|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 7, 2016 22:20:34 GMT
Today I was able to take 6 containers of "stuff" to the school. The teachers were just peacefully eating lunch and then they saw the containers invade the lunch room and starting running at the stuff. They dumped some containers and left stuff in other ones. They loved it all. I heard they were making puppets out of some stuff. That made me happy. I am glad to have it out of the garage and basement. It will get enjoyed and used I am sure. It's all a good thing! Me never having to see it ever again is the best news of all!
I still have about 1/3 the stash I had so don't think I got rid of everything. I still have loads of cool stuff. This is just stuff I won't use.
ETA:
Well I was back at working on the basement and I am at a loss what to work on next. There is just so much stuff down there that i don't know what to do with it all. I have a lazy susan that held containers of stuff, but I want it to hold my Quickutz binders and squeeze as it is something I use all the time. That is a good idea. The stuff is so overwhelming, though. I want to keep this or that and there isn't room for it all. I had lots of stuff in containers I guess and that all has to go into the cupboards. I know I am being dramatic but I really need my mother to help me here. She was able to discern what I would use and what to get rid of, but she is gone now and none of my friends in town get what scrapbooking is or how I can possibly own that much stuff. I am sure I am in no worse shape than most other long-time scrappers who bought tons of stuff over the years. I mean it was pretty and we needed it, right? I am hoping the light will come on and will be able to just say BAZINGA I GOT IT!
I will see if I can find another container or two to donate today. I just don't think I have the stuff to get rid of. I will make a real effort to get rid of some more stuff, though. That should make the family happy anyway.
If you are a professional organizer or like to organize for fun, I am truly open to ideas what to do.
|
|
Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218 
|
Post by Peamac on Oct 8, 2016 1:15:27 GMT
So glad you were able to find a new home for your supplies, with those who can appreciate it! I bet their students will have lots of fun creating!  |
|
MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,375
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
|
Post by MDscrapaholic on Oct 8, 2016 1:40:56 GMT
That was so nice of you to do that! I know the school appreciates it!
i need to do this too
|
|
GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,294
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
|
Post by GiantsFan on Oct 8, 2016 2:34:33 GMT
Wow, I can't believe how much you are purging. You must've had tons! Glad your getting your garage and basement back. AND more importantly that it is being put to use!  |
|
Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,479
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
|
Post by Chinagirl828 on Oct 8, 2016 3:25:58 GMT
It sounds like your unloved supplies have definitely gone to a good home!
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 8, 2016 22:34:44 GMT
I had to edit the first post. I was feeling very dramatic. I am sure you can all feel my pain.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Oct 8, 2016 23:20:32 GMT
I make three piles. Keep, Toss, Give Away. I make big spaces for each pile and then put the items in a spot. I touch each item and make myself make a decision. I have been know to make a box called ? I will label the box with a date and then toss or give away in six months or a year if I haven't used the stuff. I have a ton of stuff. I have three closets of paper. I still love to purge and I am ready to scrap after it is all clean.
|
|
Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,479
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
|
Post by Chinagirl828 on Oct 8, 2016 23:30:45 GMT
I don't have any specific advice for you but I wanted to say I'm inspired and amazed by what you've already achieved. I totally get that feeling of being overwhelmed by the stuff and unfortunately there is no way out of it except to keep pushing through it.
Are you stuck because you want to keep everything? Or because there is so much to sort through that you can't see the stuff you love in the midst of the stuff you think is just ok?
Does it help you to ask yourself if you were buying a new stash today would you pay full price for each item? If you don't consider it worth full retail do you really love it enough to keep it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 8, 2016 23:59:40 GMT
I don't have any specific advice for you but I wanted to say I'm inspired and amazed by what you've already achieved. I totally get that feeling of being overwhelmed by the stuff and unfortunately there is no way out of it except to keep pushing through it. Are you stuck because you want to keep everything? Or because there is so much to sort through that you can't see the stuff you love in the midst of the stuff you think is just ok? Does it help you to ask yourself if you were buying a new stash today would you pay full price for each item? If you don't consider it worth full retail do you really love it enough to keep it? I am stuck because I want to be done. That's problem #1. I am loving SOME of the stuff I have found. Some stuff is embellishments to go with paper lines but where are those paper lines? Now what do I do with it all? That's an issue. If I were buying it new today I would buy it all at the discount I got it all at. It was new releases but I had points and cherries from ACOT and stuff. Maybe making 3 piles of stuff? The room has a huge coffee table in it and a chair. I can't access my scrap space because some of DS's stuff is in the way. The room is an upside down L shaped room. The scrap area is the top of the L. The floor is covered with stuff. I am just kind of stuck. I need that stupid chair and table out of the way as well as the mini-air hockey table and DS's other stuff gone. Then I can go through and deal with what I have. That part makes me angry at myself, and him and the world. Remember, I did say Drama Queen. I am not mad at DS for having stuff. I just wish he didn't invade my scrapping area. I have slept on this and worried about it. I don't have any good ideas what to do next. I do have empty space in the cupboards for paper storage so that's a good thing. I am not ready to put paper away yet, though. Thanks for listening to me whine and rant. It is a monumental task that I have undertaken for sure! |
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Oct 9, 2016 0:32:47 GMT
Is there somewhere you can move your DS's stuff? You DESERVE your own pretty space.
