As you can tell she has certainly faced some challenges in her life and it is a credit to her how she has managed to overcome them right in the public spotlight and continues to work at her sobriety of all her vices.

Like I said, this book really is worth the read even if your addiction is only a mild one to material possessions. What Jane learnt and you can too is that the same rules of acceptance, forgiveness and action can be applied to overcome any vice. If she could conquer the mammoth challenges she faced what excuse do you or I have to balk in the face of a little decluttering and conscientious consumerism.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter the surfaces of your fridge, both vertical and horizontal.

Today’s Declutter Item

This is one more craft item decluttering during my big craft area minimisation. I have other cutting mats so this one was excess to my needs. It may be a while yet until you see the last of the decluttered craft items. Considering how much I reduced the area of my craft space I should think the items would take some time to pass through as items of the day on the blog.

Craft Cutting Mat

Something I Am Grateful For Today

The perfect clothes drying day. Plenty of sunshine and a bit of a breeze. Three loads all dried on the line today in winter using an front loading washing machine.

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast

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

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week we are going to search for some clutter that shouldn’t be too hard to find because it is out in the open right under your nose. The worse part about clutter that is out in the open is that it collects dust. The beauty of decluttering it is that the less you have the less dusting is required to keep your home clean and fresh. So lets see what we can find to get rid of. I will name a surface and you can check there for clutter.

Monday – Around the bathroom basins.

Tuesday – On the fridge ~ both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Wednesday – On bedside cabinets, chest of drawers or dressing table.

Thursday – On and in TV cabinet or entertainment unit.

Friday – On kitchen benches.

Saturday – On your patio, deck or porch.

Sunday – On the coffee or lamp tables in your living room.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

I got rid of a lot of gift wrapping supplies a long time back but had kept these just in case. 🙄 I am sticking to my no material gifts rule quite well so time has proved that these are unlikely to ever get used in my household. Perhaps they will in someone else’s, so I took them to the thrifts store last week. The bows sold before I left for the day. Now I have two more empty drawers in the spare room for guests to utilise. This allowed me to declutter some other storage items I had been saving. I have dubbed that “Chain Reaction Decluttering”.

Gift Wrapping Supplies

Something I Am Grateful For Today

A whole weekend of beautiful warming sunshine. That has been rare around here this year but oh how glorious these days are when the arrive. One appreciates them even more when they are not so common.

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

For those Sydney dwelling readers who showed an interest in joining me for a coffee on the 14th of this month I have decided on a venue. The lure of Newtown was too much to resist so I will take Susan’s advice and we shall meet at 10am at…

2042 Café and Deli 

403-405 King Street
Newtown, NSW 2042

RSVP below in the comments if you think you might be able to make in just in case I need to reserve a table.

I received an email from one of our fellow 365ers, who shall be referred to as O, this week and she would like her fellow 365ers advice on what to do with a certain object she is having trouble parting with. It is difficult, not because she doesn’t want to part with it because she most certainly does but because it falls into the obligation clutter category and it is difficult to know exactly how to dispose of it responsibly. Perhaps you can help her out with a little advice, I have already given her mine. Please see below the story of this item.

O’s Story

Some years ago I took part in a sporting event as a volunteer and it was an amazing experience. Personally, I only need to think of it and I feel the same happiness and joy because I was part of it. I didn’t buy or want any memorabilia then – and this was way before any ideas of decluttering came my way. However, to mark my own and the team’s I was working with involvement, a group of volunteers from the host town commissioned a local artist to make us the souvenirs. You can guess where this is going, right? They were chunky, ceramic plates with the logo and date of the event. My plate is really pretty for what it is *but* it is neither something I’d display as it’s not really my taste nor I’m a fan of the ceramic as such. Nor I like the color of it. So, for the last several years it had been shifted from one shelf to another as I really didn’t want to even look at it for the fear I’d feel guilty I hadn’t displayed it. And I am now in my third home from the moment when I’d been given the thing!

I consider myself reasonably decluttering mature (still a long way to go, but I am on the right track), yet this plate is a problem I want to solve.

I don’t like it and don’t want it. There shouldn’t be any dilemmas about it’s destiny.

But. Part of me, of course, thinks that throwing it away deliberately would offend the wonderful, kind people who gave it to me. Not that they would know, but still. It is a work of a respected and well known artist in the region, and I feel it’s not right from that point of view either.

Yes, if it fell of the removal truck it would have been problem solved, but that did not happen. Thankfully. Yet, I cannot think of any other way to make it leave my life but to throw it away. Nobody would really be interested in it, it’s not really thrift store, ebay or even museum sort of thing.

As I think there are only two options here: keep it forever in the bubble wrap (and be annoyed by the space it takes, however small) or throw it away, can somoene please enlighten me that there are other possibilities – or give me enough encouragement to simply throw it away?

* * * * * * *

So readers please leave your advice in the comments section below.

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday – Declutter excess gift wrapping supplies. Last week I took the bulk of what I had left ~ gift bags, ribbons and bows ~  to the thrift store. As I have adhered almost religiously to my “no material gifts” pledge I decided it was time to purge these “just in case” items. The bag of bows was sold before I finished my shift.

Sunday – Declutter excess serving bowls. I probably have too many nice serving bowls but one thing is for sure, I don’t need to keep the cheap plastic one. It tends to be the everyday use option while the good ones are saved for when I have guests but you know my opinion on that tactic so out it goes.

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

I loved this comment from Annabelle she has clearly learned her lesson about purchasing things she didn’t really need.

 Also thought this comment from Katharine was inspiring. Being excited about doing chores because of the joy of living in a clean an tidy environment is a better attitude than whining about the effort involved. Mind over matter ~ if you don’t mind the work the effort doesn’t matter.

