Dave, so happy you did not go to thrift store, we both made it through the day without shopping, how about we both stay out of thrift stores for 7 days?

Success comes from action, not excuses. Cory Chalmers
OMG I felt guilty all morning for getting upset at excuses people make rather than action, then I read this, wish I would have read it yesterday, could have avoided a lot of ragging.
Thanks Cory for always being on top of things and so very good at what you do.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Lao Tzu

"Growth is not steady, forward, upward progression. It is instead a switchback trail; three steps forward, two back, one around the bushes, and a few simply standing, before another forward leap." -Dorothy Corkville Briggs

A goal is a dream with a deadline.
Napoleon Hill

(fear of failure)

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt

(about life)

Life without endeavor is like entering a jewel mine and coming out with empty hands.
Japanese Proverb

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe the post below should be removed from the listing.

It has a twist to the meaning of hoarding that is not applicable to most of the people here and characterizes "hoarders" in a demeaning way that is not helpful to posters here working to recover their lives.

Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility.

Robin Morgan

Many people, especially young people, would like to be more independent and on their own. But it is very difficult and they suffer from feelings of isolation. I think that is one reason why young readers support my work.

Haruki Murakami


We don't function well as human beings when we're in isolation.

Robert Zemeckis

"Change first comes in our thinking and our thoughts."

Tillie Feb 06, 2014

insanity is truly, doing the same thing expecting different results
Thinking, "going to a thrift strore will be different now that I know so much". Like an alcoholic or smoker tying to quit goees to a bar, because they are now in control. Putting myself in a situation that prompts my addiction is insane, the good feeling of shopping, never lasts.

Sorry :(
Posted on the wrong thread. :(

Good morning! :D

Hi Diane :)
A main part of my weekly cleaning is to always clean those things that get touched daily.
Door knobs, light switches, remotes, phone, computer, etc.
Can't help it, having been a surgical assistant my job was to make and maintain a sterile field. lol :D
I have taught a lot of families to do this to help reduce the spread of viruses in the household and it really does work.

There is a concept called "good enough".
Perfectionism keeps us from doing anything since we don't have the motivation to do it all perfectly.
But running the vacuum around and doing the job "good enough" is perfectly acceptable.
Same with other maintenance tasks.
Running a wet cloth over a countertop rather than scouring and shining up the whole kitchen or bathroom is "good enough" at times.
(((hugs))) :)

Hi Karl :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Enjoy your BD freebies. :D

Hi Dave :)

I have a few plans for today.
Since it's cloudy & windy outside I think I will cook up some more food to freeze and have ready to eat when I get hungry.
Need to make more lemonade.
I brew a pot of herbal or green tea and add fresh lemon juice and honey then enough water to make one gallon.
A couple of glasses of that a day helps keep the sore throats & sniffles away. ;)
Then I will have to clean the kitchen.
Debating with myself about defrosting the deep freezer today.
It's not hard to do so I really should just do that then I don't have to think about it any more.
It's trash pick up day and the big green wheelie bin is already out at the road. :D YEA!

So, what are you all up to today? :D

less is more, is such a great thought--I will ponder it while crafting today
Tillie, you description of why less is more, inspired me to look at my space with new eyes today. Sure kills the shopping bug!!!

Hi Tille,
I so enjoyed your sharing your dreams of having a little house on Sunday. You are so right. Less is more. When you have a few treasured things you appreciate them more.
I have always lived and worked in small spaces. I used to dream of having a large spacious home with a large dining room for entertaining, but how often do you really need that much space?
My first apartment had a mattress on the floor, a radio, built in dresser in the hall, furnished kitchen. I got a library card so I could check out framed pictures from the library to hang on the walls. I had everything I needed to start out.
My quote today is from Henry David Thoreau. "Simplify, simplify."

Why the sad face?

Less truly is more.
I can appreciate everything that I own because it is easily accessable, properly stored or attractively displayed.
To have more than I need or want would depreciate that which I use or truly treasure.
Making it hard to find and maintain and keep clean or even see it as it should be seen.
When you have less you appreciate what you have more. :)

L
Less is More

Cleaning up papers around my computer.
Just looked down at a bookstore bookmark. It says:

Be Kind,
for everyone you meet
is fighting
a great battle.
-- Philo of Alexandria

sounds like it came from a brilliant poster, words to live by for all stone keepers

Stones bring less joy than Roy.

