Making Room for the Bucket List
I've been working on an epic purge and it's amazing how much JUNK you acquire over time. I still have a storage unit I need to unload, around 15 Rubbermaid tubs, and a lot of papers I've yet to go through. Tough to get rid of things, so I've discovered new ways to approach the problem once I hit a roadblock on purging more.
So...
Ran across this blog a few months ago:
http://www.familygonefree.com/
2 adults, 2 kids, 1 suitcase each... a one year adventure to see the country, homeschool roadschool, and blog about the experience.
So I decided 3 years ago I needed to purge after I actually enjoyed being a homeless couchsurfer for 4 months... living out of a suitcase with a spatula, salt, and a pan. This blog just re-lit the fire under my tail. Add to that a mid-winter taste of the Pacific NW and you have a squirrely lady. Cleaning house is in how you look at it. The process begins to feel like stages of grief. So help me God, I'll win this battle:
Step 1: Make a pile of things that are just, "I'll never ever wear that" and "I don't want to buy glue to fix this, what was I thinking?" Realizing that method never really got me anywhere...
Step 2: Make a pile of things you haven't worn in a year. Really? There are some things that are seasonal and maybe you gained/lost weight... what about the "hopeful" pair of jeans you picked up on sale because the 2 sizes bigger pair looked so good on your butt? A little better. Still, I wouldn't call this a purge.
Step 3: Box up all your stuff to move and never take it out of the boxes. It's worked for years. I've been slowly recognizing how good at Tetris I am. Apparently, I was quite the poet in high school. If you appreciate a healthy serving of trying too hard with a dash of sarcastic self-deprecating wit, that is...
Step 4: What the heck am I doing? I still have too much junk. I know... bring ANYTHING that doesn't make you feel AMAZING to goodwill. Saaweeeet! Making progress here.
Step 5: Friend has clothing exchange. I kinda like the sound of this. When you own things you KNOW God-fearing endorsed places will throw away, it makes you cry a little inside. What? Nobody wants my Marilyn Manson t-shirt circa 1998 saying "Anti-Christ By Choice?" Don't judge. I'm sure we all LOVED our high school and junior high days. End result: JOY!! There is ALWAYS someone that wants your stuff... free, but to a good home.
Step 6: When was the last time I decorated for Christmas? For Halloween? Sent out Valentine's or colored eggs for Easter? That's it. Selling the Xmas tree and all Suzie Homemaker decor. If I want something again, I'll buy it or heck.. might not want it in 3 years. I'm not paying to store it.
Where I'm at now: HALLELUJAH !!!! So close...
Step 7: Okay, time to go in reverse. Have you ever stayed in a hotel with its own kitchenette? Or stayed in a furnished apartment/house? I've decided to work it backwards.
a.) Make short list of what would be in a one bedroom furnished apartment
b.) Get rid of EVERYTHING else that isn't sentimental
Step 8: Execute paperless lifestyle
a.) Scan all work and home docs
b.) Rip all my CDs into MP3s/wav files
Imagine all the free time you get when you don't have to do so much laundry? Or dishes? Or move so much CRAP from place to place? Imagine the freedom of knowing if YOU want to go and do something fun or have an ADVENTURE, stuff... things... crap... won't be a BURDEN holding you back. Think about it for a minute. If you didn't have something to move or take care of back home, would you stand up and just .. GO ? Could you? The freedom alone is attractive.
As you remove items from your life, I can't help but notice how much it's purging the junk in the emotional/spiritual sense. Like most, I'll remember who gave me something... or the stage of my life I was in when I acquired an article of clothing or decorations I had other plans for. Undoubtedly that's why it's taken time, persistence, and great intention to make serious headway. It's freeing in ways I wish I had recognized sooner.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. ~Chinese Proverb
So...
Ran across this blog a few months ago:
http://www.familygonefree.com/
2 adults, 2 kids, 1 suitcase each... a one year adventure to see the country, homeschool roadschool, and blog about the experience.
So I decided 3 years ago I needed to purge after I actually enjoyed being a homeless couchsurfer for 4 months... living out of a suitcase with a spatula, salt, and a pan. This blog just re-lit the fire under my tail. Add to that a mid-winter taste of the Pacific NW and you have a squirrely lady. Cleaning house is in how you look at it. The process begins to feel like stages of grief. So help me God, I'll win this battle:
Step 1: Make a pile of things that are just, "I'll never ever wear that" and "I don't want to buy glue to fix this, what was I thinking?" Realizing that method never really got me anywhere...
Step 2: Make a pile of things you haven't worn in a year. Really? There are some things that are seasonal and maybe you gained/lost weight... what about the "hopeful" pair of jeans you picked up on sale because the 2 sizes bigger pair looked so good on your butt? A little better. Still, I wouldn't call this a purge.
Step 3: Box up all your stuff to move and never take it out of the boxes. It's worked for years. I've been slowly recognizing how good at Tetris I am. Apparently, I was quite the poet in high school. If you appreciate a healthy serving of trying too hard with a dash of sarcastic self-deprecating wit, that is...
Step 4: What the heck am I doing? I still have too much junk. I know... bring ANYTHING that doesn't make you feel AMAZING to goodwill. Saaweeeet! Making progress here.
Step 5: Friend has clothing exchange. I kinda like the sound of this. When you own things you KNOW God-fearing endorsed places will throw away, it makes you cry a little inside. What? Nobody wants my Marilyn Manson t-shirt circa 1998 saying "Anti-Christ By Choice?" Don't judge. I'm sure we all LOVED our high school and junior high days. End result: JOY!! There is ALWAYS someone that wants your stuff... free, but to a good home.
Step 6: When was the last time I decorated for Christmas? For Halloween? Sent out Valentine's or colored eggs for Easter? That's it. Selling the Xmas tree and all Suzie Homemaker decor. If I want something again, I'll buy it or heck.. might not want it in 3 years. I'm not paying to store it.
Where I'm at now: HALLELUJAH !!!! So close...
Step 7: Okay, time to go in reverse. Have you ever stayed in a hotel with its own kitchenette? Or stayed in a furnished apartment/house? I've decided to work it backwards.
a.) Make short list of what would be in a one bedroom furnished apartment
b.) Get rid of EVERYTHING else that isn't sentimental
Step 8: Execute paperless lifestyle
a.) Scan all work and home docs
b.) Rip all my CDs into MP3s/wav files
Imagine all the free time you get when you don't have to do so much laundry? Or dishes? Or move so much CRAP from place to place? Imagine the freedom of knowing if YOU want to go and do something fun or have an ADVENTURE, stuff... things... crap... won't be a BURDEN holding you back. Think about it for a minute. If you didn't have something to move or take care of back home, would you stand up and just .. GO ? Could you? The freedom alone is attractive.
As you remove items from your life, I can't help but notice how much it's purging the junk in the emotional/spiritual sense. Like most, I'll remember who gave me something... or the stage of my life I was in when I acquired an article of clothing or decorations I had other plans for. Undoubtedly that's why it's taken time, persistence, and great intention to make serious headway. It's freeing in ways I wish I had recognized sooner.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. ~Chinese Proverb