It seems we are treated every week to a little wisdom from Spendwisemom, who lives up to the wise part of her pseudonym. Once a worthy task becomes a habit you in turn become a better person.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

Another great post from Mohamed at Midway Simplicity

This link was shared by Kathleen D ~  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katy-wolkstanley/saving-money-tips_b_1702291.html?ir=San%20Francisco ~ Thanks Kathleen.

Jez sent me this link http://www.paulgraham.com/stuff.html

Here is a funny blog link that Moni sent to me regarding travelling light.

This link will take you to a survey being carried out by  student of the University of New England currently conducting research into blogs that focus on sustainable living as part of my Masters degree.  It only takes 5 minutes to complete if you feel inclined to help out.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter storage containers that you no longer need due to your decluttering efforts. These are another thing that I move to the garage when emptied. Once I am sure that I don’t have a use for them I make the final decision to declutter them permanently. The more useful or versatile the container the longer it takes for me to come to this decision.

Today’s Declutter Item

Since simplifying my pantry so it isn’t cluttered with ingredients that I rarely use I have been able to eliminate some pantry storage containers. I sent these with some other kitchen items to my daughter to use in her new apartment. She has none so these will be helpful to her.

Pantry Storage

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Making an early start on some spring cleaning. Like Katharine in the comment above I do enjoy a clean home. Right now I am working on cleaning the windows inside and out and their tracks. I am grateful the all of my windows can be easily accessed both inside and out even the second story ones. I am also grateful for how easy this is to do with a little vinegar and water, a variety of microfibre cloths and a stiff bristled artist brush.

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

I received an email from Clare last week asking me is ebaying was worth the effort? I considered this question for a minute and came up with this thought “I guess if it wasn’t I would stop.” There must be enough of a pay off for me  to think it worth my while or I wouldn’t bother. 

Yes it is time consuming doing the listing, estimating the postage, finding packaging materials and then having to package up and post the items, but I have the time. Time that could be spent in far less productive ways such as watching reruns or reality shows on television. Sure I am disappointed at times when things don’t sell or they don’t sell for as much as I would have liked but for every disappointment there are at least five times where I am satisfied or more than satisfied.

When it all boils down to it, just because something takes a little effort doesn’t mean it is too much bother. I would prefer to just enjoy the positive outcome rather than dwell on how much effort something took in the first place. 

This all got me thinking about things in general being worth the effort. There are so many good things in life that require effort, marriage, raising children, preparing family meals, clean clothes to wear, keeping ones living environment pleasant none of which earn money but are well worth the effort. Personal satisfaction, comfort, the joy of a job well done and a happy family are the pay-offs and they are worth more than money can buy.

So when you think “Decluttering is such hard work mentally and or physically.” think again. What is the pay-off. The pay off is knowing you are working your way to having a serene space in which to live and what could be more worth it than that. So if you are spending more then ten minutes a day feeling miserable about the clutter in your home try turning that misery into a positive and spend those ten minutes finding something to declutter.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something you have an alternate for. I am finally getting rid of that artificial ivy I have mentioned here before. I own a glass fish bowl that I now fill with pruned greenery from the garden. With Spring on the way there will be no shortage of options to display in it. Thank you to whichever 365er gave me this idea.

Today’s Declutter Item

The photo on the left is the artificial ivy plant mentioned above and several other times in my post and now finally is today’s declutter item. Hopefully my greenery arranging skills will improve over time but I already feel better about have a natural arrangement than an artificial one.

Something I Am Grateful For Today

That regardless of having doubts at times, all my activities fell into some sort of order today and everything got done. It was more good luck than good management, either that or this whole time management thing comes so naturally to me that I just thought it was a fluke. Yeh, I think I’ll take the credit. 😉

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast

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

Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom

Cindy

A few weeks ago, this short article from The Change Blog was a Friday reading, and I’ve been thinking about it on and off ever since. The point of the article was that you might be more successful setting firm, absolute rules for yourself, rather than “trying.”

How can we apply these rules to leading a more decluttered life?

I will ALWAYS put my keys in their proper place when I enter the house.

At the end of each day, I will ALWAYS put the newspaper in the recycling bin.

Each day, I will ALWAYS declutter one item. (Perhaps even, each day immediately after dinner, I will ALWAYS declutter one item.)

Before I check out at the store (any store), I will ALWAYS check my cart to be sure that I am not buying unnecessary, extraneous, or duplicate items.

I will NEVER buy nonconsumable items on impulse, no matter how much of a bargain I think it is.

I will ALWAYS put away the items I get out.

I will NEVER let the potential value of something stop me from decluttering it.

I will NEVER keep something I hate in order to please someone else.

I will NEVER purchase duplicate or triplicates of items I have at home, just in case.

I will ALWAYS consider the environmental impact of my purchases.

What will you ALWAYS or NEVER do? Mine is: I will NEVER start a load of laundry without committing to folding it as soon as it’s dry. Backed up laundry can be a real clutter in the laundry room, and my husband hates it when his clothes are wrinkly.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something you have been undecided about for a while. I sometimes put items aside that I am procrastinating about but after a while I get tired of seeing them in the “maybe” pile and just bite the bullet and get rid of them. These are often the kinds of things I sell on ebay. Selling them makes me feel better about my decision.

Today’s Declutter Item

Here are some procrastination items I finally decided to send to the thrift store last week. Actually I send two of them to the thrift store some months ago but I thought the last four might come in useful in my guest room when we had visitors. In reality the chest of drawers in that room are all but empty anyway so if visitors wish to unpack items from their luggage they can pack them into there. The last four of these have just been wasting space in the garage.

More Storage Solutions

Something to be grateful for today

A good report at my six week post-op doctors check up today. Two more weeks and life can return to normal for me. Yay!

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast

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