My program seems to be working so far. And I have been addressing certain issues as they come up. The main one seems to be, should I keep it, or let it go? And now that I am reaching the stage of its not paper or items that can fit in a box, its getting a little more difficult since we are now getting to the big stuff, like furniture.
In this case, I have taken to....how useful is it? In other words, does it function WHERE its located? If not, where would it function best? If the answer is, no where I can think of, it HAS to go! If its possible it can go somewhere else and work, fine. I get out my little measuring tape, measure it up and go right to the place I am thinking of and see if it will work in the spot I have picked out. If not, then I go to Plan B.....rethink this Plan A. My living room is full of no place to go, no use for it, or won't fit and have no Plan B. These items I am trying to sell and am posting on Craigslist for a reasonable amount of money. I clean them up and move them into the living room for an easy exit from the house, once purchased.
Having to look at them for a few days helps me to mentally be sure I am ready to let said item hit the skids! This shift does help me to thin the herd and realize, that while I may THINK I need said item, or its too pretty to let go of, I have still not found a use or a spot for it! Its also made me realize, some of my collections are also needing to go.
For instance, I have a ton of Hall, USA and like minded ceramic planters that I no longer use and are dust collectors I have tired of. I have a little box collection and little colored bottle collection I would enjoy much more. So the ceramics are being listed on EBAY and Craigslist and looking for new homes also!
The thing is, this is going to be a mess for a bit longer. It took time to get this way, and its going to take time to get it back to a "normal" condition. I say "normal", meaning what most people would consider safe and livable. And while I may manage now, it is not without a lot of frustration and irritation on my part. I am always looking for a lost paper, item, something I just bought or need to take care of. But because there is so much stuff, even my usual organized self must throw up my hands at the craziness of it.
Which brings me to another thing mentally. There is this part of me that seeks perfection and organization, something I used to take for granted, is now crippling me. Because if I can't get immediate results, perfection in five minutes, organization in ten minutes, I have 'failed'. I have had some 'losses' in my life that have added to this 'out of my control feeling'. So trying to take it back is a slow struggle. It seems easy for others to poke fun, show disgust, or think 'what is wrong with you?', but the reality is, I am broken. Either mentally, physically, or emotionally, something is amiss. I've stopped hiding it, stopped denying it and am just moving forward. If someone isn't being supportive, then, for now, I have to not invite them over. After all, making me feel bad doesn't fix anything! What I need is patience, understanding and help. Those are who I invite in to see my progress, to check my plans with, ask what they think. Sure, its a bit of having people tell me what I want to hear, but it also is positive cheering on, its helping me, not undermining me and its also helped to see some brain games that are playing out.
And all the books and advice I have seen, read or heard, says the "touch it only once rule" should always apply, but for me, some items require a few more touches, before I can let go, or make a decision. The thing I use, is once the box is full, I must deal with that box again! File it, shred it, toss it, etc. As I have said before, a few items had to go back into the box a few times before I could make a decision. But that's okay! It works for me.
It may take a bit longer, but I am able to use this method with success. Anybody else working out from under a deluge of stuff? What is working or not working for you?
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