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Hoarding Help Message Boards : The Daily Chat : Today is a New Day

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Today is a New Day

Dianne	Posted: 04 November 2014 - 08:15 AM
	hahaha Dave! Mothers don't allow any of our games. But what happens with Gammie stays with Gammie! :D

dave	Posted: 04 November 2014 - 07:56 AM
	Today is a new day and I will practice balance. Tower of Babies Mothers allow this?? !! :)

dave	Posted: 04 November 2014 - 07:56 AM
	Today is a new day and I will practice balance. Tower of Babies Mothers allow this?? !! :)

Dianne	Posted: 04 November 2014 - 07:43 AM
	Today is a new day and I will practice balance. I need to watch my grandkids today. That usually means a lot of physicality ~ some of our favorite games from when they were younger are Roughhouser Puppies and Tower of Babies. Lately it's been Murder Ball from my childhood. Since I need to do daily chores here first by the time I get to them I'll need to move carefully. They have several choices of activities. We'll read some American history on their level and they'll come with me to see the voting process. We'll choose one or two simple fall recipes, buy the ingredients and make them from scratch. We'll visit a wildlife rehab center. Quiet stuff, at most I'll need my cane. Have a great day everyone!

Dianne	Posted: 03 November 2014 - 11:19 AM
	Today is a new day and I will remember to respect my body. Certain movements are causing severe pain today. I'm learning to do a lot of work from the floor (hand washing, hand broom sweeping, sorting and folding laundry). Again, so grateful to have my daughter to help. I'm keeping the up and down movements to a minimum and taking frequent breaks to lie on my side or stretch my back. Things I refused to do in the past (considering moving to a smaller house or one level with minimal acreage) are feeling more necessary and acceptable. Age, like so many things I refused to deal with, is inevitable so I may as well go with the flow. Fighting it is so much harder. For you younger hoarders out there, here's simple advice, if you're like me when I was younger, I wouldn't have taken; but really consider it ~~ Get that hoard under control and get the inner work done ASAP!!

Dianne	Posted: 02 November 2014 - 08:39 AM
	Today is a new day and the slug needs a fire under her butt. I really have to keep up with a basic housekeeping schedule or things go downhill fast. Today I'll play catch-up with the daily chores I have let slide. I'd love to add more to that but realistically more wouldn't get done. Enjoy your day!

Dianne	Posted: 01 November 2014 - 12:19 PM
	Today is a new day and I am a slug. And I'm going to be ok with that. Last night was fun handing out candy at my daughter's house until it became an impromptu party with kids, adults and dogs pouring into their house. I'm so not a party person. Laura enjoys festivities. I ended up playing with the younger kids and dogs. We told scary stories, hid and screamed for parents ~ Mommy help I can't breathe!!!! Daddy I'm bleeding!!!!! When the alcohol addled adults came looking (took awhile though) we would jump out and scare them. They were not amused which made it funnier for us. The kids seemed pleasantly surprised that a grammy could be so crazy and be more interested in them then in grownups. Eventually the exhausted ones ended up on mommy's big bed (with a yellow lab and a yorkie) and we talked about how precious grandchildren are to grandparents. I was painfully aware that although I love being with kids they were providing me with the excuse not to mingle with the adults. It seems so pointless ~ drinking, getting rowdy. I did it years ago but it always felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing not what I wanted to do. Anyway, I had my own kind of fun last night. Farts and burping contests were big crowd pleasers for girls as well as boys. haha Today except for poop cleaning duties I might let everything slide.

Dianne	Posted: 31 October 2014 - 06:15 AM
	Today is a new day and it was one of my grandmother's birthdays. I liked Tat's idea that on her grandmother's birthday she was going to do something to honor her memory. My grandmother was raised on a farm in Canada. Today as I do daily chores I will be aware of and appreciate all the conveniences I have ~ running water, heat at the flip of a switch, this computer. And I will appreciate and bring into my life today what she had ~ big skies and closeness with the earth's bounty, strength of spirit to persevere, the generosity to share whatever she had with others.

