What Happens When You Outgrow Your Stuff
A few weeks ago, I tweeted that I had gone through my apartment and filled four bags with things I no longer wanted. Decor items, DVDs, and even books that I never looked at, watched, or cared to read again were picked up and placed into the plastic. But I didn’t sell or donate anything. Instead, I simply put the bags in a closet and shut the door.
Last night, I found myself looking around for even more items to get rid of. Probably the most surprising object in question is my book collection. You know… the one I said I could never live without? Well, apparently I can now. I took about half of them off my shelves a few weeks ago and, instead of missing them, have found myself looking at the leftovers and making mental notes about which ones I could still get rid of.
I could never part with what I consider to be the classics: East of Eden, The Alchemist, The Giver, The Good Earth, etc. And there at least 10 I haven’t read and still want to. But there are also shelves full of books I hold an indescribable attachment to. Why? Because I spent money on them? I’m never going to read them again and am almost embarrassed to own a few of them. So why do I continue to house them on my shelves and pack/unpack them through various moves?
Looking around my apartment right now, I can see that some of what I own is from my I’m-done-high-school-and-I’m-moving-out-with-my-boyfriend life (which, p.s., was a great lesson but one I would never repeat). The rest is from a time you all know as well as I do: the-breakup-doctor-told-me-to-live-alone-and-buy-whatever-I-want life. While I still like most of what I bought during that time period, I don’t feel the attachment to it that I once did.
There are pictures in frames but I don’t like the picture or the frame. There are candles I will never burn. Lotions I will never use. Full, decorative baskets that I can’t remember ever looking into. At one time, my own money (or credit card) was used to pay for it all. And now I don’t want any of it. I don’t know if I’ve outgrown it or if I’m finally realizing that I don’t need any of it to be happy. The only thing I do know is that seeing empty shelves doesn’t make me want to shop/fill them anymore.
Over the next week or two, I think I’m going to fill a few more plastic bags and put them in the closet with the others. If I don’t look for, or miss, anything from those bags in the next month or so, I think it’ll be time to say goodbye and move on.
Have you ever outgrown an item in your home?
Whenever I’m in a “decluttering” mode, I turn to Freecycle – it’s a win-win solution at no charge -
http://www.freecycle.org/group/Canada/
Yes! I completely understand. When I moved to the country from the city, we moved to a furnished apartment for about 8 months. Just this last month we found a house that was unfurnished so moved again. We unpacked all of our gear and I’ve got to say about 80% of it I want to toss. Either the style doesn’t suit me, it’s just clutter, or I have lost all attachment to it. It’s going to be a long process of de cluttering, but it’s totally worth it.
I know what you mean! Sometimes I just keep stuff because I spent money on it and I’d feel like I wasted my money if I just threw it away.
Ugh, I have to do that this weekend… I still have boxes all through my room. My mom comes and dumps stuff from when I was a kid at my apartment because she doesn’t want it in her house, but I’d feel guilty throwing it out.
oh my goodness! I thought my mom was the only person who did that! I finally told my mom that the cut out of a pumpkin from kindergarten does not have the same emotional connection to me as it does her. You will be happy to know, your mom may feel the same as you. She may not want to throw it becuase she will feel guilty and will only to happily leave it too you to dispose of as long as you dont tell her.
All the time! I have been going through rooms lately and just pulling things. When I move, I go through them all over again. And when I unpack, I go through it again. The fiance dislikes it because he’s as much of a pack rat as I am but he also understands it. What I’ve been doing with books and clothes is putting timers on them–have I read them in the last 6 months? No? Okay, I have 6 months more or they are gone. Or they’re gone right then and there. I try to sell them to the local bookstore or I donate them. Same for clothes. Sometimes I hold onto things just for the sake of having them but I’m trying not to do that anymore.
I’ve been feeling this way lately, too – especially with my clothes. Last year’s I’ve PHYSICALLY outgrown (or shrunk out of), but my older clothes (which I now fit into again) I just don’t LIKE any more. I was forced to downsize/toss quite a few things when I moved in with my boyfriend (since, yknow, he has books and clothes and toiletries too), but as I was unpacking I found myself tossing (and donating) more and more. I still have trouble letting things go, and I have to force myself to get rid of something (and remind myself if I haven’t touched it in over a year, or worse, in over MANY years I’m not going to) – but I’m getting better at it.
Out growing your stuff or just realizing that you don’t need it to be happy? Maybe it’s both. And both are good things. And the thing is with books, if you ditch one that you want later, you can always go the largest shelves of books that will surely have any book you and and you already pay for it.. the library! Haha
My wife likes a lot of knick knack statue thingies and I try to clear stuff like that out because (a) our kids break stuff anyway, and (b) what do we need all that clutter for?? But she holds onto them all like crazy. *shrug* Good on you for clearing out!
I am the same; I hold onto stuff because I paid good money for it even though I don’t use it! I realized if I don’t use it, it burdens my life or fills my closets. I am now more of a minimalist and it feels amazing.
I am currently having one of these moments but half of the house is my husbands stuff. I look around and alls that flashes thru my mind is FML.
I downsize constantly. It makes M. crazy.
I love getting rid of stuff. For a while I couldn’t let go of my books, but once you start you realize which ones are important to you and let the others go. Now I try to clean through my apartment at least twice a year.
Every now and again, I feel the need to reorganize and get rid of stuff. I can’t stand clutter. When I lived with my parents they kept a LOT of stuff. It wasn’t as bad as hoarding, but I felt there were so many antiques and so many decorations in the house. It was just too much. I try not to accumulate a lot of stuff because it creates more to pack and unpack when you move.
I can’t help but laugh that so many of you commented saying your boyfriend’s/husband’s hate when you declutter! My ex was the same.
Yes! lol… my hubby Andrew also hates it when I get rid of stuff, but I love it. I feel so much calmer when my life is decluttered.
Agreed. Although I think I’ve made my place a little too decluttered, this time… haha