By all my posts you can tell I am stuck inside today!~! Tat, are you sure you want to be in below zero weather? Come and check it out!!!
Tillie, thanks for your note, and that you have oil filled heaters on. I never use mine but drastic weather calls for drastic action. Wind chill minus 20 degrees predicted, high 8 tomorrow, so will be wasteful and have electric heaters on and wood stove going. Water running. Already filled water bottles just in case, will also fill tub with water for toilet flushing if pipes freeze. Also have gallons of water I bought thanks to Tillie. My soup turned out so good, even chopped up onions, potatoes, carrots, usually just use frozen vegetables. So happy I cleaned kitchen and made soup. I got on support group in afternoon when I couldn't finish cleaning kitchen, it got me moving again. 2 women friends called to check on me because I live in old trailer on hill and wind chill is so cold and still snowing. Felt good to hear they thought of me, right when I was feeling trapped. I did go out and turned car around and closer to street in case need to drive, stayed inside other than that, toes thank me. Also swept snow off steps and walk to car.

WTG! Diane :D
Stay cozy near the fire and enjoy the pretty lights.

Tomorrow the temps here are 8 degrees all the way up to 30 degrees with a 30 percent chance of snow.
I have two electric oil radiators that the cats love to lay near.
They toast their little toes under the radiators.

The grocery store was pretty empty of shoppers and the shelves were all well stocked.
Nice to have some fresh food again. :)

Everybody stay warm. :)

Dishes all done, soup is cooking. Wind is blowing from North and I am celebrating my work yesterday which is preventing snow from flying in walkway.
Weatherman fibbed, 1-3 inches of snow, already over 6 inches here.Happy I have wood on deck.Living large today, actually turned on electric heater plus wood stove to warm it up in here. Being cold was my reason to not go into kitchen and do dishes, now done. Vacuumed around wood stove. Next adventure, clean rest of kitchen.

If you want to trade houses that works for me, Diane. Would love the cold wintry weather! Leave the Christmas lights up--does sound cozy! God bless you and Tillie for doing so much in the cold. Take care of your fingers and toes!

I will write more later-- very inspired by reading everyone's posts. So good to see my friends.

Good Morning :D

This is a great time of the year to check our smoke alarms.
Replace batteries, as needed.
If you do not have a working smoke alarm or any alarms at all, please, please, please get some.

Also, it is a good time to check expiration dates on any medications. Prescription and over the counter.
Ask at the pharmacy for the safest way to dispose of the old or unwanted drugs.

Did two loads of laundry and got them hung on the clothes line.
It was only 18 degrees. The stuff froze solid as I was hanging it.
My fingers were all frozen stiff too.
Most of the stuff dries out there. HaHa

Going to the grocery store today.
Haven't been since before "black Friday".
Hate the crowds, but they should be all done by now picking over the reduced priced holiday stuff.

:)

Good morning all. Tat you sound so positive and clear about your gifts and finding homes for Christmas stuff. Dianne, so nice you are able to give away new stuff. Morning Tillie.
It is snowing here and will be cold, single digits for next 2days, would love to visit you Tat!!
I surveyed in here this morning, plenty of clean up in here, much rather be outside, time to face kitchen clutter. All flat surfaces have become magnetized.(clutter magnets) so today my mission is to clear all flat surfaces in living area, keep wood stove going, make soup. I did put away Christmas decorations but am leaving lights up in living room for now. When I have lights on, makes me feel happy and adds visual warmth on this cold snowy day. My toes got too cold yesterday so are painful again today so for sure will stay inside. Do plan to go out and turn car around if possible, in case I need to get out of here, driveway too long to shovel, so have to park nearer to street. First, wash dishes, clean counters, start soup.

Hello All. Good to catch up with everyone! Tillie, I am taking to heart your challenge and find myself taking care of little stuff here and there. Assessed the car trunk yesterday and I can do it! Just means I need to start.

I took down outdoor wreaths today. It has been in the 50's here on East Coast and hasn't felt very Christmassy so I took down early this year. Have to find a place for some if my Christmas stuff that used to be in storage. To do so, I will MAKE space rather than FIND space. I will get a bag together for Goodwill.

