I am purging.
The last ten years have revolved entirely around nursing, pooping and nap schedules.
During that decade I have amassed great quantities of "stuff".
I buy scrap book paper because I envision making lovely pages for my children to enjoy when they're older.
I buy rubber stamps, embossing powders, inks and more paper because I can picture the fantastic cards I will make and send.
I bought a sewing machine for the adorable tutus I'd make for Miss Ky, before I knew that Miss Ky would be the destructor of all things if not supervised every second of the day.
There's paint and brushes held over from my artistic life before marriage as well as art books that have only recently been opened by borrowers.
It's all leaving.
The sewing machine just left for $10.00. The violin will be sold for about the same.
They are all reminders of the life I don't live. The life I envisioned when I married. The life one has when one hasn't committed to 10 years straight of diaper changes.
There's a woman who holds onto the photos, letters, memorabilia from the temperamental lover who has dumped her. The handsome single neighbor goes unnoticed by her while she sits alone in her house playing "their" song and mourning the lost love. If she'd just toss out those letters and step outside, she might see what's in store for her....
It's got to be better than this. Constant reminders of what never was.
What are you clinging to that holds you back?
I don't blame you at all. I'm a pack rat as well. I've got quite a few things that I need to just cut loose. Good luck with your purge and may you feel better after the stuff goes.
ReplyDeleteMan, I wish I could come to your house right now. :)
ReplyDeleteI am doing the same right now...
ReplyDeleteI have furniture in my house that belongs to one of my daughters, full of stuff... OUT... needs to go home to daughters new home...
I have dishes and glassware, never use.... OUT... if grown children do not want... then someone else will...
I want Simple, clutter free...
Oh man, I totally need to get rid of junk that I don't use and don't need!
ReplyDeleteThats a tough one. It takes time to come to the point you are at. I don't know that I am there.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be more profound today, 'cause that's just who I am...and also I purge my house contents regularly. I figure if I haven't looked for it for 2 years it can't be that important. So I take a quick look in the box for sentimental items or photos and toss away! Seriously, I cling to my need for perfection...I'm right now trying to pry it out of my desperate clutches;)
ReplyDeletei cling to the "whys" and 'what ifs". and i have to learn to get over it and let go!!
ReplyDeletesigh. i just came to say hello...and happy thanksgiving!! now i'm all thinking about stuff and stuff...
xo
Oh! This spoke to me on Max Volume today, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I get home I am going to purge my basement, and weed my life of stuff. Everywhere I look are reminders of what life I was supposed to have. Well it's not.
God help me I think I'm going to cut and dye my hair too. I need CHANGE I can believe in - Bwaaahahahaha. I need everything around me to change with me, so it doesn't feel wrong.
Thank you for this post. You touched a soft spot... but it didn't hurt. I'm grateful for you.
Blessings, Whitney
It's therapeutic to purge. Purge, J, Purge! You'll love yourself for doing it.
ReplyDeleteGood for you --- I am sooo bad for clutter and keeping things.
ReplyDeletehappy weekend.
I hold onto a brooch that my Grandmother gave to my Mom. It was given to me several years ago.
ReplyDeleteGrandmother passed away a few weeks ago and I wore it to her funeral.
When I touch it I find that I "purge" the feelings from deep within that comes in the forms of whys? and what ifs?
Seeing her at the viewing was the last time seeing her...after 12 years! The longing I have to have known her better. I know those whys and what ifs will be answered because I have her for eternity. But by then the questions will not matter..
..For as I touch her flower brooch..I know she did the best she knew how..and I love her.
Purging is a good thing!!
I am the queen of projects and good intentions... that get covered in dust, unused. You're not the only one. I will break out my sewing machine soon though. The scrapbooking stuff -- hey, those come in handy when the kids need to make a creative poster or something. My embossing powders and inks and stampers... lost in a box somewhere.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I hear ya. And the sad thing is I HAVE THE TIME.
I feel you girl! I recently did the same thing and it feels SOOO good to have the guilt gone. I had an awesome scrapbooking space in my house that I never used. It was even in a magazine which me feel so pressured to do everything perfectly that I couldn't do anything creative in there.
ReplyDeleteSo I got rid of it. I haven't missed it at all.
I love your concept of letting go of the life you THOUGHT you'd live so you can more fully embrace what IS. Awesome! I think we're all guilty of trying to create that perfect illusion. Good for you for giving it up!
Um...my sanity?
ReplyDeleteI'd take that violin off of your hands if I was there. Of course, I already have a violin in my closet, because I envision a day when I will know how to play it.
I admire your determination. Kids are like little sponges aren't they? They just absorb every plan you thought you ever had.
What are you going to do with all your time, once the diapering is done?
I have so many craft items it is an absolute crime...but I dream of hand-making everything...yeah right!
ReplyDeleteI've just begun to realize I'm never going to get to all I have planned to do. I'm doing EXACTLY the same thing here in NC.
ReplyDeleteI'm turning in to a minimalist in overdrive. I'm getting rid of everything. I'm tired of being overwhelmed. Out with the STUFF!!
Our house is choablock full of everything we have ever owned. Not a dresser or wardrobe top, not a table or bookcase, a cupboard, attic, garage, understairs, outhouse or under beds, is clear of 'things'. When my mother-in-law died in Mexico we bought back a container full of stuff to add to the 'stuff' already here. I would like to blame JP, the big sentimental Froggie, but I am just as bad. The poor children are going to have a terrible job when we shuffle off this mortal coil.
ReplyDeleteBut you never know when it is going to come in handy. Do you?
You are moving house and having a sort out. This is what happens. You throw things out so there is less to move then buy some more when you have moved. Haven't you ever thought about where all that stuff in the shops ends up?
ReplyDeleteHuh, this was entertaining, fun and them wham, it packed a punch!
ReplyDeleteHanging on? I don't think so. And this surprises me. We're living it all. We're lucky. (Plus we started with REALLY low expectations.)
I wanna be at your tag sale!
Great post... I'm hanging onto lots of sewing stuff, too. Also knitting/crocheting supplies. I dig them out once a year and start something that I don't finish. Even if I do finish something, I never use it. I knitted a hat with wool yarn last year and it itches like crazy so... yeah. I am the queen of spreading myself thin but perhaps I would be more successful if I focused all my time on the things I AM doing. I'll think about this some more.
ReplyDeleteoh. ack. I am holding on to way too much. the scary thing is, I've gotten rid of a lot lately, and it's STILL overwhelming... the stuff I have
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for scrapbooking stuff, too. ;) paper in particular
You sold a sewing machine for $10! What ails you, woman?! And a violin, too? *sigh* I'm not sure we can be friends if this kind of behavior continues.
ReplyDelete