Sparking joy?

[Jenny]

Can’t you burn the records? Or do you have to have a record of their destruction?

I find watching an episode of Hoarders now and then is pretty good motivation to get rid of some stuff.

 

[Jilly]

Well 2 trunks became one. I've a pile at the door ready to go to charity. I know the 1 place won't take Christmas stuff, but the other will. Down the road the double bed to going too. Bedroom is too small and a futon would serve the same purpose. Now for shelves in that bedroom.

 

[Skier31]

I have spent all day folding clothes. I was busy playing sports when I was young. I never bothered to learn how to do laundry/folding/ironing. Today, I watched videos on how to konmari fold. It went ok. Attached is my beautifully rolled towel. I think I need a glass of wine.

 

[SallyCat]

Along with donating clothing and stuff, I've made a committment to try to buy used whenever I can.

 

[ski diva]

 

[VickiK]

This weekend I was going through stuff too and said good-bye to a pair of shoes I've worn for 13 years. It was time. They were great shoes for so long, and served me so well, that I took photos of them for posterity. I'll spare you the photos.

 

[Christy]

I am already feeling a lot of resentment toward my almost 80 year old parents for not decluttering NOW while they still can. They have a huge house plus 3 storage units full of their parents' stuff that they never got rid of! I just can't understand why they won't--at the very least it is incredibly inconsiderate toward their kids who will end up with the job. And as a city person who shared houses and so basically could only have a room worth of stuff until I moved with my now-husband at age 35, and who still has a small cottage where if I buy something new something old has to go just to make room, I just cannot understand hanging on to things you don't use.

@Skier31 I also cannot fold well so I am impressed with your towel! I should watch that video then blow my husband's mind with rolled towels (he can fold really well).

 

[VickiK]

Marie Kondo rolls everything. Her tip of using a shoe box inside the drawer to help keep things neat is a good one.

 

[SallyCat]

@Christy in my recent experience with a parent moving out of her house into a senior community, we had something of the same frustration. It turned out that packing and shedding things was incredibly emotionally difficult, because it was a recognition of a massive transition away from autonomy and independence. Our mom had a really hard time even thinking about downsizing, not because she was terribly attached to things, she just couldn’t face the loss of her house and her autonomy.

 

[Christy]

Another reason to do it before you HAVE to so you don't have the double trauma of the loss of independence plus the loss of stuff.

 

[geargrrl]

Marie Kondo rolls everything. Her tip of using a shoe box inside the drawer to help keep things neat is a good one.

Not Tshirts, pants, they get folded a certain way so they stand on end.

 

[Jenny]

I am feeling grateful to my mom right now. When dad died, she cleared out a lot of stuff, prior to moving, even though she wasn’t downsizing. Now that her brother has died (he was in the veterans home here) she sold her condo, and all her stuff and has moved down to ABQ to live with her sister. So, other than any personal items she has, and a car, there will be nothing to deal with when the time comes.

Now DH's mom, on the other hand . . .

I do think it’s easier to purge when you’re a bit removed from the emotion - meaning, it was easier for my mom to purge stuff from my dad’s side of the family, and it's easier for me to purge stuff from my grandparent's generation than my parent's. But it's also way easier for me to purge than it is for my sister, so basic personalities certainly come into play.

 

[VickiK]

Not Tshirts, pants, they get folded a certain way so they stand on end.

Ooops I rolled my t-shirts. I guess I better re-read the book!

 

[marzNC]

I do think it’s easier to purge when you’re a bit removed from the emotion - meaning, it was easier for my mom to purge stuff from my dad’s side of the family, and it's easier for me to purge stuff from my grandparent's generation than my parent's. But it's also way easier for me to purge than it is for my sister, so basic personalities certainly come into play.

I was very lucky. My mother started downsizing when my parents were in their 70s. Never really had that much space for stuff because they lived in apartments in NYC for decades. By the time they moved to an independent living retirement home when my father was 90 and she was 88, the stuff that they kept was quite minimal. My mother had experience helping friends who didn't make a move to a smaller house or condo or retirement community soon enough.

Quite a different story for my in-laws. Apparently my brother-in-law is still paying for a storage area because he hasn't sold or given away furniture that no one in the family wants.

Getting my DH to toss anything . . .

 

[WaterGirl]

Along with donating clothing and stuff, I've made a committment to try to buy used whenever I can.

Which is actually my down fall as well as DD. Goodwill shops in some spendy 'hoods plus the 2 thrift stores in mammoth = some very cool vintage clothing and spring retro ski outfits.
So ok, I have a little vintage cashmere addiction, and a few nice items that were made in Hong Kong.....

Marie Kondo rolls everything. Her tip of using a shoe box inside the drawer to help keep things neat is a good one.

Ikea makes some very nice drawer organizers
Skubb drawer box w/ compartments and storage boxes are nice, don't cost much and can be ordered online. I do re-use the plastic boxes from the box lettuce for under sink storage in bath and kitchen

 

[Skier31]

More folding today. It gets easier. Condensed two dressers into one just by folding. The shoe boxes work great. Even though I purged before the folding, I have eliminated more things that sparked less joy when I reviewed then the first time.

Part of me is somewhat disgusted at all of the stuff I have kept for no reason. I realize that part of this is a huge grieving process for my parents. They love their home in Florida and I know they are not thrilled about living in Colorado but I have examined every option and can’t think of a better one at the moment.

The good part of this is that with all of the craziness going on with work, moving, etc., it is extremely peaceful to come home to an organized home.

 

[skibum4ever]

I borrowed the book online from my library.

Reading just the first couple of chapters has already drastically changed my concept of discarding clothes. I thought I was done with cleaning out my closet, but came up with 1 1/2 more large bags by using her criteria.

Note: The ski closet will be worked on at the start of next season, as I would prefer to give items away to our local Mammoth thrift store, which helps support our Disabled Skier program.

Now to go back through my drawers. I bet I will have much more room in my dresser after this next round.

Not sure that any of my underwear brings me joy, so I shall just eliminate items that I no longer use.

Next stops after clothing will be shoes and jewelry. I'm also working haphazardly on knick knacks, but at some point will have to apply a more Kondo-like strategy. Will have to involve DH at that point because many of these items are his.

Then to get him on board... He really doesn't buy much clothing, but he does have multiple boxes of non-working electronics, connectors, hardware, flashlights etc. I think that for him those boxes might be a good starting point.

 

[geargrrl]

Ooops I rolled my t-shirts. I guess I better re-read the book!

I found some videos. Maybe it wasnt Kondo.... everything stands on end so you can "file" them on end.

 

[VickiK]

Truth be told, I am mediocre at best at this sort of thing. I went through the garage last weekend and kept childhood stuffed animals, books, 2 princess phones, my father's rusty tools.

 

[geargrrl]

fold, roll.... it it all relative I guess....