You have to break it down into smaller tasks. Tell yourself I'll look in this box and this box only. Don't get distracted and jump to another task. Finish one thing at a time.
I love to organize. I wish we were less than 1000 miles apart!
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 9, 2016 0:37:33 GMT
Is there somewhere you can move your DS's stuff? You DESERVE your own pretty space. You have to break it down into smaller tasks. Tell yourself I'll look in this box and this box only. Don't get distracted and jump to another task. Finish one thing at a time. I love to organize. I wish we were less than 1000 miles apart! There's no where to put it right now. That's the big problem. The smaller problem is piles of stuff. It's strewn all over the place. I think my next task will get the Quickutz off the table and into the susan and then it will be out of sight out of mind. I kept a lot of the spray mists. That is worrying me. Maybe I kept too many. I can always purge more. The space has to be functional again otherwise it's just a mess. I have to figure out how to do that. |
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Oct 9, 2016 3:53:42 GMT
First, and I know this might be hard, but put yourself on a spending freeze until you can get your current stash into a manageable size. Buying more might feel great in the moment, but then it just becomes part of the stash and defeats the purpose of de stashing in the first place.
when you say you have piles of stuff, do you mean the stuff is contained in your scrap room and storage area, or that you have things stashed in multiple places?
If it's the latter, I'd start by cleaning up all the random stuff that isn't contained in the scrap room or storage area first. Sort while you do this. Three piles as mentioned - toss, donate, keep. Box these donate and keep piles up as soon as you can fill a box. This will keep you from changing your mind on donations and will help you identify what you are keeping. As for the things you are keeping, make general notes on the box so you'll have an inventory of sorts. Eventually, all that will go into your scrap room will be the boxes of things you want to keep.
After that, I'd just dive in and start sorting the storage space using this same system. Be ruthless. If you haven't touched an item in years, forgot you had it, or have no idea what it's for....donate if it's useable and trash it if it's not.
Eventually, you should be able to get through your stash (whether it takes months or a year), identify what you have, and make some schools and other organizations very happy!
I'd come help you if I could.
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 9, 2016 3:55:39 GMT
First, and I know this might be hard, but put yourself on a spending freeze until you can get your current stash into a manageable size. Buying more might feel great in the moment, but then it just becomes part of the stash and defeats the purpose of de stashing in the first place. when you say you have piles of stuff, do you mean the stuff is contained in your scrap room and storage area, or that you have things stashed in multiple places? If it's the latter, I'd start by cleaning up all the random stuff that isn't contained in the scrap room or storage area first. Sort while you do this. Three piles as mentioned - toss, donate, keep. Box these donate and keep piles up as soon as you can fill a box. This will keep you from changing your mind on donations and will help you identify what you are keeping. As for the things you are keeping, make general notes on the box so you'll have an inventory of sorts. Eventually, all that will go into your scrap room will be the boxes of things you want to keep. After that, I'd just dive in and start sorting the storage space using this same system. Be ruthless. If you haven't touched an item in years, forgot you had it, or have no idea what it's for....donate if it's useable and trash it if it's not. Eventually, you should be able to get through your stash (whether it takes months or a year), identify what you have, and make some schools and other organizations very happy! I'd come help you if I could.  you. Good food for thought. |
|
Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,479
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
|
Post by Chinagirl828 on Oct 9, 2016 4:36:05 GMT
After that, I'd just dive in and start sorting the storage space using this same system. Be ruthless. If you haven't touched an item in years, forgot you had it, or have no idea what it's for....donate if it's useable and trash it if it's not. I think this is great advice. I am loving SOME of the stuff I have found. Some stuff is embellishments to go with paper lines but where are those paper lines? Now what do I do with it all? That's an issue. Do you love those embellishments? Or are you just hanging on to them because you know you have the matching papers somewhere? If you don't love them put them in the donate box. Is there somewhere outside your scrapping space where you could take one box of stuff and sort it? A dining table or patch of floor somewhere? Being away from your room might give you a clearer head and dealing with just one box in a separate space might be easier. Or is there somewhere you could temporarily store your DS's stuff? Even if his stuff has to go back into your room if you're able to take it out while you sort it might give you some much needed breathing space in there. |