Dianne	Posted: 30 October 2014 - 09:34 AM
	Today is a new day and I am grateful for another fresh start. I'm actually not feeling all that energized but I'm going to focus on the opportunities ~ time to do work, the ability to do it, freedom to take breaks as I need them. Today will be daily chores. And spend some time getting rid of paperwork that has been piling up. Enjoy today whatever you do. :)

Dianne	Posted: 29 October 2014 - 11:06 AM
	Today is a new day and I will continue to appreciate the pleasures rather than focus on the problems. Yesterday was too beautiful to work outside so Laura and I spent time with horses. They are such a part of my blood and cells I love them so much. I love running my fingers along the brow bone feeling the hollows above their eyes; finding each one's itchy spot that makes them stretch their necks in pleasure, the heaviness of holding a hoof; the warmth of a deep snort in my face. Very late last night we lay with the dogs outside. There were warm breezes, the rustle of tall pines, the smells of fallen leaves, the heavy sighs of dogs as they settled in for the night next to us. When we finally went to bed kitties picked their favorite person and purred us to sleep. My soul feels refreshed and ready to do the work of today. Take time to savor your blessings today!

Dianne	Posted: 28 October 2014 - 07:55 AM
	Today is a new day and I will take time to appreciate the lingering Indian summer weather. We might be having our last really warm day for awhile and I'd like to get some stuff done with water ~ wash out some coolers before storing, scrub some pool furniture I left out, hose off cobwebby sleds. I can do that while sitting, Laura can move it around. I thank God she is such a cheerful helper! Enjoy your day everybody!

Dianne	Posted: 27 October 2014 - 11:36 AM
	Today is a new day and will pretty much be a repeat of yesterday. My back feels better, not great, but it is responding to being treated more gently. Laura is going with me to the dump to handle the heavy trash bags and some pine tree branches. We will go by the bank. I'd love to make it to Costco but that might be pushing it. Another fence repair estimate for later today. Daily chores. Have a good day everyone!

Dianne	Posted: 26 October 2014 - 09:48 AM
	Today is a new day and I feel better. Thank you Bitsy. :) With a few hours heads up I was ready for the loud Halloween party my neighbors had last night. Dogs in early, sleeping pill and ear plugs for me and Laura is a night owl so she was fine. Woke up this morning refreshed. I still need to baby my back and it's a challenge to move slowly. But I did it yesterday and I can do it today. It'll be basic chores today with many breaks.

bitsy	Posted: 25 October 2014 - 01:22 PM
	today is a new day. a beautiful day. the leaves are just beginning to turn here. only 4 or 5 months till spring. Dianne, I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Dianne	Posted: 25 October 2014 - 11:30 AM
	Today is a new day but I'm not feeling so fresh and shiny. By the end of yesterday I was in so much pain, needing my cane and I was close to hitting the wall. Instead of calling it a day and letting my daughter handle the rest I had to supervise her with the nightly dog routine. She normally does that with no help from me and does a great job of it. (That's one of the problems with getting on top of things. I think only I can do it right, I want perfectionism, and it's hard to walk away from the control.) We have a coyote in the area now who has attacked a neighbor's dog. My dogs were on the deck barking insanely maybe he was nearby. It was driving me crazy and I just wanted them inside, fed, quiet and bedded down for the night. The craziness continued inside and I lost it. I screamed and yelled and waved my cane until cats scattered, dogs cringed and my daughter laughed. Well, THAT put me RIGHT over the edge! I screamed, "IT'S NOT FUNNY!" So I went to bed, woke up feeling better but I know this is a downhill slide. It may be time for another cortisone shot in the spine and that is a pain I would prefer never to go thru again. But I don't have the patience to rest my back for the time it needs. I'm just feeling pissy. Today is a new day and I will be a grumpy camper doing minimal stuff. >:(

