Hello Friends,
I’ve been quietly working away over the last few months at trying to get rid of some of our clutter. I know it’s a major problem holding us back.
I’d like to make my bedroom more of an oasis of calm rather than a dumping ground, and I’ve been spending half an hour or so now and then going through a drawer or a cupboard or an underbed box. A fair bit of ‘stuff’ has already gone to the charity shop.
Last week I had a bit of an ‘aha’ moment when I was looking through a drawer for some walking socks. My drawers and cupboards contain loads of stuff I’m just not using. The problem is, when I need something, I have to go through all the other stuff first. So I began to look properly at what’s in the drawers and ask myself exactly what I need.
This different approach seems to be working better. I realised that I didn’t need 4 green pillow cases that haven’t been used in years – I have more than enough so they’ve gone in the charity shop bag. I emptied out the bottom drawer of a chest of drawers which contain a lot of warm clothing – and I mean a lot.
I discovered I had 10 pairs of thick black tights. Why do I need all these when I rarely wear skirts? 5 pairs went straight in the charity shop bag, along with a pair of walking socks which I never wear because the ankle elastic is too tight. Why had I kept them? They just annoyed me whenever I opened the drawer.
I now have a drawer where I can see everything I need and reach it easily. Just the rest of the house to go…
Have you ended up with multiple items without realising it?
Until next time, Tawney x
I have a LOT of stuff which belonged to my mother – and somehow I just can NOT get rid of it. I can hear her saying “it might come in useful some day”. She was the generation that went through the war – come to that so am I – and it seemed foolish to get rid of things. However, having read your piece Tawney, I have made up my mind to get ride of STUFF. The first things to go are some pillowcases that need ironing, though they are good cotton and might be useful………xx
I have lots of clothes that will fit me again one day!
I have had them for years and I know that even if I did fit into them they would be completely out of fashion anyway. As they are in a spare wardrobe I don’t really see them so therefore its as though it doesn’t matter but I know the space could be used in a much better way.