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 9, 2016 15:39:21 GMT
BFF told me what she thinks I need to do. I have 6 big drawers and she suggested how I organize them and anything leftover gets donated  that means I have limited room and have to make do with less. She was very helpful, I took notes and I think I can do it. I sure hope I can. Anything leftover has to be donated. That is upsetting but it has to be done. She was very compassionate but firm. I am so bad at organizing. I am good at "shopping" but not the after affects (putting the stuff away). So that is my plan for today. I have to listen to her advice (because it makes sense) and suck it up. I will keep you posted as this is keeping me motivated and honest. Anyone who wants to come visit and play in my stash you are most welcome! I can cook, too! |
|
PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,362
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
|
Post by PaperAngel on Oct 9, 2016 15:57:26 GMT
Last year I touched every single thing in our 4000+ heated sq ft. primary residence. I tackled one room at a time using 5-bins; every item - furniture to paper - was categorized as Keep, Donate, Recycle, Trash, or Uncertain. Every item in the Uncertain bin was re-sorted into one of the other categories after the entire room was completed.
While our home didn't look different to visitors after this 3-month project, every drawer, closet, & cabinet contained only things that we like, use, or want to keep long-term. Be motivated by how productive you'll be in your studio when surrounded only by the supplies that you want to work with, reflect your scrapping style, coordinate with your frequently-used color palettes, etc.
Best wishes; you can do this!
|
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Oct 9, 2016 18:53:52 GMT
Is there somewhere you can move your DS's stuff? You DESERVE your own pretty space. You have to break it down into smaller tasks. Tell yourself I'll look in this box and this box only. Don't get distracted and jump to another task. Finish one thing at a time. I love to organize. I wish we were less than 1000 miles apart! There's no where to put it right now. That's the big problem. The smaller problem is piles of stuff. It's strewn all over the place. I think my next task will get the Quickutz off the table and into the susan and then it will be out of sight out of mind. I kept a lot of the spray mists. That is worrying me. Maybe I kept too many. I can always purge more. The space has to be functional again otherwise it's just a mess. I have to figure out how to do that. Honestly, I think it's best for you not to overthink this. Starting with the piles that are around your house would help alleviate the stress you must feel when you walk through the house. It will feel good to keep things contained to your scraproom, at least, and allow you to reclaim your home. You will feel, and see, real progress if you do this. And maybe that progress will inspire you to keep going! You don't necessarily need to find anywhere to put these things if you use the keep/donate/trash system and box up what you've decided to keep. You can just move the box(es) into your storage area and designate a space for the things you've already gone through. To me, it makes sense to do that first, and then start working on the storage space (did you say it was a garage?), because you'll eventually make enough space to move your son's things out of your scraproom and you'll also have room for the items you'll clean out of your scraproom. It's easier said than done, but, in your shoes...I'd donate anything useable that I didn't have an immediate desire to keep. If you have to think about whether or not you want it, or you haven't used or touched it in years...then I think you know you will be just fine without it. Try to think instead about the fact that, by donating your items, you are allowing that item to bring creativity and joy to someone else, instead of taking up valuable space in your head and your home. I'd go through everything as quickly as possible with the eventual goal of cleaning out the house, storage space and scraproom. Eventually, what you'd be left with would be a largely empty scraproom and a storage space that contained only boxes of items that you've inventoried and know you want to keep. Then, I'd move those things back into my room, all the while employing the keep/donate system. Maybe you'll find you can part with more things as you continue to sort and take inventory of what your stash actually consists of. You can do this, Elannah! But you have to commit yourself to controlling the hoard, and also to hold off on shopping as much as possible until this project is completed. |
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Oct 9, 2016 19:07:15 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Oct 10, 2016 3:31:58 GMT
If I get overwhelmed with something, I also leave the area and take a pile into my bedroom to sort with the tv on. It seems to go faster and I don't see everything else.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 11:37:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2016 10:30:06 GMT
