Loved this helping rachel:

Huh. That's a new thought for me, so thanks!

I am stalling at dealing with the crafting drawers. I was at my studio this morning to wrap a gift up for a client and then deliver it to her brother, and I looked around at my space there. The workable area, ie. the clean and open part, is shrinking. And now more stuff to go in there? hmmm. HOWEVER, the paintings are not out of there yet. And I do still have plenty of space to do what I want to in there. I also envision some kind of storage shelving hanging from the ceiling. That's totally unused space, especially at the back end of the studio. I think I could suspe d a few cardboard moving boxes that are for paintings or mirrors and store larg sheets of paper in there. It's always better if my paper is flat vs. rolled and I have no space for that right now. Anyway, once the drawers are there that's it for stuff to go in.

Wow. I just so don't want to do anything at all. Mid-afternoon is my most uninspiring time of the day. I think I'll get the white board out, write my plan out/break it into days and goals (big and small) and then roll that first drawer thingy over and see just what's in there.

Lexxiss I have no clue what I will have for the diabetes people come Dec 23rd! It did cross my mind that if we are getting rid of the futon, maybe they will take it? It's stuff like that that stumps me--not knowing where/what to do with the thing I am getting rid of. I am 5 steps ahead when I haven't even done the most basic footwork to actually bring that about. Otherwise I'm not sure. The pair of shoes I wore to the xmas party. UG-LY shoes. What was I thinking when I bought them? The shirt that DH has that's 2 sizes too big for him now. I feel like I have so much stuff and I have nothing of value. So weird. But all the stuff I love is either lost behind other stuff that I just put down there for a second and then the whole space is cluttered up. ... This afternoon I am wondering if I actually truly desire that clear space I keep talking about? But maybe this is a sabotaging thought. Probably. I have NO CHOICE but to make the space for the furniture that I know is useful, if ugly.

Sending good vibes your way onebyone. I hear you about the mid-afternoon slump. I am glad you liked my quote. Years ago, I split with a significant other, and he took most of the furniture by the time I got home from work. I also had my apartment broke into. Those experiences make me want to keep things for various reasons. I am really unblending from a part of me that thinks I need to hold onto things.

My car was packed to the top with goodwill items. Some really nice things. I sure hope that someone will be blessed to purchase them. I finished my 3 bags for trash day tomorrow. I hope my husband is as pleased as I am with the results. If not, It really was an empowerment move on my part. Off to take a nap as I have a roast in the oven and I can sleep until dinner.

OnebyOne:

Thinking of you and so happy that you have a creative work space and home space to have your winter oasis. As far as getting ready for the diabetes pick up, your futon, shoes and DH's old clothes sound like appropriate items to give away. It may bless the next person and benefit the diabetes foundation.

I like to ask the question,

Is this item being used or useful to us? If your DH's shirts don't fit anymore, are the being useful to store and take space where the new clothes may need to be?

Are you going to wear those shoes or do you have a pair that you like much better?

Exciting to get new furniture.....if it serves the same purpose of the futon, is it time to let that go? If they will haul it, it will save you time and energy!

Are there things that you haven't used or will not use in the next year that you can give to help the diabetes foundation. That is a value to give to someone or something that needs it.

I just thought I would share some thoughts as if I break down the VALUE of doing something, my committed action tends to follow behind it.

Off to make a big pot of homemade vegetable soup. We are expecting 6-10 inches of snow and I love to have soup when I am snowed in.

Blessings on your day!

Wow helping rachel great work on a car packed to the rafters with donatables. Great job.

I had to cancel my appointment with my friend's SUV for transporting my crafting drawers to the studio. I did absolutely ZERO toward getting ready for the event. Nothing. Today I emailed her and there she was, saying in an email she's available on Friday morning. so I am sitting here, on my futon facing my double set of drawers (see jpg)and then two single ones (two like the single one in the jpg). I feel *stumped*. However, I need to a) pull out the drawers and look in them. And then b) sort the items. And then c) house the items that will stay with me and bag/toss the others. I may not need my friend's help on Friday. Maybe I can get these over to the studio tonight. I'd be that much further ahead. But see? See where my head takes me? Into the future. Today I need my feet firmly planted in the here and now so I can get a move on getting my place ready for the new furniture, due to arrive in a week. I am *truly* looking forward to a couch-a big comfy one. Ugh! Future talk AGAIN. Ok no more talk. Must work.

I am going to time how long this takes me to actually do. Will report back when done. UPDATE: it took me two hours to do this task imperfectly. I added a jpg of the now disassembled-ready to be moved- drawers just waiting DH's arrival home. I think I may just drive these over to the studio tonight.

As usual simply starting vs thinking about starting shows me what I need to do next. The steps unfold logically once you take that first step. So, my next task is to condense/sort the stuff in my dining area. I need to pile the boxes from the otehr rooms in that open space so I can get the furniture into the space that I take the boxes from. I would love to keep the futon and put it into the spare room. Imagine, an extra bed for a visitor. How decadent! Problem is: there is a pile of boxes AND two shelving units in there. I'll take a better look at it in a few days.

Off to start moving stuff inthe dining area. Bye for now.

Sounds like your white board is your friend. Break it down into small little projects. Thank you for sharing your pictures and process. Can't wait to hear what happens today.