Mel, don't feel guilty re donating office gifts. Once they are yours, it's your choice what to do with them. I get a few corporate gifts of cookies, chocolates, crackers, etc and I either take to a nearby church or to an old folk's home. The nice cheese baskets I give to mom. Co-worker gifts are immediately donated. I don't need candles or coffee mugs or picture frames I beg the people for no gifts. If they insist, then they insist but I'm not going to keep the gifts.

Diane, keep up the good work! And special regards to Dianne and Tillie! Smug, I don't feel the shopping aggression you sometimes experience, I'm no stranger to buying multiple items just because they are on sale!

Wow, what an out pouring of kindness, thanks all. I was out in freezer room today, and so happy to have my little freezer, and empty space. Rriday, took down shelves so big freezer would fit, so those or something else can go up on that wall now.
I really like the empty space and looking at a new freezer that meets my needs, thanks for your support. I worked on putting a gate on entrance to walkway today, to stop cold wind and snow from blowing in, more protection for pipes that froze last winter. Kept changing my mind which support I wanted to attach it to, then started snowing so hope to finish later or tomorrow. I must admit, my frost bit toes from last winter are super sensitive now and yesterday when I was clearing area to bring freezer in, I let them get too cold so they felt like they were on fire all night, even with out much sleep, I still had a good day. I came in frequently to warm toes. I did bring in firewood for a few days since it will be zero degrees Tuesday. Had fun chopping kindling in the old wood shed that I partially cleared out, ] a few months ago. It was no longer a wood shed, had been filled with crap for years, still need to unload more, did paint walls white and turquoise, put up a few shelves, organized some wood. It was such a treat chopping kindling in there instead of out in the cold wind/rain/snow. I once again noticed my work is paying off, not as fast or perfect as I would like, and it is making life easier. The area that repairmen said was hopeless to repair connecting walkway to freezer room is not leaking, I am so proud of myself. Still has a leak where it goes outside, but figured out that today I think. Have bucket outside to catch drips, will fix soon. Work lights are no longer in here thanks to Tillie and great challenge. I noticed several things in entryway and walkway that needed to be put away. I just leave things out, then do not see them, so this challenge is good to open my eyes. Everyone said things I would like to comment on but already wrote so much, puter said it is ready for sleep.

Hi everyone!

Diane, my reaction on reading your story about the upright freezer was the same as Tatoulia's. It's sad how people can try to make you feel guilty for not accepting their "act of kindness". So proud of you for standing up for yourself and saying NO!

LR, awesome that your friend helped you pack and is continuing to hep you pack. It does seem to go much faster and better with someone working with you. Keep up the good work!

Smaug, I actually really don't like shopping (I know, I'm weird) but when i do, I have often found it hard to pass up a bargain. One online site was a huge problem for me last winter - while I was trying to do my christmas shopping for everyone else, I kept going back there and getting a little something for myself. I discovered to my horror that over two months I'd spent several hundred dollars in my $20 here and $35 there shopping. Also, in my cleaning this year I sent away I don't even know how many dozens of bags of clothes. And there's still a ton left. I filled and donated bag after bag after bag and to be honest, I haven't missed a single item yet. I need to go through what's left and get rid of them too.

Yesterday took a trip to the local thrift store with my boyfriend and dropped off a bunch of stuff - glassware that we had packed up a couple weeks ago, an extra heater and fan, a container for CDs, etc. I also donated a couple of gift items that I received this Christmas from coworkers that I felt a little guilty about but just decided to get rid of and be done with it. that much less stuff in the house.

My boyfriend took this week off work so I'm a little nervous about what's going to happen (since he's excited to do some cleaning). However, I'm only working Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday evening we're going to a friend's house to celebrate New Years, and on the weekend we're going to a hotel for a romantic getaway (this is our christmas gift to each other).

My birthday is coming up in a couple weeks and in years past, I've rented a hotel room (a "conference suite") and invited friends to join me there for pizza and board games. The house isn't quite ready for that yet (well, *I* think that it is but my boyfriend disagrees) but I do think that I could have people over by, say, this summer. Maybe a bbq or something. It feels so foreign that this would even be a possibility. Wow.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a productive week ahead!

LR2014
WTG! for accepting the challenge! YEA! :D

Happy Sunday morning.

A friend came yesterday to help me with packing. She is spending the night and planning to help me more later today. Yea for packing progress! Yea for wonderful friends!