elannah- I use to teach decluttering. Your not a drama queen. Purging any kind of craft supplies is super hard. It is not the money thing it is because A- The product becomes popular again. B- The chances of us using it again are pretty high even if it is ten years later. Decorative scissors, for example C- We learn a new technique and need that product. D- Something was going on in our life at the time and buying the craft products was part of that time. Sadly that goes for a lot of other decluttering areas too. E- We are super creative crafters while decluttering we can think of uses for that said product again. I am in the same situation too trying to purge my room. I don't have a lot of things. My problem was the furniture. I am now purging mode since furniture is gone. It is not bad since I have always kept up on it. I bought a lot of things when I was grief stricken. When I got back into crafting it was because I was going through a hard period and needed to craft to cope. BIG MISTAKE! Now, I have a room with emotional issues in it that I am trying to get rid of. That is why I am purging. Oh, it is so freaking hard. Like you I want it done NOW. I am over it. I am sick of it. This is what I am doing. I do one box a day. That is my goal. Just one box. I give myself one hour to go through that box. If I get through that box in one hour I start another box. When the hour is done I am done. I am off to something fun like my Harlequin novel I am reading.  I got nine boxes done in one hour this week. The next day I got five. Tonight I finished a whole section. I know you love your baby. He's going to have to move his stuff. This is causing you anxiety. You can not purge with anxiety. It won't happen. I can't reiterate that enough. Even if your DS moves it out of the way in a better place so you can organize it will take a lot of pressure off. I wrote a couple of weeks ago I had things all over my floor too. I had it and I made staging areas. The staging areas are not perfect. They work and I can purge without anxiety. I agree with 950nancy- Take a box out of the room and work on it in another room. You have more space. You can watch TV, listen to music, watch birds. Point is your not in anxiety room. You are in a calm area with happiness around you. You will declutter like a pro that way. I know this seems like it will never end. It will be worth it and you will feel so relieved when it's done and even more creative. |
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 15, 2016 17:22:40 GMT
elannah- I use to teach decluttering. Your not a drama queen. Purging any kind of craft supplies is super hard. It is not the money thing it is because A- The product becomes popular again. B- The chances of us using it again are pretty high even if it is ten years later. Decorative scissors, for example C- We learn a new technique and need that product. D- Something was going on in our life at the time and buying the craft products was part of that time. Sadly that goes for a lot of other decluttering areas too. E- We are super creative crafters while decluttering we can think of uses for that said product again. I am in the same situation too trying to purge my room. I don't have a lot of things. My problem was the furniture. I am now purging mode since furniture is gone. It is not bad since I have always kept up on it. I bought a lot of things when I was grief stricken. When I got back into crafting it was because I was going through a hard period and needed to craft to cope. BIG MISTAKE! Now, I have a room with emotional issues in it that I am trying to get rid of. That is why I am purging. Oh, it is so freaking hard. Like you I want it done NOW. I am over it. I am sick of it. This is what I am doing. I do one box a day. That is my goal. Just one box. I give myself one hour to go through that box. If I get through that box in one hour I start another box. When the hour is done I am done. I am off to something fun like my Harlequin novel I am reading. I got nine boxes done in one hour this week. The next day I got five. Tonight I finished a whole section. I know you love your baby. He's going to have to move his stuff. This is causing you anxiety. You can not purge with anxiety. It won't happen. I can't reiterate that enough. Even if your DS moves it out of the way in a better place so you can organize it will take a lot of pressure off. I wrote a couple of weeks ago I had things all over my floor too. I had it and I made staging areas. The staging areas are not perfect. They work and I can purge without anxiety. I agree with 950nancy- Take a box out of the room and work on it in another room. You have more space. You can watch TV, listen to music, watch birds. Point is your not in anxiety room. You are in a calm area with happiness around you. You will declutter like a pro that way. I know this seems like it will never end. It will be worth it and you will feel so relieved when it's done and even more creative. I love you! |
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 15, 2016 17:29:06 GMT
I kept tons of Junkitz and Chatterbox stuff and really am I going to use it now? I love the stuff but honestly I doubt I will use it. That is hard to get rid of. The embellishments make me really happy. But I won't use them. I even got rid of a ton of Chatterbox paper because it was too retro for me now. I did keep some though. All the Junkitz paper is gone and I had everything under the sun. The Making Memories embellishments stayed though. Not the junk but the brads, and some other metal embellishments. They all had to stay.
