I received the following comment from Peggy on Friday and wanted to share it here so people, who don’t read the comments, might see it. It is comments like this that inspire me to keep on blogging. I am just lucky that I get them on a regular basis. So thank you Peggy and all those 365ers who write in to tell us similar stories. So without further adieu her is Peggy’s comment…
“When I think about the things I have managed to pass along or repurpose, I am amazed! Â The dollhouse (sold), an unused medical test kit (returned to lab), unused Sephora gift bags (returned to store), foam roller, unused toiletries, and clothing to Goodwill, old eye glasses & unused Restasis to eye doctor office, organizing containers to work, old sheets, blankets, & towels to veterinarian, and lots more gone! Toiletries and cleaning supplies used up and not replaced. Â Books donated to library and favorite coffee shop. Â My husband has joined in little by little, parting with some old magazines, a cheap pocketknife, etc. Â He “shopped” our elder daughters mountain of boxes for her old laptop. Â Our younger daughter then fixed the old laptop up for him so that he can use the internet (win win). Â He is going to “shop” these boxes again for an earphone cable, even though he could buy new for about $7… I suggested this, to avoid possible duplication.
These things are just remembered examples of the many things out the door and not replaced, or repurposed instead of purchasing new.  So many little pockets of space cleared!  It is much easier to see what IS needed because there is less excess.  We are in no way “finished” with our decluttering journey.  However, I am so grateful to be this far along and to have changed my thought processes with regard to stuff… I wonder all the time what our home must have looked like and how it functioned before I started to understand what you are teaching here.  I know that our home functions better the more we rid ourselves of the unused and unloved items.   🙂
Today’s Mini Mission
Do a quick perusal of your outdoor area and declutter a few things that won’t be used again after this season comes to a close.
“If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?†— Unknown
Eco Tip for the Day
Just follow Peggy’s example, on how to pass things on instead of throwing them in the trash, and that will be helpful to the state of the environment.
For a full list of my eco tips so far click here
It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow
Peggy says
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for posting my comment AND thank you for everything else you do! 🙂
Colleen Madsen says
Thank you Peggy, you made my day when I read it. And it is my pleasure.
Lorena says
Very insightful, its all about changing our habits. One at a time and of course doing it consciously.
Peggy says
Thank you Lorena, I think you hit the nail on the head! It’s that thing of being conscious of our consumption and waste patterns 🙂
Michelle says
YAY for Peggy!! I love stories like this. 🙂
Peggy says
Hi Michelle,
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Deb J says
Great job Peggy. Thanks for your comment because it inspires us all.
Peggy says
Thanks Deb J, you have inspired me plenty of times!!!
Moni says
Lol, I recently came across a photo of one of my cats sitting in our little lounge with a background of clutter. I literally reared back. Yep that is what that room used to look like, it was horrorifying!
Colleen Madsen says
OK Moni, now you have to share. Please send me that shot and the same spot now.
Moni says
Colleen – I will have a look, it was amongst the digital photo era photos, it may have gone to the recycle bin.
Peggy says
Hi Moni,
First of all, your comment made me smile and chuckle 🙂 But also, that is exactly what I was referring to in my comment, what my place must have looked like “before”… only I don’t think I have a photo, just have to imagine all that stuff added back into my house (shudder!)… Some day, the current state of my home will become another “before” haha 🙂
Christine says
Very nicely put, Peggy. When you talk about changing your thought processes and creating a better-functioning home I am nodding my head in agreement. Exactly what we are trying to do and it is wonderful to be part of a community that understands our goals and celebrates every success.
Peggy says
Hi Christine,
I wish I knew when I started to really get the thought process thing… I know this blog was the main cause of the change in my thinking… It’s great that we are all here together sharing the journey 🙂
Katherine says
Good on ya Peggy.
I too look back at all the things I have given away to the Charity shops. If I was to take all those things back, I would definitely need a bigger house.
And I am still finding things to give away. More is going out than coming in. Hurrah.
Thank you all for your motivating comments.
Peggy says
Hi Katherine,
That is my aim as well, to always have more going out than coming in!
Wendyf says
Thanks for sharing Peggy . 🙂
When family come onboard the process is so much easier .
Cheers
Wendyf says
Thanks for sharing Peggy . 🙂
When family come onboard the process is so much easier .
Cheers
Peggy says
Hi Wendyf, I’m still trying to get the daughters on board… But I’m glad my husband is coming around 🙂
Andréia says
Inspiring! Time to get on my declutter projects with more will than ever!
