I moved around a lot growing up, and sometimes my mom would tell me, "I'm sorry honey that [insert thing] didn't survive the move." I never understood her ruthless willingness to purge until I became an adult and confronted the hassle and difficulties of moving for myself!
It’s hard! I like little trinkets and decorative things. If I think it’s cute I hang on to it for a while (even if it’s a Mc Donald’s toy) but now I have no space so that solves that issue.
Ah yes, all the shit! Moving to Texas from Illinois meant NO BASEMENT for us and we had to learn to get rid of so much of it. I do wish I had kept all of my books, though. Even though I have no place to put them. I’m going to write about this soon!
I did a book discussion on Kondo's book just months after it came out. While doing research I learned that in 2010 there was enough room in American storage units, given a 1'x1' space, to hold Every person living in the US! And that there were more storage facilities than all the McDonald's and Starbucks combined! And more storage facilities have popped up like weeds since then! So I agree Mel that we all have too much shit!
Yes! Downsizing can be a great thing! Focus on the things that are important. We are downsizing from a 3200 sq ft home to live full time in a 400 sq ft fifth wheel by September. It feels good to give away and sell things to those who need them and can give them a second life.
Thank you! We’ll be parking it most of the time at an RV resort but will travel with it a few times a year. It is going to be an adjustment but I’m looking forward to it!
My husband went back to school full time in his 40s and we sold our house and moved into a condo less than half the size. While some stuff ended up in storage we did indeed get rid of close to half our stuff. We are in a bigger place again but don't miss anything we gave up and keep a lot less than we once did.
Also during my 40s learned that sometimes curse words are the right words. Good stuff.
Yes! Sometimes they are! Haha! I rarely use it in writing but for a real and slightly humorous piece it felt “right”. You are right about not missing the stuff.
We did a huge amount of decluttering this winter, and it was tremendously satisfying. Yes, giving away (as opposed to trying to sell) is really the way to go, I think – at least for ordinary stuff. There's a woman on our local FB Marketplace who has had an ad up for months, trying to sell 100 brown cloth napkins and runners from her wedding ... for $200. It will never happen!! She'd be so much better off just donating them. Freedom!
You are right! She would be better off. A nonprofit could use them for their annual banquet or another place, but most people can’t pay $200 for napkins 😆. Yaya for decluttering!
praying for sleep to come to Spicy Mel (who is a lot of fun).
If you're wanting to go the unmedicated (well, prescription-free) route, have you tried magnesium before bed? For some, that might be an Epsom salt bath or slathering on magnesium oil/gel, or mixing up some magnesium powder in a little tart cherry juice 30 min before getting ready for bed. It's not a magic bullet, but it's let my body process stress better. (Oh, and about six sips of wine--it's about all the sulfites my body can handle, but I do relax after that.)
Abigail, I have tried so many things. I do soak in epsom salts every day. Melatonin helps. I’ll have to try magnesium. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I have to have a long walk or some kind of exercise. My walking patterns changed since moving. Last night we took a long brisk walk in the city and I slept! Yay!
You know, as I was writing my first comment I was thinking, I BET she's already done all the thing things. Sounds like you have! :)
I've noticed that my boys are calmer and fall sleep more quickly with a good walk after dinner. Yay! I hope you can find a good new walking pattern and start having better sleep more regularly!
I'm downsizing my books (just a little), well really getting rid of a lot of the evangelical commentaries I had. I wouldn't call them sh!t, but honestly most of these guys aren't on par with critical scholars. Of course when I go back to AAR-SBL this fall I'm gonna fill all the empty shelf space! Hope you can sleep some! 🙏
Great post! I'm with you on the need to downsize! Out of the 6 in our family only one son our of four is willing to part with his stuff. He is the organizer and cleaner at our house. My husband and I are both packrats.
I grew up with a mom who kept nothing. I did not like that because she threw away some special items I loved. There is a balance. Keep the precious things and give away the things you can really do without. ❤️
I moved around a lot growing up, and sometimes my mom would tell me, "I'm sorry honey that [insert thing] didn't survive the move." I never understood her ruthless willingness to purge until I became an adult and confronted the hassle and difficulties of moving for myself!
Those are harsh words for a kid to hear! haha.