Dianne	Posted: 25 October 2014 - 11:06 AM
	Darci, I'm so happy to see you back! I've missed you my friend! Your goal of getting things out in boxes has been very successful. And you were able to come to the painful realization that what you wanted to donate wasn't going to happen realistically. Those are huge accomplishments to draw strength from while you tackle the next steps. With the gifts that you bought to ship to family members ~ can you send them out now and call them early Christmas gifts? Can someone help you sell your business supplies online? Or maybe there are churches in your area or non-profit groups who would love to have like new supplies? Can you have a sock box? Indulge yourself a bit by cleaning and keeping whatever socks you find, then match up later. I think we all suffer from that feeling of I don't want to donate that just yet because I know I have the missing pieces around somewhere. You're right a year is going to come very quickly. But you've already accomplished so much even with MS. And you deal with the stress of taking in renters. Your heart is huge Darci. Always thinking of how you can donate things for very specific reasons, like to help the young girls who have working moms. You know what works for you, you know the pitfalls. You inspire me. :)

Darci	Posted: 25 October 2014 - 01:15 AM
	Continued... I "know" all the "rules" about purging...: DON'T hold onto to the trampoline that has its feet "somewhere" because you don't want to landfill it.... Keep your eye on the PRIZE, the BIG picture, the peaceful life within your grasp...**

Darci	Posted: 25 October 2014 - 01:05 AM
	Hi Dianne.... so glad to find an old friend here!! Makes it easier to get back in the swing. I haven't been on in several months for many reasons, the most consuming of which was the fact that I had to clear out two additional bedrooms so I could rent them out to make ends meet. NO EASY FEAT for someone who already has too much stuff. I am trying to get myself set up in the living room as my bedroom. The house I am in is going up for sale in a year... sounds like a long ways away but not for someone who takes two steps forward and one step back... and sometimes four steps back, year after year. What worked for me in the past was to come up with a clearly definable goal: number of boxes donated. I think the most I ever did in a defined period (about six weeks) was just over 100 boxes. I remember it being painful... very painful because of the things I was holding onto from my daughter's childhood that I wanted to use to help pre-middle school girls who have working moms who have no time for them. I had to realize that I was never going to attain that goal for many reasons... the most pervasive... I have too much stuff and no time because I am always shifting it around. Shifting around to install new flooring, shifting around because of a flood, shifting around because a room needs to be painted...shifting because too much ended up in one room and made it unusable. So, here I am shifting AGAIN to make room for even more renters (which means renting out 3 out of 4 bedrooms!) and trying to make the living room livable.... despite the oontents of my entire bedroom dumped in there. So, my new goal is 90 boxes packed for donations by Thanksgiving, Thurs Nov 27... just around 4 weeks...30 days... So that means three boxes a day. Sounds easy when there is "too much stuff" but no one thing is junk...all new/like new supplies from my business as well as gifts I bought to ship to my family members last year and never felt strong enough to make that happen (bad MS set-back... bedridden for about six weeks). Plus, I still have my obsession to "match socks" so they can be donated and "wash and whiten" the socks so they can be donated (and welcomesd by their new family) (This isn't about just matching socks... it is that I can't throw away the little trampoline because I KNOW I have the legs "somewhere" and it "would be a great gift (donation)for someone who has nothing for their children."

Dianne	Posted: 24 October 2014 - 10:13 AM
	Today is a new day to start fresh. Tat, I like your intent of cleaning something to honor the memory of your grandmother on her birthday. That is lovely. My back needs to be babied today so I'll do daily chores just with more gentleness and a little slower. It's funny that it actually feels better when I can stretch the vertebrae by washing floors on hands and knees. I have someone coming today to give me an estimate on repairing fencing. One area is repeatedly a problem. Some food needs to be prepped for salads, soups and snacks. Dogs need nail trimming. Food bins need to be refilled. Have a good day everyone!

Tatoulia	Posted: 23 October 2014 - 11:56 AM
	Today is a new day and it was my grandmother's birthday. She kept a very clean house. She was ahead of her time on germ-awareness. I will clean something in my home tonight in honor of her memory.

Dianne	Posted: 23 October 2014 - 10:58 AM
	Today is a new day with bright sunshine and high winds! I have daily chores and some outside errands to run. My back has been sore again so that may be all I get done. If I can get thru those things gently than I need to start on a bathroom that's past due for cleaning. My to-do list is always long and daunting and I still struggle with the need to get it all done. Each day is an exercise in patience and accepting my aging body and slowing down. Live your day well. :)

Dianne	Posted: 22 October 2014 - 09:01 AM
	Today is a new day with a fresh start and unlimited possibilities! Yesterday my daughter and I did stuff with the dogs, worked in the garage and in the yard picked up storm debris and loaded the truck for the dump. It was a beautiful Indian summer day! Today is rainy and a good day to work inside. There are bills to pay online and the usual daily maintenance. I want to get together some things together to take to an I Sold it on Ebay store. Have a great day everyone!