Hello!

Yay, helpingrachel, for a great attitude regarding your items to thrift! I truly believe, as you discussed earlier, that simply shuffling items and buying nicer totes is not the answer here....it is about making decisions and letting go. Kudos for letting go of possessions that no longer serve your purpose. N order to open yourself to new opportunities!

Onebyone, thx for pictures and an update. I will be interested to hear how you progress. I have those same drawer units and love them....more since I found that regularly tqighteningq the screws help the drawers stay on track better.

Me...down in Denver right now..blizzard conditions but my mom had a very important appt. I usually drop her off and cruise a thrift store deconditioning myself by looking and not purchasing but today I decided I'd rather have a solo lunch and check in here.

I accomplished a major project this morning which took 5 hours start to finish and I resisted all urges to leave the last for when I got home.
First, I decluttered my office for 10 minutes then I took down the old wallpaper border and put up the new.

I was ONLY able to complete this because I have acquired total willingness to let go. I am grateful today to be able to.move forward. ...must go now will send a picture later.i

Yay! For completing a project. Sounds like you set your intention and then went for it. I would love to see a picture. We are in blizzard conditions today as well. My daughter said, "Mom every time you make home vegetable beef soup we have a snow day." One of my favorite things to do is to make soup.

I love the comment about deconditioning while at the thrift store. I need that as well.

Off to my night class, happy organizing and decluttering.

I am always decluttering, is this linked to visiting Salvation Army when I go to town, lol. So I just went through my nail polish colors and went from 21 to 18 colors I love I only paint my toe nails cause I garden and paint with acrylics. 18 seems high, will have to think about this! I think having a weekly goal of tossing or getting rid of at least one item per week and reporting would be a great 2013 goal. Thanks for the inspiration!

Workinglikeadog:

Welcome and good for you! If 18 works for you then 18 it is. I like your intention for 2013, I will be thinking on this as well. Join and share as you feel lead. There is freedom here.

Welcome to our group, workinglikeadog! It's nice to set a goal for 2013!

My 2013 goal is just to keep moving forward. I really did some deep thinking regarding all of this the other day...I guess, spurred on with the unexpected death of my mother's neighbor. The elderly wife is left with 3 houses stacked with stuff. After being the one to have to go through my grandmothers stuff....anticipating the time when I have to take care of my mother's...

My wish for the person who ends up having to go through my things will have a very simple task, and while I am living I will enjoy the fruits of my labor.

This morning my mom called at 8:05 and had forgotten to tell me about a meeting we needed to leave for at 8:25. I had already dealt with a hotspot where I had dumped everything on the dining room table last eve AND I had picked up the kitchen and folded my clothes. All that was left was to get dressed, drink my smoothie and go. No looking for "stuff" today. No panicking. No dread. Those are the daily fruits of my labor.

I'm still keeping it simple;
small tasks daily
1. old (dlutter)
2. current (clutter)
3. clean (something)

I my "current" was accomplished while waiting for coffee. When I came home from the meeting I swept the bathroom and office floors. Looking for old clutter, I came upon another laptop needing to be disassembled. It was getting frustrating so I chose another old...numerous (maybe 50 romance novels neatly stacked on a shelf) Even though I've never been willing to go through them (they DO fit neatly on the shelf), I immediately was able to choose 9 for thrift. I will look through the rest later when I bring up my stepstool.

Right now I'm going to fix lunch and relax. This is my day off.

Wow. Winter Solstice/End of the World according to the Mayans looms!

This challenge is drawing to a close.

I have made surprising progress. Last night, after I finished the craft drawers, I went into the dining area and condensed boxes of stuff and threw some stuff out. What doesn't have a home and can wait to be dealt with is sitting on top of a table reclaimed from the fishtank. I'd like to use it to put plants on it but for now I will use it to hold boxes as this whole living space gets transformed.

My major goal is to make the space to move the furniture pieces we are getting into it. MY current plan calls for me to move boxes out of the bedroom and the hallway into the dining room. This is where I need the space for the new furniture.

I went out and bought a steel bed frame that can accommodate either a Queen or a King size mattress.

ooooooooKing size! That would definitely be a part of an oasis-like environment for me.

I may need to run this by DH. He may go for it. Sleeping in a King is *almost* like sleeping alone. It'd be enough room for two people and two cats.
ok, guess that's it. I'm going to move the bedroom boxes out tonight, then maybe re-configure the furniture in there. DH has a lot of boxes in the bedroom too. Maybe he can find a way to move his stuff into the other room or the hallway area.

Anyway, I'm moving forward.

I like what you said about when someone has to go through my stuff they will have a simple task and while I am alive I will enjoy the fruits of my labor. Oh how I get that. Give me some routine that I can control and manage. That brings peace. Keep on keeping on.

OnebyOne, Looking like you are moving forward in your process. Good for you!

Well predictably behind what with holidays and all -- but pleased to report a Moment of Clarity in the midst of brain fog.

Yesterday a neighbor needed to go to the emergency room in the middle of the night. I was able to throw on jeans and be out the door in less than a minute with everything I needed - keys, phone, driver license, glasses, even a book to read while waiting. And I wasn't even fully awake!

Mountain Mama, what a great neighbor you are. What relief that you could find everything so fast!