Hello declutterers,
I am back. After my short trip to Phoenix I just fell out of step with myself. I avoided this thread and you guys out of shame. Not that you would judge me, but I would judge myself. I've fallen back into my usual rut with life. Neglecting my home, neglecting my e-mails to my loved ones and on and on.
It seems I'm back to my old self-flaggelating (sp) mode. FAILURE! FAILURE! (imagine this flashing on and off.
Coming back and reading reminds me that this is a long process and baby steps are the way to making my home a comfortable, calming place to be. Thank you for being here to remind me that it is doable and a little bit each day will get me where I want to be.
Lexxiss You are my north star. I take it that this has been a year long process for you. I will take heart that I can get there too. I get discouraged because I don't have much buy-in from my DH and I am resentful when I spend time cleaning up after him, me and DD. I take it that you haven't had much help from him in the past but you are gently working on it. How did you get to the point where you forged ahead despite his lack of contribution? [forgive me if I've misinterpeted]
Tami thank you for the inspiring re-authoring post. I can rewrite my habits.
Ann Thanks for looking for me! I've thought about you alot while you've been gone. I identified with you because of our recent family losses. I'm so glad you are back. I'm a little perplexed about your counselor's advice. I know how comforting it is for me to come here and communicate with people who understand my struggles with clutter, disorganization and excess weight. It helps keep me focused. How can that be detrimental? Oh, well, glad you are back and I must say that your posts sound optomistic and upbeat.
OneByOne Love the bathroom picture. I so admire your insights on both threads.

I'm going to go get caught up on the weight loss thread and then dive into the day. I have today off so I am going to get some cleaning and maybe even decluttering done!
Julia

Decluttering Coaches:

It's March. I was reding on Flylady that they are working on 40 days and 40 nights of decluttering and dreaming big. I read there (http://www.flylady.net/d/40-days-of-...-dreaming-big/) about the whole doing one box a day and 40 boxes would get done and I heard my voice saying

Sheesh. I always always always want myself to *suffer*. I think it has to be hard, difficult, a chore. One box doesn't sound very tough, therefore my says, this suggestion can't possibly work.

I'm not always so skeptical. I don't always believe this. I used to. So there is progress. It's one of those many things that you can't think your way out of, you just have to do it, try it, and then decide. Put your skepticism aside and give it a shot.

So I'm going to try this until I leave for my residency on March 15th. 15 days=15 boxes. That's over 1/2 of my pile done before I leave. I'd feel pretty good.

Good morning all,
I am posting now because somehow the days go by so fast and then I don't have time to post later. Yikes.

We are going on holidays starting on Monday so I am not sure if I will be able to post much. I will try. I need to come here to keep on track. You all keep me accountable. I thank you for that.

Today my plan is to clean the kitchen.
Find more things for the donation bag. I have a basement to find stuff in. It is overwhelming when I look at it but when I spend 5-15 minutes there it doesn't seem like a big task.
Thanks to you Onebyone for reminding me one box a day will accomplish many things.

Welcome back Julia, I find when DH doesn't buy into helping around the house I sometimes think why should I bother. I know this is a sabotaging thought. I just need to keep focused and worry about this place being organized so that I enjoy living here.

Debbie, wow, look at you go, even though you didn't feel like doing anything you sure got a lot done. You are so proactive.

Mountain Mama, I feel more connected to the people here and on other threads than I do to some of my many acquaintances.

Waving to everyone else and have a great day.
Ann

Hi declutterers

An early morning at work...should already be out the door. Didn't feel like doing anything but picked up the kitchen, picked up some clutter and cleaned a coffee mess DH made.

BBL

Hello and good morning.

Heading out to Seedy Saturday this morning. Going to look at ... seeds! LOL.

*credit for doing laundry already (now in the dryer).

Off to attend Seedy Saturday then a drive to Hamilton to meet a guy (DH stuff) at the original Tim Horton's, inventors, they claim, of the apple fritter and the dutchie.

Once home, I will tend to one box of old clutter.

See you later.

update: just got back. walked a lot. sick kitty asleep on my lap -- decluttering/boxes in the morning. gonna enjoy the sleepy girl cat for now...dh making dinner.

Hi all,
Today is going to be doing as much cleaning as possible and putting away new clutter as much as possible. The house is baaaaaaaad.
Julia

Hi all!

Out of town, so just a quick drive by. No decluttering going on but thinking of all of you.