Tillie, at first I decided not to take "the challenge," because I figured that packing was enough and that it "counted"! But then I noticed several items that had fallen on the floor that I hadn't bothered to pick up yet, and I did that in response to "the challenge."

As for New Years resolutions, for me, I've found that instead of saying "I will do xyz from now on," it has been helpful for me to pick a small, doable goal and say "I will do xyz for the next 21 days" or that I will do it for a certain number of days total out of the month (even if they're not consecutive days). Then I don't feel bummed out by setting some goal I can't reach, and I sometimes have become able to start a good, new habit by doing the 21-day approach. (If 21 days are too much, I can pick a smaller number.) For example, I think one year I decided to choose "flossing my teeth" for x-number of days as a goal. I would do it while watching part of a favorite TV show or DVD; that helped me stick with the 21 day plan.

Diane, WTG for turning down the unneeded freezer. By the way, I relate to the feeling (yucky feeling) of thinking someone is "honoring" me only to find out that they have some other motive in mind. I love your desire to let it go . . . letting go of the freezer as well as desiring to let go of the negative thoughts/feelings related to the situation.

Hugs to all. Have a great day.

Hi Diane. I can really relate to your following quote.

"I have everything I need, and am a bit tired of ads about all the money I could save by buying things I do NOT need. I am so addicted to finding the bargains, I find staying home and feeling joy is a new and wonderful feeling."

Now that Black Friday and Christmas are over there should be less commercials about shopping. I'm glad of that! My therapist says that some people mute the commercials to avoid hearing sales pitches.

There is a lot more room in my mind if I'm not searching for bargains by extreme couponing or thrifting. There is certainly a lot more room to walk if I don't carry stuff home and just leave it in the bags when the thrill of acquiring wears off.

I find I'm so addicted to shopping that I become aggressive in the stores and even invade other people's space. That's something I normally would never do.

Does shopping make anyone else here aggressive and obsessive?

I will follow your lead and let it go. I can be very fierce and protective. I needed to make sure you weren't feeling alone. So I will let it go and instead marvel at the friendships we have here.

Much love to all.

My computer played a joke on me. last word I wrote was "ladies", jumped up and attached to have, so looks like ladieshave.

Tillie I was second guessing myself until I read your post, thanks. Funny how I think others know better than I do what I need. You are right, my future holds only things I need and love, not other peoples cast offs they are trying to unload. Tat To be honest, I felt shocked when friend said how hard it would be to unload the freezer. When she offered it to me she made it sound like she was doing me a huge favor giving it to me. I fell for it, even felt like a special friend, until I realized she was trying to dump it, then felt hurt. Did not want to admit how silly my feelings were, from feeling honored to feeling taken advantage of. She lives 20 miles away and I would ladieshave paid $40 to her neighbor to deliver it. Tat thanks for your support, and do not waste another minute being angry at my situation. She is the woman I have been working 3 days a month, because she wanted to quit, and now she is not quitting, so I am learning to let go. And also when a friend gives me a job or freezer, it is not always from a giving heart. Just accept the good and let go of the not so good. Thanks for being understanding

Diane I am so glad you stood up for yourself. You are not the friend's garbage can. I am really upset that she's blaming YOU because her GARBAGE is difficult to sell or move and she thinks it is YOUR fault!?!, oh I am so angry. Furious. You aren't her garbage dump.

Riled up here. Her situation has nothing to do with you and it's not your fault that you don't want her used junk. You have a beautiful new freezer and the perfect room for it


YOU handle people well. Your friend does not.

(((hugs))) Diane :)
So happy you turned down that freezer offer.
It was not a good thing for you and your plans for the way you want things in your future.
Your little freezer meets all your needs. :)

Thank you Tillie for the kind words, ngoal setting. Dianne, happy you see me as a blessing, or inspiring. I did not get enough done today in my opinion, struggled making decisions. A friend offered me her upright freezer. I felt pressured to pick it up this weekend. I called my hoarder friend to discuss situation. She pointed out that I do not need a huge used freezer, my small freezer is enough. I would prefer an upright, but chest freezer is new, and is enough. Called freezer friend back and declined, she was upset with me, and, Said it will be difficult to sell and move because it is so big.. She is moving to a new house and bought a new freezer. I had to let go of her anger and enjoyed that I did not take it just to please her. And realized a huge freezer is not what I want. Dealing with people is not easy for me, and I did the best I ccould today, but it did throw me off my plan to accomplish more, so was great reading your post Tillie, keep goal in mind and realize life throws us curves, even if it appears good.

