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Apr. 9th, 2018 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yukonsallyAs we work through the clutter in our homes, I wonder... how has your view on material goods changed?
Let me back up.
Years ago, when Spouse and I were first married, we had disposable income for the first time ever. We'd combined our meager possessions and worked to get the necessary things, only that thing is fun and shiny! And ooh... we like that too. I bought mostly secondhand to get furniture and to fill the space. And it's just kind of kept going. We have all the furniture we need, and we're firmly in a "if we get a new dresser, then we get rid of a dresser" space. But pretty things to hang on the wall...
A few years ago, some friends and I started keeping each other accountable for our decluttering efforts. We did that method where on the first day of the month, you get rid of one thing, one the second day of the month, you get rid of two things, and so on, to the 30th day you get rid of 30 things. It was a fun task that kept me engaged and I started to reevaluate all the things we had as I cleaned up some paperwork here, some outgrown things there, and the never ending closets. Spouse encouraged, and occasionally participated. (some days I didn't meet the goal!)
Happily, since the decluttering has become habit in the past few years, and my donations secondhand stores keep us on track, and I don't go into the secondhand stores very often, and I send handmedowns along regularly, we've got possessions mostly under control. Now, when we see a shiny thing we like, we're able to ask "Where would we put it?" That question alone has kept things out of our carts.
The decrease in visual clutter has been great for my peace of mind. We still have piles, and landing zones, and too much stuff, but there's less of it. I feel better. Mentally clear. My stuff does not own me. I don't owe anything to these items. Accepting a gift does not make me beholding to that thing--I'll give it away if I don't need it.
What's your story?
Let me back up.
Years ago, when Spouse and I were first married, we had disposable income for the first time ever. We'd combined our meager possessions and worked to get the necessary things, only that thing is fun and shiny! And ooh... we like that too. I bought mostly secondhand to get furniture and to fill the space. And it's just kind of kept going. We have all the furniture we need, and we're firmly in a "if we get a new dresser, then we get rid of a dresser" space. But pretty things to hang on the wall...
A few years ago, some friends and I started keeping each other accountable for our decluttering efforts. We did that method where on the first day of the month, you get rid of one thing, one the second day of the month, you get rid of two things, and so on, to the 30th day you get rid of 30 things. It was a fun task that kept me engaged and I started to reevaluate all the things we had as I cleaned up some paperwork here, some outgrown things there, and the never ending closets. Spouse encouraged, and occasionally participated. (some days I didn't meet the goal!)
Happily, since the decluttering has become habit in the past few years, and my donations secondhand stores keep us on track, and I don't go into the secondhand stores very often, and I send handmedowns along regularly, we've got possessions mostly under control. Now, when we see a shiny thing we like, we're able to ask "Where would we put it?" That question alone has kept things out of our carts.
The decrease in visual clutter has been great for my peace of mind. We still have piles, and landing zones, and too much stuff, but there's less of it. I feel better. Mentally clear. My stuff does not own me. I don't owe anything to these items. Accepting a gift does not make me beholding to that thing--I'll give it away if I don't need it.
What's your story?