Tatoulia	Posted: 03 October 2014 - 05:46 AM
	Today is a new day and I will look around and honestly assess whether and where I am backsliding.

Tatoulia	Posted: 01 October 2014 - 05:43 AM
	Today is a new day and I will remember to be kind to my mother. I will be respectful of her as I begin the process of cleaning out her hoard.

Tatoulia	Posted: 29 September 2014 - 08:40 AM
	Today is a new day and I plan to look around and see what small improvements I can make. For example, I tend to take off my sweater at the end of the day and put it on the back of a chair. It's remarkable how messy the house looks with a sweater being part of the decor. Today I will open my eyes to other small things. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

LR2014	Posted: 26 September 2014 - 11:50 AM
	Tatoulia, I agree with what Dianne (blue text) said . . . I love your phrase, "now that my standards have been raised." Keep up the great work! Dianne, I still call them "tennis shoes." To the "other" Dianne: Welcome! Me: Two of my main (planned) tasks for the day are to do some needed scrubbing in one of my bathrooms and to spend some time working on clearing out and cleaning up my living room. Nice to have a new day. And since I'm on the topic of names that start with Dian . . . hope you're having a good day, Diane (with a capital D)! Hugs to everybody!

Dianne	Posted: 24 September 2014 - 11:01 AM
	Today is a new day and I have to think about autumn clothing. I went out to run errands in my usual t-shirt, jeans and flip flops and saw everybody in their full-on fall attire. Really the only change I'll make is a zip up sweatshirt and Reeboks. What do people call shoes anymore? The kind we used to call tennis shoes, keds, sneakers? Technically I guess what I wear are running shoes or cross trainers but I don't do those things. When we were young we had to wear practical shoes ~ brown, black or maybe white in the summer. So now my shoes are vivid colors; pink and yellow; turquoise blue, lime green and yellow; purple, blue and pink. Anyway today is a lot of running ~ errands not the feet running. A trip to the dump, gas up vehicles, go to the bank, post office and the grocery store. Sit with grandkids in the office while their mom is getting an MRI. Other than very basic animal care other indoor stuff will not be done.

Dianne	Posted: 24 September 2014 - 10:47 AM
	Hello new Dianne. Tell us about yourself. :) The 2 n's are not common. Is there a story behind that?

Dianne	Posted: 24 September 2014 - 10:43 AM
	Haha Tat, I love that ~ fine until your standards were raised! That's always a good thing, do a basic sweep, go back and make it better. You're doing great work!!

Tatoulia	Posted: 24 September 2014 - 08:13 AM
	Today is a new day and it is beautiful here in the northeast. I plan to work on bedroom closet, which is fine but has turned out to be Not Fine now that my standards have been raised considerably! I plan to sweep living room and hallway, and dust the living room furniture.

Tatoulia	Posted: 24 September 2014 - 08:13 AM
	Today is a new day and it is beautiful here in the northeast. I plan to work on bedroom closet, which is fine but has turned out to be Not Fine now that my standards have been raised considerably! I plan to sweep living room and hallway, and dust the living room furniture.

Dianne	Posted: 23 September 2014 - 07:12 PM
	What a wonderful image of the pinecones and your day. Thank you.

dianne	Posted: 23 September 2014 - 01:22 PM
	husband is the hoarder

dianne	Posted: 23 September 2014 - 01:21 PM
	just trying to figure site

Dianne	Posted: 23 September 2014 - 09:34 AM
	Today is a new day, Happy Autumn! After school my grandkids are coming over to gather pinecones. We have thousands of the teeny, tiny ones under some hemlock trees. And lots of large ones under the pines. They are going to take them to school for art projects. I finally had to ask them to come do that because I have been eyeing those pinecones for a long time now. I had big trash bags full of the big ones, at least a dozen, and a few buckets of the tiny ones. I used to make wreaths and tiny pine Christmas trees. The saved ones disappeared thanks to my well-meaning hoard cleaners. It's not too hard to avoid going into a store to buy stuff but when the big, beautiful trees are dropping their abundant crop at my feet everyday it's getting too hard to resist. While they do that I'll be walking the fenceline making some repairs to the split rails. Have a glorious day everyone!