Thanks for the inspiration and suppor everyone!

Am looking forward to getting lots done together, little at a time and am very excited about the support and understanding we all have for each other.

Strong spirits, determination and goals to reach on our own....although together with support here is really helpful.

All the best everyone! Will see if this year can be one of transformation. Am hoping so and excited to see what comes :)

Good to see all of you posting.

Am not up to reading the posts and catching up, although look forward to soon.

Alrigt, I took the challenge and got two drawyers off the floor that intiallly were an attempt to organize some items and put them back into the basement. A little thing, although they served no purpose and just took up space ... space in a way that was not of benefit. Thanks for the encouragement and idea Tilli(little although still got something big moved and out of my living space).

Glad to see all of the activity here. Look forward to joining in again tomorrow, as well as hopefully reading back and catching up.

Most "New Years" resolutions are abandoned soon after the new year arrives.
This is because people make them too big, complicated and hard to keep.
Better resolutions are ones that are more general and flexible.
Resolutions to stay on track to our final ultimate goals need to be able to change with our daily struggles and challenges because "life" happens and there are lots of different ups & downs with every day, week and month.
No matter what life throws at you, remember your goal and tweak your plans as to the best way for you to get there.

(((HUGS)))

happy talk

A joyous woman is a grateful woman. Not my first thought, and I am determined to have joy part of my life now.
Tillie, loved your challenge, have already put away clothes that were hanging in here to dry for two days. Two work Lamps are off the table and by the door to take to garage. I have everything I need, and am a bit tired of ads about all the money I could save by buying things I do NOT need. I am so addicted to finding the bargains, I find staying home and feeling joy is a new and wonderful feeling. Thanks to Cory, Tillie, LR, Tat, and Dianne for encouraging me to stay on this site, come hell or high water, freezing pipes, frozen toes, leaks in roof, death of dog, frustrations with people, etc. I am blessed.

Your Christmas sounds peaceful, Diane. Since I have a small family, we celebrate Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day I'm free to do whatever I want. This year I visited a friend of mine (97 years old) and then my BF and I grabbed a bite to eat. This year we took one of his friends with us because she is a police officer and she was working double-shifts so that others could be home with their families. She had a few hours between shifts. Then we drove around a bit to enjoy the city lights.

I am working to reinforce my thinking. I find that instead of saying I don't have room for this, I'm saying things like I am not a warehouse or I am not a storage place. It helps me to say it, out loud, so that I remind myself that I am in the process of decreasing, so that I have space to live--I am not decreasing so that I have room for more. I need room for living.

I need to go say that out loud for a while.

Much love.

Hi all. I wrote a long post yesterday then it flew the coop when I tried to post it. Now I forgot all the brilliant insights!! Tillie, missed you, and happy to read you are feeling better. Have enjoyed all the posts over past week, My puter is still having serious problems, and often will not work, so time to start looking for new puter, any suggestions? I have experienced joy on and off for past several days, by stopping negative thoughts, and back to appreciating the good in my life. Spent Christmas alone, did not feel sad at all, the two parties last week were plenty for me. I felt blessed to have the time to practice new thinking and doing what I wanted, cleaning, organizing, filling trunk, and garbage can, just enjoyed my life without the pressure of family, gifts etc. Just practiced gratitude. Even grateful for the willingness to continue to work on hoard. Thought I would be done by now, and now see it is a long term project.
Rib is healing , I think it has been 3 weeks and was told it takes 6 weeks to heal, anianne and othersd have had an hour here and now where I don't even notice it hurts. Still can't lift much or sleep on that side, but not severe pain anymore at all.
I appreciate the kindness and support on here. So happy you are here Tilli e, Tat, LR Dianne and others

Challenge accepted!

Trunk of car.

Enough said.

