I'm not sure why this idea suddenly hit me, but I've become a little obsessive in reading Zen books, Minimalist blogs and websites to do with decluttering. I have a need to streamline, simplify and get rid of detritus, both physical items and, dare I say it, people. I just want to have things around me that I love and use. And nothing else.
It started off well, but then I came to the minimalist's dilemma over sentimental items and clothes. Most common tip I've come across is that if you haven't worn it/used it in over a year, it's time to recyle, donate or bin it. Oh, the agony! Will I , won't I? That's a tough one for me.
I'm still decluttering and sorting, but it made me ponder, what would I never get rid of? A quick scan around the house revealed, some surprising items that I wouldn't mind not seeing again. And some very inconspicuous items that I will hold on to forever.
Books...
and more books! I've already carted boxes of them down to our recycling centre for others to hopefully enjoy, but there are some that I just can't part with.
A picture that my mom took with her when she immigrated from Ireland. It's been around the world more times than I can remember and it's very dear to me.
Are you old enough to know what these are? Tiny, ancient, fragile spools of film, documenting my childhood. I can't express how precious these are to me. Irreplaceable.
A fabulous, quite old, Japanese doll that my dad bought for me. Poor thing is missing one of her batons!
Mr. Malone. The one childhood toy I still have. Grubby, elderly and just wonderful.
What items will you never, ever part with? I'd love to hear!
Have to go now, there's a pile of stuff waiting to be sorted through!
~Siobhan xox
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8 comments:
I'm doing the same thing. Too many "things" can just become an anchor that drags you under.
There are some books of my father's that mean a lot to me. They are old and worn, and some are just paperbacks, but I would sneak them off his bookshelves when I was a child, and they have enormous sentimental value to me!
Good luck with the de-cluttering! Ultimately, it's very liberating!!
Little Gothic Horrors - I kind of feel better to hear you're doing the same thing! I do wonder is it the strange, unsettling energy that is around us all at the moment? Ah books, I can understand the preciousness of your father's books. The more well-thumbed and worn they are, the more value they have. Liberation here I come! haha!
You know, I think strange energy is a part of it. I do tend to get stuck into this kind of activity when the world around me seems to be in chaos! I think it's a small attempt to at least have some control over my own tiny little corner of the universe. A psychiatrist would probably have a field day with me! Haha!
If it's any consolation, my home looks like a tornado has just swept through it. I've been puling things out of cupboards, and off shelves, like a mad thing!
i have such trouble trying to de-clutter, i have such a time trying to turn off my sentimentality of things...stuff...
Laoi gaul-williams - I know exactly what you mean about the sentimentality of it all. I had a dilemma yesterday about a pretty, but useless bottle. It was so silly, but that voice inside my head was telling me to keep it, so-and-so gave it to you all those years ago, you might use it sometime! It's still there, staring at me. I'll win the battle yet!
Oh! I love your book collection, I just wrote a post about books that I want to read.
One can never have enough books! If of course you have a big enough shelf! :)
http://maidenofnature.blogspot.com/
Such lovely things! Your book collection is lovely - as is your blog :) xxxx
My de-cluttering begins this week. I'm not sure there will be any books leaving my patch of land though:)
I too keep a lot of things on the off chance that I might need them in the future. My new strategy is that I'll sell all of those things at a yard sale, tuck the money away, and if I ever do need them, I'll have that money to buy them back.
The silly part is that none of them are expensive so it's not really about the money. It's something else I can't really identify.
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