I can't go down there without feeling sick. I know I have to and it upsets me. It's my sanctuary and yet I can't stand the thought of being in the room.
I am also going purge a ton of cardstock. I have too much, the colours are old and I can't store FEET of cardstock any longer. I just can't.
My sister died a couple of years ago and I went nuts buying stuff online. I mean crazy. Now I am dealing with the repercussions of it. Grief makes me think crazy and act crazy. I lost Mom in March this year and again what did I do to drown my sorrows? Shopped. Not as much thank goodness as I have had to go on a budget which has helped. I still bought a lot of stuff for my planners.
Sigh.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leone on Oct 17, 2016 17:32:57 GMT
This will get better. After my mom died, I lost total control of two rooms...couldnt walk into them I junked them up so much. A couple of years later I was talking with my neighbor...she had done the same thing when her mom died.
Soooo...I got sick of the cloud of clutter. Two years ago I started in January and ended in April...went thru every cupboard, drawer and room in my 3200 sq ft house. Felt wonderful. I gave away so much stuff and never have missed it. This spring we moved from AZ to FL...I was so happy I had done the majority of the decluttering before having to move it all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 17, 2016 18:34:35 GMT
This will get better. After my mom died, I lost total control of two rooms...couldnt walk into them I junked them up so much. A couple of years later I was talking with my neighbor...she had done the same thing when her mom died. Soooo...I got sick of the cloud of clutter. Two years ago I started in January and ended in April...went thru every cupboard, drawer and room in my 3200 sq ft house. Felt wonderful. I gave away so much stuff and never have missed it. This spring we moved from AZ to FL...I was so happy I had done the majority of the decluttering before having to move it all. You're my hero! It makes me sad to go down there. I had to go into the scrap room and replace a phone (it had died) and it just makes me so angry looking at all the stuff down there. I haven't been down there in over a week. I just avoid that floor of the house. I need to work on it but it is going very slowly. I need a burst of energy to go back and tackle it and so far it isn't happening. Maybe it will come back to me today or tomorrow. Today I am apparently getting help with organization which surprises me as no one has wanted to be down there with me at all. I get such anxiety being down there with all my stuff all the time. now things are looking up. |
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 17, 2016 18:44:58 GMT
I was able to purge my clothes and my mother's clothes after she died fairly easily. I kept what I wanted (like her scarves and things) and donated the rest. My stuff I just was ruthless and got rid of 20 odd bags of clothing. Never to be seen again! I just can't do it with my scrapbooking supplies. Like I said I am a Drama Queen. Some tasks are just harder than I can do. I don't know why and if I did I would make them easier. I have made a list of what I need to do today. It doesn't all have to get done by any means. I just need the cardstock off the floor, the Quickutz to go in the cupboard and the loose stuff on the floor to go away. It is taking more energy worrying about it than getting it done.
Ok I have a list. I am great for making lists and I have to STICK TO THE LIST!
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 17, 2016 20:38:41 GMT
I got rid of another tote of stuff. I am pretty upset right now because I am afraid to put the stuff back because it will be there cluttered again. I did find some stuff to purge though. I can get rid of all my old magazines. I don't need *any* of them and I have plenty. I might keep a couple of idea books but the magazines can go. That will feel good getting rid of them. I got rid of about 30 lbs of cardstock. It's just a foot of paper. It was all stuff I was going to keep and I decided I am just not going to use it I don't think. It's pretty to look at but realistically I do NOT NEED IT ALL. I have a big bag of cardstock upstairs with me here and another one in the scraproom that needs to be stored. The stuff I am donating is just MORE of the same. Has to go, right?