END OF YEAR CHALLENGE!
I challenge everyone to do this before 2015......
Find one small thing in your home that you have been turning a blind eye to and deal with it, NOW.
Could be an over ripe carrot lurking in the dark regions of the fridge.
Cat or dog boogers on the glass of their favorite window lookout.
That whatever on the floor that you have to keep stepping over or walking around.

Even though these things are easily put on the back burner for later, they are always in the back of our minds, disrupting our inner peace and holding us back from moving forward.

I challenge you to do just one small task.
Doesn't have to be done perfectly. Good enough really will be good enough.

:)

Tillie: so glad to see your post! Whatever works for you is what you need to do. Hope you continue to rest and gain peace and strength. Happy New Year.

Hello Mel! It's tough on the boxes. It's also tough on Christmas gifts. Neither my brother nor mother have any $$ so they don't get me anything and that is fine with me! I don't need stuff. BF bought me an expensive handbag and a gift card for mani/pedi. The upshot is that I don't have gifts to deal with so I'm thrilled. Although I beg people at office to just do nothing for me, two of them still did something. I don't want to sound cold but off to goodwill with those things. I need to be strict--but I'm sort of lying here. I never kept office gifts unless I loved them. I have always gone straight to goodwill and have had the attitude that I don't let it in the house. One year I was carrying home this heavy candle and holder and it was just too heavy and I put it in sidewalk garbage.

Why do I point this out? Because if you get a piece of crapola from someone, do not find a place for it. Pass it along immediately.

Mel, I am proud of all of your progress and the adjustments you have made. My living room is a flurried mess from wrapping gifts and sending cards. I will vow to have it clean and clear before u return to work on Monday.

Good morning all! Tillie, great to hear from you, so glad you've been taking time to take care of yourself!

I hope everyone is doing well! I am getting ready for work, wish I had taken today off but next week I'm only working Monday and Tuesday so that will be nice.

Tatoulia, awesome job getting rid of all those boxes! I thought I did a decent job getting rid of stuff as I unpacked and started packing, but right now I have a large box (where I have my gifts from family and friends stored until I decide where i'm going to put them - this shouldn't take long but we were really busy the last couple days). I also have a box of gifts I haven't wrapped yet (for people I haven't gone to see yet), and because of that I still have my wrapping paper out. I'm doing laundry today but I should be able to at least get the last of the presents wrapped tonight and be able to put the wrapping paper away, put away my gifts to clear a few things out. I have a few things I want to send to another friend but I need a smaller box. No problem - I'm sure another small box will be along soon.

My boyfriend is off work next week and has big plans to finish the second bedroom and get started on our bedroom. I'm nervous but we'll see.

Take care everyone and hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Happy holidays, LR! 4:30 AM on the East Ciast and u can't sleep. Great to see your post! Appreciate all if your encouragement and reinforcement. Taking a few gifts from office people to goodwill today. No room, no desire.

Tillie, your post is a wonderful Christmas present! Huge smile here. I'm glad that you took steps to take care of yourself, even if that meant you had to be away from posts for a while. Many hugs "back at ya."

Tatoulia: Whoo-hoo for throwing away good, sturdy boxes. (Grin.) I love the line, "I am not a warehouse!"

Me: Had a lovely day today. Again, hugs to all.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TILLIE!

you are never far from my thoughts!!!

Glad you are resting and taking care of your health!

Thank you for posting!!!!!!!!!


YAY!!!!!!!

SEASONS GREETINGS

Wishing you all the best the world has to offer

Soon it will be a new calendar year.
A fresh new beginning for all.

It was important for me to take a break for my health. The rest has been very helpful.
I also took time off from my RL life here. No more thinking about his hoard/hoarding and squalor.
No more reading and researching about the subject either.
So I have stayed off line too.

But I miss all of you so terribly.
You are Dear Family to me.

(((((HUGS)))))

Had a successful Christmas! Did all the cooking at my brother's apartment, no tension, BF brought mom over around 7 and dinner was ready. We ate, opened gifts, had dessert and coffee and fruit, then I drove Mom home and BF and I went to a frirnds's house. At that point it was after 11, so didn't get home til after 1 AM.

Here's the success: After dinner, my brother got up and did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen and got the garbage and recyclables together. This is a person who used to be so depressed that he lived in layers of junk. It's like he absorbed my habits from all the years we did the holidays at my house. He did the puttering and cleaning that I used to do. It was fantastic! Also, I put every single cute and sturdy and useful box straight into recycle chute. No matter how sturdy or clean or great, I reminded myself that there are always more cute and great and useful boxes, I am not a warehouse!