Tatoulia	Posted: 22 September 2014 - 01:22 PM
	What a wonderful, thoughtful post. How far you've come--bring able to get something delivered, going through memories with your children. What wonderful work.

Dianne	Posted: 22 September 2014 - 12:02 PM
	Today is a new day and the weather here is a blessed gift! Tat, great job is donating the books and more clothes! Keep chipping away! My 18 year old refrigerator is not cooling as well as it should. Rather than wait for a breakdown I ordered another one today. It feels really good to be able to take care of something before it gets worse. And to have people come in without fear and embarrassment feels wonderful. Funny how something that is normal for most people can be such happiness for me. For anyone struggling with getting help to clear out, whether it's family members, friends or hired help, please try it. It truly is the best decision I have made in a very long time. Yesterday I spent working on one of the last two bedrooms and was able to sort a lot into the hall. There is a group that will be taken to the dump today, a group for donation and Laura is putting things away that we now have a place for. Some of the inner hoard I am working thru is sentimental stuff. Telling my daughters what I remember about them as they wore a certain outfit and listening to their stories is reassuring me that the love from those times won't be forgotten. So I can let go of the object much easier. Have a great day everyone!

Tatoulia	Posted: 22 September 2014 - 11:46 AM
	Today is a new day and I am going to ask myself, "what do I want to keep?" I am not going to look for things to throw away or donate, I'm going to make the active part of my decision-making to be what will I keep. Then the things that I won't be keeping can just go in a bag. They will disappear from my mind and my life. Today is a new day.

Tatoulia	Posted: 21 September 2014 - 11:06 AM
	Today is a new day and my brother said he will drive me to goodwill to take a bag of books that I can live without, even though they survived Round One. I am also going to take a bag of clothing. I took care of reading the newspaper early today and I disposed of all clutter on the side table in the library area of my place. I have the newspaper to go to the recycling bin. I will continue to work and work and work, with frequent breaks to check on everyone here and to get some kitty lovins from my babycat, who is lounging on the bed right now.

diane	Posted: 20 September 2014 - 07:52 AM
	Tat, sounds like you unstoppable today, will be fun to hear all that you get done today. Today is a new day and I can get back to work here.

Tatoulia	Posted: 20 September 2014 - 07:47 AM
	Today is a new day and I am not going to let anyone or anything get in my way...including myself!

LR2014	Posted: 19 September 2014 - 07:17 PM
	Thanks for the sentiments, Dianne and Tatoulia. The upside of going to those services was that I got to see a lot of former coworkers who have become friends through the years. It's always nice to connect with old friends.

Tatoulia	Posted: 19 September 2014 - 06:09 AM
	LR sending you lots of strength on this new day and every day.

Tatoulia	Posted: 19 September 2014 - 06:07 AM
	Wow Dianne! Today really is a new day! Perfect ending to your story! Wow!

Dianne	Posted: 19 September 2014 - 05:59 AM
	Thanks Tat and LR, for the reminder that recognizing a backslide is progress. My mind can easily get jumbled and I don't see that unless it's pointed out. Tat, I love how you say acquiring vintage china and glass makes you feel invincible and unstoppable. Those are the feelings, yes! I threw out the streamers and the ticket stubs. My grand plans of framing them were never going to get done. Like so many of the things I had planned over the years that just resulted in a growing hoard. It wasn't hard at all once the excitement was over. :) I kept 2 t-shirts and hats and donated the rest to the grandkids' school for their fall festival raffle. I paid my friend for the stuff she bought for me and donated those as well. LR, I'm sorry you have another funeral. Especially so soon after the one for your beloved relative. Your growing gratitude list will keep your spirits up. Today I am playing catch-up again. Neglecting one day seems to result in triple the work. Not just the physical part but the mental part of get right back on it or that little clutter monster will ooze everywhere again. Have a great day everyone!