I need a container for brads. I had them in a Harrod's candy tin but there are too many of them now to fit. I love and use brads on every layout so I am not getting rid of them. I need a clear something to store them in so I can always see them. I also need to do the same thing for buttons. I have oodles and oodles of buttons. I love them all and they are staying. I don't know where to look for a clear container. Michaels might have something maybe? Walmart? HomeSense (HomeGoods) or somewhere like that. maybe I need a cute BIG mason jar. That would look cute on the counter, right? I should go to Mike's and get a couple. I need something with a lid so I can transport it. Even a dollar store might have what I am looking for. I wish we had an Ikea here on the Island still or a Container Store or somewhere that was good to shop for storage.
|
|
|
|
Post by canadianscrappergirl on Oct 18, 2016 2:55:12 GMT
Those jewelry/bead holders from Michaels would work the ones with the individual compartments and flip lids. If they are the small brads I got a container from Walmart that had tic tac like containers in it.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Oct 18, 2016 15:12:09 GMT
Those jewelry/bead holders from Michaels would work the ones with the individual compartments and flip lids. If they are the small brads I got a container from Walmart that had tic tac like containers in it. I was going to suggest the ones that look like Tic Tac containers, too. They fit into a larger box for easy viewing, storage, and transport. I also got mine at Walmart, by the beads. I think they are intended for bead storage. |
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 18, 2016 15:42:45 GMT
Those jewelry/bead holders from Michaels would work the ones with the individual compartments and flip lids. If they are the small brads I got a container from Walmart that had tic tac like containers in it. I was going to suggest the ones that look like Tic Tac containers, too. They fit into a larger box for easy viewing, storage, and transport. I also got mine at Walmart, by the beads. I think they are intended for bead storage. I will go take a look at Michaels today. I have close to 10,000 brads I would think. I mean I have a LOT of them. They are my personal favourite embellishment. I need to find a solution that will work. I will do another hour or two on the scrap room today, too. BFF said I can only keep what fits in the drawers and the rest has to be donated. I was sick upon hearing this. I know it's true but it is a pit in my stomach. I hope it gets easier. You guys are so patient with me. This is such a huge task. I don't know how I acquired this much stuff but I managed to somehow. It is a lot though. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 11:37:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2016 5:46:20 GMT
elannah- You know we are all here for you.
I have lost two children in a decade. There are some days I can't. A few years back there was a period in my life where I was losing somebody every single month. There were a couple of months had three deaths in one month. Three years ago a dear friend of mine committed suicide. This year has been a hard one with my DH's Mother passing. They were not close but it was still hard on my DH. Then a few months later a dear friend had a heart attack and died. My DH was the one that found him. Guess what my DH is doing? Shopping like crazy. It happens to men too. Grief is the worst thing in the world and we do the craziest stupid things during it. Least we all shop. It could be worse. I had friends that went to worse. Don't be hard on yourself. Your going through a process. You have to go through it. I know it sucks.
I have a nice paper ephemera box, all organized and pretty. I was going through it the other day. Found three things that reminded me of my baby. I fell apart. Threw everything back in the box and bawled. My DH has gone through boxes with me and has watched me fall apart completely. We put things in what we call a memory box. I have rubber stamps in this memory box. It is out of my room and in my box. I can go through that memory box now and say "This is stupid why do I have this in here." It is a crutch and keeps the things out of the room that is supposed to be healing for me.
Don't put pressure on yourself decluttering. I know easier said than done. Really try not too. You have a good start get rid of the things you know you will never use or not your style. Leave the emotional piles alone. Those will get easier. I promise they really do. It might take a month or even a year but you will get through them. Can you pack away emotional things and move them where you can not see them and they are out of the way?
I have a box of Christmas ornaments I couldn't open for three years. Last year I opened the box. Cradled each ornament and cried. A few weeks ago I was going through my holiday decorations organizing them. Opened my ornament box and could look at them without crying. When I did cry it was because of beautiful memories.
I know your best friend is trying to help. If your feeling sick to your stomach just tell her not yet. Tell her that causes you anxiety and go to a pile that does not. You will go back to that anxiety pile a little later.
You want to start with areas where you step back and your proud of what you accomplished. If you try to declutter piles that give you anxiety you will make mistakes and be back to square one. Trust me, I have been through this. You will make mistakes. You will get rid of things you did want. It can be purchased again. I know that isn't very comforting. You will get new and improved. I have done this and like my newer things better. I think it's because I didn't look at it and see dark times when using them. I have a rule I only use things in my art that make me happy.
I keep my brads in the little plastic bags for beads. I have them in a cute photo box. That is my pretty brad box. When I want a brad I just flip through my bead bags. I had so much room in that box if I want to add more brads to my collection.
I hope all that helps. I hope what I wrote wasn't too much TMI. I just don't want you to feel alone or that Mt. Everest would be easier to climb than decluttering.
|
|
you. Good food for thought. 
