Chuck it all

[green_ghost]

Do you guys throw out old birthday cards and Xmas cards? I'm trying to make more space for myself, and I'm such a packrat that I have cards and papers from 20 years ago. I feel guilty chucking them but I just don't see the sense in hanging on to them anymore. Help me assuage my guilt people. Also, I have so many art books, magazines, toys and

Comments

[dingogrrl]

Ha, I'm going through a big clean-out right now and actually *did* throw out a box of old cards last weekend. There was guilt, but it's kind of liberating to have *space* (that I can fill up with junk again). You could always try a yard sale/ebay/craiglist for the other stuff. Having cash makes you feel much better about letting go.

[green_ghost]

Having cash makes you feel much better about letting go.

Lols to that!

I just went through a batch of old cards and found 2 from people who have passed --Gramma from old age, and a friend from a car accident. I couldn't throw them. I do need to get a handle on this, because I all of a sudden feel the need for that liberating space you speak of --all this crap feels confining.

[gentlehobbit]

Hee. I have the very same problem myself. I think that a good rule of thumb is that this question must be answered in the positive NOW:

"Does this item (old b-day card, magazine, book, sheet music, etc.) offer practical value, strong emotional value or is intrinsically interesting to you right now."

If not, toss it.

A second question would be "Is there someone that you know of for whom this item has practical value, strong emotional value or is intrinsically interesting right now."

If so, give it to them.

We don't need to hold on to old cards or whatnot to recognize the value of a loved one. There is no obligation to. If you want to, CHUCK THEM ALL! But it is probably wise to go through them and ask yourself the above questions first.

And as a final thought -- you *are* creative. Don't throw out art books that still hold value just because currently you're not feeling creative. I think it might be wise to hold on to those a little longer, unless you have long since assessed them as being no longer relevant to your artistic

[green_ghost]

I just went through a bunch of cards with your questions in mind, and found that I couldn't throw them all. I did manage to cull quite a few though.

I'm in a bad place mentally, and absolutely nothing seems remotely interesting to me anymore -- I know that sounds like an exaggeration but it's not. Maybe that's why all this junk suddenly seems like a stone around my neck. But then I get panicky that I minute I throw it all, I'll suddenly become inspired again and want it for something. It's a juvenile notion I know, I think it's one of the hallmarks of being a pack rat. It's time to change.

[gentlehobbit]

I did manage to cull quite a few though.

That's a start! :)

I have often, when feeling angry, or panicky or depressed, gone through things and thrown them out. I know exactly what you mean when you say that it is all like a stone around your neck. Exactly.

But then I get panicky that I minute I throw it all, I'll suddenly become inspired again and want it for something.

Again, I know exactly what you mean. Unfortunately, one can never tell if you'll ever need any of it. That's why I find those questions helpful. They help eliminate all those what-ifs. The stuff has to be relevant to you in some way now.

Good luck. I know what you're going through with this. I think you will feel a lot better with much of that stuff gone. It may not fix whatever is putting you into this funk right now, but you will feel better for having cleaned house both physically and a little mentally as well.

[green_ghost]

Thank you for all your input on this. I feel guilty that I get so wound up over 'things', and I tend to trivialize anything that upsets me. I really appreciate your thoughtful observations.

[leaper182]

I try to hold on to some of the more sentimental cards, like from my dad (who lives in MD, whereas I live in GA), but other than that, out they go!

If you really, absolutely must keep them, I say get yourself a scanner and scan the suckers onto a drive or something on your computer, so if you ever feel the need to see them again, you can open up the drive and aww over old stuff.

Or something? All I know is that my step-dad has National Geographics from God-knows-when, and it's a bit scary to have all those yellow spines staring at me from the shelves high above my head.

JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED... BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

O_O

[green_ghost]

That's what happens yes.... you find a pile of old cards and such and go aww and it feels odd to throw them away. The scanner thing is a good idea though, thanks for that.

JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED... BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.
LOLz!!

[leaper182]

CEILING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IS WATCHING YOU MASTURBATE.

omg, ceiling national geographic is watching me masturbate!!1!

*uses Roar! icon to hopefully show roaring with laughter*

[green_ghost]

LOLz @ you again. You are insane XD ... and those icons are adorable.

[ponks19]

i usually keep things for a few years than toss em.

i liked the previous suggestion of asking if there is any significant value/meaning to it that still currently stands...if not garbagio!

[green_ghost]

GarBAGio!! I have to learn to be more decisive and do that!

*raises hand* Another pack rat here

[abandonada]

What helped me--this is an extreme fix--was moving to another apartment

Re: *raises hand* Another pack rat here

[green_ghost]

Wow. I guess the sense of urgency helped you with the decision making... still, it must have been hard letting your stuff go, things that you had for so long. Like the unpacked boxes in your current apt., I am finding unread books and unopened toys that I don't even remember buying/receiving! It's like ...why the heck did I ever think I needed this stuff? Thanks for sharing your story :)