LR2014	Posted: 18 September 2014 - 01:14 PM
	I agree with Tatoulia, Dianne . . . I think that recognizing an old pattern is progress in and of itself! (Glad you had a fun celebration!) This new day started very early. Mentioned some morning tasks on a different thread. Some of my plans for the rest of this new day: Unload some things from my vehicle, spend at least 15 minutes looking for things that are out of place and put them back into their homes, run the dishwasher, and get a bill or two paid. I also plan to add to my gratitude list. Tonight, I have another (yes, another) funeral to attend, this one for a former coworker. Have a happy new day. Hugs.

Tatoulia	Posted: 18 September 2014 - 07:17 AM
	Thanks for your post, Dianne. I can relate to the frenzy of buying it all. I get that way in antique stores or thrift shops. Something about vintage china and glass makes me feel invincible and unstoppable. It is good that you were able to identify the free - for-all that you found yourself in! Today is a new day, and I think your ability to recognize the back- slide is the mark of true progress. (The streamers, though, might have to be reconsidered-maybe make a deal with yourself that if you don't frame them with the ticket stubs within X days you'll toss?) Today is a new day and I have another busy day of meetings, meetings, meetings. Taking tomorrow off (I have some vacation days to use up) and taking my mother to a museum. I'll write more about that soon.

Dianne	Posted: 17 September 2014 - 09:12 AM
	Last night I had a backslide and didn't care too much. Although we live outside D.C. and love our Redskins and Washington Nationals we are hardcore Baltimore fans. Most of our sports time is spent at Camden Yards or Ravens stadium. Last night we were at the Yards expecting to win the American League East Division and clinch it we did! It was pandemonium! We were covered with orange and white streamers and people were draping them around their necks. I shoved handfuls inside my sweatshirt while my little recovery hoarder voice said, Dianne, this is paper trash, are you going to keep it until you die? My hoarder voice screamed I want it! I can decorate with it! I can frame it with the tickets! It's our first division championship win in 17 years! And even bigger it's the first time the Orioles have clinched on home turf in 45 years!!! Yes I want the trash! Then came the gear which went on sale immediately. I got 8 champion league t-shirts and 4 baseball caps. In the meantime we heard the Nats won the National League East in Atlanta. Double score! I had arranged with a friend that if the Nats won she should grab me 8 shirts and 4 hats wherever they went on sale. Then we plan to get together and spread out our loot like kids with Halloween candy and do some trading. Yeah, this morning the guilt is a little more prickly. The adrenaline rush is gone. And now I have to deal with the hard arguing feeling of do I save it or give it to another crazy baseball fan. It feels like a major pig-out while on a diet. But Today is a New Day and I will get right back on the recovery wagon. I'll make a decision by the end of the day. In the meantime I won't put myself down about it. There is a lot that needs to be done today ~ doctor appointment, making a grandkid pickup and switch while everybody juggles schedules, the regular maintenance, and a nighttime trip to the ocean and work all day tomorrow to get ready for family members coming in for the weekend. Tat, thank you. I LOVE having this thread reminder every morning that mistakes are in the past and today is fresh, new and full of possibilities!

Tatoulia	Posted: 15 September 2014 - 08:30 PM
	Thank you all for your lovely posts. We are all trying so hard, and it's amazing how inspirational our friends on this site are. Don't worry, Grace, we are here for you. We can do this. Seriously, I thank you all for your lovely, touching, painful, candid posts. I am tearing up. We will get through this.

Grace	Posted: 15 September 2014 - 08:20 PM
	Hey, Where is everyone going? I just found you . Please don't go away. You are all important and have much to offer. The first and only meeting I have ever attended got a little out of hand but we can still be here for each other right? I can tell this is a strong group of people all doing their very best to help themselves and others. We all have some good and bad days.. Mine have been pretty horrible as a matter of fact but I am not giving up on any one.. I didnt even give up on my husband, he gave up on me. Stay strong. You guys are sincerely special people.

Hoarding Help Message Boards : The Daily Chat : Today is a New Day

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