Looking backwards, Looking forwards

[tanaqui]

Last year, fred_mouse made a weekend decluttering post inviting us talk about our decluttering goals for 2018.

I thought people might appreciate a post on the last day of 2018 to reflect on the goals we posted last year (for those who posted them and who want to look back -- no pressure or judgment! I certainly didn't achieve all my goals!) and what we hope to achieve in 2019.

Comments

[starwatcher]

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I didn't make goals last year. In fact, this is my first post. But as I read posts from other folks, it kept reminding me what I should be doing. I started in January, and picked up steam in June -- after school let out, and I'm now retired.

So, things out --

A huge stack of horse magazines, that I realized I never will "get around to" reading.

Let subscriptions to said magazines lapse last year, so no new ones coming in.

95% of my old paperback books out, to 2 hospitals, 1 prison, 5 senior citizen centers -- approximately 40 bags of books, approximately 70-75 books per bag. (The big paper sacks from Cotton Patch hold a LOT.)

A bunch of clothes to Goodwill -- two trashbags full of shirts that I no longer want, and trousers I've gained too much weight for. Have a pile of more shirts that need to be laundered before they go out (been hanging so long they're dusty), but have several more to cull before that.

Am now working on old video tapes. I used to save fave TV shows for rewatching, but technology has passed them by. If I can buy DVDs of the shows, the tapes go. I've taken 7 feed-sacks full (stronger than plastic trash bags, and they're trash anyway) to the dump; hope to finish (3 or 4 more sacks?) this weekend.

Made an actual (minuscule, tiny) pond with an actual fountain birdbath in the middle. It holds water, but still needs more work.

What's coming up? Not sure -- I tend to go with whatever grabs me. I have a seashell collection that I want to donate to a teacher who will appreciate them (maybe make a science unit of them). Want to finish organizing my workroom (made a good start in May, then got busy with other stuff (see above)). Want to clean out my guest room, buy a bed, and make it an ACTUAL guest room. Want to finish the area around my pond -- landscaped edges, get rid of the dirt pile. Want to hang up pictures; I've been in this house for 10 years! Have some of my pictures up, but many more are still waiting.

Whew! We'll see.
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[tanaqui]

Welcome to the comm. I'm glad you find other people's posts inspiring -- I certainly do!

That's a really impressive list of things out -- and I'm sure the places you donated the books were thrilled to have them! And well done on recognising and accepting that you were never going to "get around to" reading the horse magazines -- and cancelling the subscriptions!

I'm also very envious of your little pond -- may it attract much wildlife and bring you joy. :-)

I love your ideas for 2019, but understand about going where the mood takes you rather than having fixed goals. Please do come back and share your progress and successes with us!

[fred_mouse]

That Is a fabulous list of achievements. Well done on recognising that you won't be using some of the things that you would have liked to. Good luck with achieving all of the projects!

I love the idea of donating the seashell collection. I have one that I should do something with -- it's been in a shoebox since my kids were born, which is far too many years. I suspect mine are more suitable for craft than teaching though. But I have several primary teacher friends, so I should approach them. Thank you for the idea.