Merry Christmas to all. Thank you for giving me strength and wisdom. Thank you all.

Tillie, if you are out there and maybe checking posts from time to time, I hope you are okay and able to experience some holiday joy. Merry Christmas to all the posters on this site.

Thank you, Mel, for the holiday wishes and encouragement.

I'm thinking about all of you today and wishing you a wonderful holiday (and holiday season)! I would love to list each of you by name, but I'd certainly accidentally leave somebody out. (The side of me that is prone to perfectionism and prone to guilt wouldn't deal with that very well. Ha.)

I do want to say to Diane that I just last night saw the part that said you had broken a rib! (I'm behind in reading posts.) Oh, no! I know that that's so painful! I'm sorry that that happened!

Hugs to all.

Hello all,

Just a quick note to say hello and I hope everyone has a good, stress-free day today. Dealing with the pressures of the holidays can be so hard, and no matter how much we love our families, they can still drive us nuts. Everyone please take good care of yourselves today and through the season.

I'm struggling really hard not to acquire more today to self medicate. I'm tired and getting over being sick. My allergies are inflamed from trying to sleep in my dusty room instead of on the back breaker couch. I also have a Urinary Tract Infection and I wonder if my unsanitary bathroom isn't helping matters.

I'm stressed over having to deal with my sister tomorrow at the Christmas meal.

On the good side I did get an interview for a job scheduled. I should feel better by Friday when I interview at Goodwill.

Sometimes I question my motives for wanting to work at Goodwill. Will I just put treasures aside to buy at the end of the day? Or will I be so sick of seeing treasures at work that I won't want to bring them home?

I haven't worked in 7 years and there are other factors that will make me less hirable. I really need a job and most of my experience is in retail. So no matter what job I get if it's in retail I'll be tempted to shop. I almost never go to the mall so I'd feel less comfortable working there. I'm comfortable at Goodwill.

Tomorrow I'll get to see my grandniece, she's a lovely little infant, very smart. I hope everyone here has a Merry Christmas.

Hello everyone! Glad to hear of everyone's progress. LR, good to hear from you. Keep up the good work. I know it's daunting but I think you will get the hang of it. Here's a suggestion you might wish to try--how 'bout breaking the packing into tasks (pack books, pack all bedroom knickknacks, etc. for me, I like having something definable so I can state, proudly and loudly, well I got the books all packed! Or this quadrant of the living room is out if the way! I need constant praise, attention and the feeling of accomplishment--even when the only person praising me is ME! Let me know what you think!

Diane, holiday parties are awkward, plain and simple. I am usually the one who isn't feeling awkward and I work hard to make sure other people feel at home. But when I do feel uncomfortable, I just find ways of coping and living through it, even if my coping mechanism is watching the clock and counting each excruciating minute.

Good work everyone. I'm still feeling the time crunch but found time for brunch with girlfriends yesterday, made my gingerbread house and have the menu figured out for Christmas Eve. Took out many boxes to recycle bin today. Getting used to it. I hesitate but I do it so I feel good.

Regards to Dianne and Mel; thinking of you and grateful to have your friendship.

Hi, everyone. Been reading posts off and on. Looking forward to reading more about what's up with everyone. I'm so glad for the reminder about the winter solstice!!! I'm ready for the days to start getting longer!

A friend of mine just gave me over thirty packing boxes and some packing tape (boxes that she had left over from a recent project). Now all I need is some energy as well as encouragement as I work on the seemingly monumental task of preparing to move. Someone on chat yesterday reminded me to just focus on one little section at a time and not get overwhelmed by looking at the whole thing. I appreciated her reminder!! (Yea for buddies on the chat and the friends here on the message board!)

To the best of my knowledge, I haven't had a flood here in well over two weeks. (I almost had another one in the kitchen near the first of this month, but I spotted the problem in time to call the maintenance people before the water could spill over onto the countertops and into the floor. Close call, though! Whew!)

Forget dreaming of a white Christmas. I think I'll change the words to, "I'm dreaming of a dry Christmas!"

Hugs to everybody!