It was never anything crucially important, to her credit!
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. I’m struggling with this myself.
It’s hard! I like little trinkets and decorative things. If I think it’s cute I hang on to it for a while (even if it’s a Mc Donald’s toy) but now I have no space so that solves that issue.
Ah yes, all the shit! Moving to Texas from Illinois meant NO BASEMENT for us and we had to learn to get rid of so much of it. I do wish I had kept all of my books, though. Even though I have no place to put them. I’m going to write about this soon!
Awesome! Post it here in the comments when you do :-)
I did a book discussion on Kondo's book just months after it came out. While doing research I learned that in 2010 there was enough room in American storage units, given a 1'x1' space, to hold Every person living in the US! And that there were more storage facilities than all the McDonald's and Starbucks combined! And more storage facilities have popped up like weeds since then! So I agree Mel that we all have too much shit!
Thanks for sharing, and we do!
Yes! Downsizing can be a great thing! Focus on the things that are important. We are downsizing from a 3200 sq ft home to live full time in a 400 sq ft fifth wheel by September. It feels good to give away and sell things to those who need them and can give them a second life.
Wow Jennifer! What a move. Blessing on the journey. Will you be parking the 5th wheel or traveling around the States?
Thank you! We’ll be parking it most of the time at an RV resort but will travel with it a few times a year. It is going to be an adjustment but I’m looking forward to it!
My husband went back to school full time in his 40s and we sold our house and moved into a condo less than half the size. While some stuff ended up in storage we did indeed get rid of close to half our stuff. We are in a bigger place again but don't miss anything we gave up and keep a lot less than we once did.
Also during my 40s learned that sometimes curse words are the right words. Good stuff.
Yes! Sometimes they are! Haha! I rarely use it in writing but for a real and slightly humorous piece it felt “right”. You are right about not missing the stuff.
We did a huge amount of decluttering this winter, and it was tremendously satisfying. Yes, giving away (as opposed to trying to sell) is really the way to go, I think – at least for ordinary stuff. There's a woman on our local FB Marketplace who has had an ad up for months, trying to sell 100 brown cloth napkins and runners from her wedding ... for $200. It will never happen!! She'd be so much better off just donating them. Freedom!
You are right! She would be better off. A nonprofit could use them for their annual banquet or another place, but most people can’t pay $200 for napkins 😆. Yaya for decluttering!
praying for sleep to come to Spicy Mel (who is a lot of fun).
If you're wanting to go the unmedicated (well, prescription-free) route, have you tried magnesium before bed? For some, that might be an Epsom salt bath or slathering on magnesium oil/gel, or mixing up some magnesium powder in a little tart cherry juice 30 min before getting ready for bed. It's not a magic bullet, but it's let my body process stress better. (Oh, and about six sips of wine--it's about all the sulfites my body can handle, but I do relax after that.)
Abigail, I have tried so many things. I do soak in epsom salts every day. Melatonin helps. I’ll have to try magnesium. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I have to have a long walk or some kind of exercise. My walking patterns changed since moving. Last night we took a long brisk walk in the city and I slept! Yay!
You know, as I was writing my first comment I was thinking, I BET she's already done all the thing things. Sounds like you have! :)
I've noticed that my boys are calmer and fall sleep more quickly with a good walk after dinner. Yay! I hope you can find a good new walking pattern and start having better sleep more regularly!
I do need all the tips! I forgot about magnesium. Your comment helped remid me of some things and also healped me feel less alone :-).
I'm downsizing my books (just a little), well really getting rid of a lot of the evangelical commentaries I had. I wouldn't call them sh!t, but honestly most of these guys aren't on par with critical scholars. Of course when I go back to AAR-SBL this fall I'm gonna fill all the empty shelf space! Hope you can sleep some! 🙏
Charles, I got rid of some of those too. Good on you for recognizing what is helpful and what is not, and “downsizing”.
Great post! I'm with you on the need to downsize! Out of the 6 in our family only one son our of four is willing to part with his stuff. He is the organizer and cleaner at our house. My husband and I are both packrats.
I grew up with a mom who kept nothing. I did not like that because she threw away some special items I loved. There is a balance. Keep the precious things and give away the things you can really do without. ❤️