Comments on: Decluttering and Purging http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:40:23 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: M.L. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-21606 M.L. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:55:38 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-21606 This is a great, moderate approach. As for many, I don't like clutter because it makes me feel confined, but I do keep things I like even if they have no other purpose than my enjoyment, which is a good reason. I tend to pass along those items that don't touch me on a deeper, personal level; things that will never be missed. I like to have things around me that "are me"; things that are really a reflection of who I am. Sometimes I like to keep things because they are reminders of ways in which I want to grow, but am not there yet. For example, I have a banjo that I've had for several years because I want to learn how to play it, but I haven't found someone yet to teach me how to play it. Even though I never use it, just having it is a constant reminder that I WILL learn how to play it someday, and not to give up on that dream. This is a great, moderate approach. As for many, I don’t like clutter because it makes me feel confined, but I do keep things I like even if they have no other purpose than my enjoyment, which is a good reason. I tend to pass along those items that don’t touch me on a deeper, personal level; things that will never be missed. I like to have things around me that “are me”; things that are really a reflection of who I am. Sometimes I like to keep things because they are reminders of ways in which I want to grow, but am not there yet. For example, I have a banjo that I’ve had for several years because I want to learn how to play it, but I haven’t found someone yet to teach me how to play it. Even though I never use it, just having it is a constant reminder that I WILL learn how to play it someday, and not to give up on that dream.

]]> By: Rich http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-20780 Rich Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:40:40 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-20780 I have been going through a major decluttering effort. For a while, my bible was Peter Walsh's "It's All Too Much", which encourages people to ruthlessly purge. I have gotten rid of so much stuff, it's unbelievable -- stuff that had no meaning, random papers and dead batteries and the like. However, I have several old comic books and pulp fiction magazines -- while I'll scaled back my buying to near-zero, I haven't made the effort to get rid of the ones I already own. I figure that as long as they're on bbokshelves (where they belong) it's okay to keep them. It's when they start congregating on and over the coffee table, and appearing in stacks on the floor and the closet, that maybe it's time to sell off the one you really don't want. I think Peter Walsh and others secretly know that unless they encouraged us to get rid of EVERYTHING, most people would get rid of NOTHING. It's the old "Give An Inch" proverb ... encourage people to keep the stuff they really want, and they hang onto everything, even if they're home looks like a landfill. Encourage them to get rid of everything, and people determine what they really value. I have been going through a major decluttering effort. For a while, my bible was Peter Walsh’s “It’s All Too Much”, which encourages people to ruthlessly purge. I have gotten rid of so much stuff, it’s unbelievable — stuff that had no meaning, random papers and dead batteries and the like.

However, I have several old comic books and pulp fiction magazines — while I’ll scaled back my buying to near-zero, I haven’t made the effort to get rid of the ones I already own. I figure that as long as they’re on bbokshelves (where they belong) it’s okay to keep them. It’s when they start congregating on and over the coffee table, and appearing in stacks on the floor and the closet, that maybe it’s time to sell off the one you really don’t want.

I think Peter Walsh and others secretly know that unless they encouraged us to get rid of EVERYTHING, most people would get rid of NOTHING. It’s the old “Give An Inch” proverb … encourage people to keep the stuff they really want, and they hang onto everything, even if they’re home looks like a landfill. Encourage them to get rid of everything, and people determine what they really value.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-19260 Stephanie Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:33:48 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-19260 Even though I'm trying to cut back on some pack rat tendencies. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I can sell off my comic book collection. Even though I’m trying to cut back on some pack rat tendencies. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I can sell off my comic book collection.

]]> By: Ileen http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-14045 Ileen Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:22:41 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-14045 I have seen on some of those decluttering shows where they make people get rid of books they haven't looked at in a while. It shows a total lack of understanding about how beautiful a room full of books is. I would be showing them the door. I do pass on books that I know I won't reread to friends but anything else on my shelf is a treasure. I could get rid of most of my stuff but I must keep my books. I have seen on some of those decluttering shows where they make people get rid of books they haven’t looked at in a while. It shows a total lack of understanding about how beautiful a room full of books is. I would be showing them the door. I do pass on books that I know I won’t reread to friends but anything else on my shelf is a treasure. I could get rid of most of my stuff but I must keep my books.

]]> By: Bret http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-3723 Bret Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:01:22 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-3723 Great response and comments! The less material items you are responsible for, the more freedom that can come with that...but this depends on what kind of lifestyle you choose - say if you tend to pick up and move from place to place more (simplicity does not necessarily mean you are stationary). I know that a house that has very few things in it feels open and I enjoy moving around in it more...a cluttered home feels more confining because the space is taken up by things. On the other hand, if you are throwing away stuff that you occasionally need, it does not make it more simple for you if you have to go out and buy it again. Great response and comments!
The less material items you are responsible for, the more freedom that can come with that…but this depends on what kind of lifestyle you choose – say if you tend to pick up and move from place to place more (simplicity does not necessarily mean you are stationary). I know that a house that has very few things in it feels open and I enjoy moving around in it more…a cluttered home feels more confining because the space is taken up by things.
On the other hand, if you are throwing away stuff that you occasionally need, it does not make it more simple for you if you have to go out and buy it again.

]]> By: another amy http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/comment-page-1/#comment-3350 another amy Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:36:49 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/decluttering-and-purging/#comment-3350 It's funny that I used to want so many things, whereas now I'm totally annoyed by having random items that I would never use. How this change came about, I am really not sure but once I started throwing things away it became kind of fun & liberating. Now, if something cute in a store catches my eye, I just think "Oh, that's adorable and someone will really enjoy owning that. Just not me!" It's a feeling of freedom for some reason. Your money adds up while your chores (Cleaning, dusting, repairing) go down, so it does make life a bit simpler in that sense. But, if you don't feel the urge to purge, then just skip it! There are still a few items in my home that serve no other purpose than "I like it. I want it". And that's pretty simple right there. It’s funny that I used to want so many things, whereas now I’m totally annoyed by having random items that I would never use. How this change came about, I am really not sure but once I started throwing things away it became kind of fun & liberating. Now, if something cute in a store catches my eye, I just think “Oh, that’s adorable and someone will really enjoy owning that. Just not me!” It’s a feeling of freedom for some reason. Your money adds up while your chores (Cleaning, dusting, repairing) go down, so it does make life a bit simpler in that sense. But, if you don’t feel the urge to purge, then just skip it!

There are still a few items in my home that serve no other purpose than “I like it. I want it”. And that’s pretty simple right there.

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