Good morning everyone,

Just a quick note to say hello, and let you all know I am thinking of you.
As I was packing my clothes for Florida, I realized I have so many clothes I never wear. I will put them in a donation bag in the garage for when they call once again.
I cleaned the main floor bathroom today, it didn't take much time at all. Yesterday was the basement one.
Last night got rid of that King bed and mattress we never use. Hopefully the new owners enjoy it.
I feel like I am getting rid of so much but I keep finding more....yikes.
Hello to all of you and have a great day.
Take Care
Ann

Hi all!

Just got home from being out of town. Going to craft room with egg timer to see what I can get done in one hour.

Glad to connect with You all, especially Ann and Julia. We start where we are day in and day out. Every little bit counts

Hello!
I tried to check in this morning...Internet continues to be poor. On my iPhone now... Perhaps it will get better later. I had dealt with my current clutter and old clutter this morning, In very small ways.... But I needed a small cleaning project. Upon returning home I cleaned out the toaster. Very baby steps today but I move forward.
I made a mess in my office this morning as I found a birthday card etc. For DH. Looking at it now I'd love to leave it for tomorrow but will try to start before I sit down for the evening. I hear DH bringing up laundry now.
More tomorrow....

Hi declutterers!

I slept in and am on the run. I made the bed and folded my laundry anyway. I wouldn't clean anything, except for the "accountability" today. I'm going to swipe the upstairs toilet before work which was bugging me. credit.

Good Morning.

Cleaned kitchen and washed all dishes before bed. Credit for waking up to a nice area. On conference call in 30 minutes, so first load of laundry in and will be making the overall list for the week. Every little movement toward cleaning and decluttering helps. They really do add up over the long haul.

Blessings on your day, especially since it is Monday.

Hi all,

After I posted yesterday, I dumped my coffee on my favorite chair and ottoman. Yikkes, I had my clean chore ready for me.

Today-Dining room, clean craft project off table and put craft stuff put away.

Wash kitchen floor.

Label and organize containers in office- 1/2 hour.

Hi declutterers!
I had to go in to work an hour early this morning. I didn't feel like it but I did my chores anyway. Credit
I found both old and current clutter and cleaned the cat box...talked DH into taking out trash and I gathered recycle.
I'm at work gotta run .

Well Decluttering Friends I am getting nowhere. No desire to open a box. Nothing. I am focused on my sick kitty and geez, not decluttering will not help her breathe easier or make her eat her food. *crazy* OK will commit right here, right now, to opening a box and dealing with it. Will report back.

I DO want to move forward I do! I do! I do!

UPDATE: emptied one large box, one flat-always-in-the-way box and one small box that isn't being emptied as it's storing ceramic work all wrapped up. *credit credit credit* Opened up 1/3 - 1/2 of my table by the window. I feel energized to do 2 more and then I am caught up with doing one box a day. March 5 = 5 boxes. Also started a donation box with a few things in it already. Garbage day is tomorrow night as well so I can get rid of some of the trash I discovered too.

Heard that my mini printing press has arrived! Off to pick it up when DH is done work. Yay! Found bits of stuff that will go into my work which will be derived from that press--also found two books directly related to the type of printmaking I will do with that press so all is good. Not sure if the press is coming here and then to my studio tomorrow or directly to the studio tonight. I think it depends on how heavy it is to carry. If it takes two of us, it'll go directly to it's new home in my studio.

So, all this good stuff and the sun is shining. The only dark spot is Looloo who is really creaky, moving slowly and hiding today. She has eaten twice today, each time three or four big chomps of cat food and a few licks b efore the chomps. It's not unusual for her to eat like this and we have to always tap the bowl to get her attention and to re-focus her attention on her food bowl (I know. I have never met a feline like this.) The vet called and said we can bring her in for a free follow-up appt but I am reluctant to subject to her to too much added stress. I think I'll ask about appetite stimulants (another cat of ours had that for a while) but I'll bet he wants to do a blood test/urinalysis before he prescribes anything. He seems like a very cautious, thorough, vet.

Must go. Off to get DH soon. I have time to do another box so I think I'll go get it. Bye. Last Update: Did one more box then had #5 out and it was.... the box witht he dolls that stumped me last time. It doesn't stump me today but that box is all over the map so I closed it back up. I have several easier ones to deal with and will take the liberty of postponing the doll box one more time. 4 boxes emptied so far. *credit.* Also: cleaned: washed pedestal sink/taps in bathroom down. Used shampoo I loathe. *credit* So grundgy. Very shiny clean now. Threw out two bars of soap I bought from a fellow farmers' market vendor in October that are really not good bars of soap. *credit for letting them go* Also Looloo has totally disappeared after Caesar (other cat) sniffed her butt while she was standing in the sunshine, and then I picked her up (hates that) and put her back in the sun. She jumped down, I turned around, and she is gone. I hope she's just hiding. Sad that she's missed out on the sun though.*sigh*