Peggy says
Hi Andréia, good luck with your upcoming decluttering projects 🙂
Jackie says
We just returned home from 4 months on the road and travelling overseas. When I got home, I am once again blown away by the stuff I didn’t miss and things I forgot we even owned. AND we downsized in 2012 to a condo.
Peggy says
Hi Jackie,
Your comment made me smile… I imagine being able to “see” stuff like that once our daughters leave home for good. Right now, there is much I would like to part with but it isn’t mine to pass along (sigh)…
Lena says
yay peggy!! this is such a good feeling!!
I just got home from a week of vacation. I learned a couple of things:
I travelled Colleen-style. with just my everyday rucksack and a little handbag (iPad, iPhone, cable, purse, sunglasses sunscreen and a book). It was amazing and I will NEVER ever go back to big backpacks, travelling bags or suitcases. I consider buyign a slightly bigger rucksack with more pockets, so I dont have to stuff clean and dirty laundry, shoes and books all together… Colleen any advice?
I saw a copy of karen kingstons “clear your clutter” in german. when I pointed out to the owner that I love decluttering, the owner gave it to me as a present and we talked a lot about feng shui and how to “improve” the house. I read the book twice now. Although there is nothing new about clutter in it, it is a perfect source of inspiration. Isnt it amazing, that there is no end decluttering? After three solid years of throwing out, reclycling, giving away, rearranging, minimizing, improvising, understanding and changing, there is still something to learn.
spring is magical. I feel adventurous. I think the time of bare white walls is over. I will paint them light green and add new decoration.
Colleen Madsen says
Hi Lena, I agree a bag with separate compartments is good. I also have three mesh packing cubes for mine too which keeps everything very tidy in there. My bag also can expand but I have rarely had to do that. If I have to expand it then it would be too full and heavy to carry on.
Now on the subject of Germany, I will be spending three months in Berlin over Christmas. You must send me an email to tell me where in Germany you live and if we are in your area at anytime we could meet up.
Lena says
just sent you an email regarding your visit.
Regarding the bag: I was at our local shop already and had a long talk with the guys there. we figured that for my ideas it would be a so called “bike-rucksack” with around 30 litres volumes. it would still fit the hand-luggage size for flights and still be big enough to carry all the important things. I loved one specific bag especially. it had a bottom pocket for shoes, a top pocket for valuables and an integrated raincover. it had everything I actually wanted. I think I will check it out soon.
I did see those mesh cubes, but I didnt really understand the purpose of them – just until last week.
Peggy says
Hi Lena,
I love it that you travelled “Colleen-style”! I’ve been using a large zippered tote for travel. It doesn’t really have compartments, so I make do with a couple of Ziploc baggies for toiletries and jewelry. But I like that the tote is fabric and since I don’t fill it, it can squish down to a small size for carry-on. The zipper keeps everything secure 🙂
Colleen Madsen says
A comment I received by email from Tanja
In fact I have just finished packing 8 gifts – I laminated “holy” Christmas cards, up-cycled necklaces, and included some kind of toiletries (unwanted teacher gifts)…and wrapped each set in huge maps (and old American Sate Farm
atlas). These will go to the residents of a Home next Tuesday
Peggy says
Hi Tanja, I love it that you wrapped the gifts in maps… I have thought of doing that but have to be ready to part with the maps first LOL
Peggy says
To everyone: Thanks for all your comments <3 I've been a little under the weather with a cold 🙁 But I'm glad I could tell a story that you could relate to 🙂
Jill says
I have been a collector of “stuff” my whole life. Had a major life changing operation last October and since then have been getting rid of lots of stuff. For the past 10+ years, I had been stock piling items for use after retirement (this November). Using “poverty thinking” (after retirement not having enough money to buy craft items, books to read, clothing, i.e…). My small home was piled high! After many trips to Goodwill with bags and bags of items, one or two bags of books donated to our local library for their book sales, I am starting to see the light! Major clean out of old financial papers, sentimental papers, etc… (on the 11th clothes basket for the burner). I feel so different. God has continued to provide anything that I truly need.
Colleen Madsen says
Good for you Jill and welcome to 365 Less Things. The trick with not falling into the poverty thinking mode is to realise what is actually necessary in the first place.
Your comment has got me thinking about an idea for a blog post so stay tuned for that.