(A personal quote for Dave created by a poster here.)

I just reread cory's post from the 5th. I am definitely in the future uses for my posessions. So I stopped and asked myself why, just now. It was as clear as day, I think my great future creation will identify me as a creative gifted person. So I asked what about now in the moment. The answer was also clear, I do not feel good enough now, so am hanging on the future creations and gifts to make my life appear worth the time I have put in. Ok how do I change this in the moment. To truly be in the moment and enjoy it. New concept to really let in to the core of me. What does it mean to live in the moment? Self criticism from the past is having lots of fun torturing me. ok, take a deep breath, feel the air going in and out, that did quiet the voice of criticism for a second, need to continue deep breathing and replace negative with positive thoughts. Negative is so familiar, there is comfort in familiar. What if positive thoughts about loving life was the familiar, and comfort zone in the moment. For this moment, I am happy to be in my warm cozy trailer with my loaner dog.
Really seems to be a moment by moment choice.

Ok, here you go. From the 60 +/- magazines, a good housekeeping.

Not a dehoarding humor, but a destressing humor. A little comic which has two voice boxes connected to the person.
the first says: TODAY I WILL LIVE IN THE MOMENT the second: UNLESS THE MOMENT IS UNPLEASANT, IN WHICH CASE I WILL EAT A COOKIE. I like that one.

A man there was, tho' some did count him mad
The more he cast away, the more he had.
--John Bunyan, preacher (1628-1688) [Pilgrim's Progress]

(This one came up on my screen today while I was working on a word puzzle; it seemed appropriate to share here.)

As part of my lectures I always talk about how most people of clutter fall into to categories;

Most people hold onto items of the past, or the what if's of the future.

With that being said..."If you only hold onto the past, or worry about having everything for the future, you never live in the present. Make new memories by fully living today!"

Hope you have a great Sunday everyone :)

ORGANIZE DON'T AGONIZE

Thanks Barb. Really liked the last part.

Wow! Thank you Barb.

In response to Dave's insights on letting go of stuff:
"The entire earth revolves on the principle of sacrifice. Everything that is created comes from the sacrifice of something else. The seed sacrifices itself to the soil; the day sacrifices itself to the night; the wood sacrifices itself to the fire.
The word sacrifice means "to make sacred." People often think of sacrifice as having to give something up, but it is nobler than that. WHEN SOMETHING IS GIVEN UP, A SPACE OPENS UP FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO EVOLVE...WHEN WE SACRIFICE, WE OPEN UP A SPACE FOR SOMETHING ELSE MORE VALUABLE TO EMERGE."
from Shar McBee "To Lead is to Serve"
As I purge my unneeded stuff, I will open myself to the blessings of a clean and ordered life. I will know that my still usable things will bless someone else's life. I will release the old, broken, dirty, and unusable things to the trash pile. They have served out their usefulness and are only holding me back.

You are welcome Diane :D
Happy you & I can laugh together.

Thanks Tillie, I needed a good laugh!!

Finding things when you need them.....
Years ago my hoarder bought a garlic roaster. One of those terra cotta things you put in the oven to cook a whole bunch of garlic.
He stored it in his garage hoard.
This month he decided that he wanted to roast garlic and spent weeks looking for that darn garlic roaster.
Well.....
Yesterday he stopped by a thrift shop and came home with another one of those garlic roasters, bought because he just could, can not not find the one he already owns.

Wonderful post Karl.
Truly words to live by. :D

Quality over quantity.

Having a lot of belongings, most of which are never used, is a waste. Keep the things that you actually use and enjoy. Get rid of the rest. Simplify!

I am posting this entire piece instead of just part... it says a great deal, I know... I just love it.

Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

File, don't pile.

What do you do with printed information like incoming mail? If it's something you don't need, you can deal with it immediately: give it to the person who does need it, or discard it (trash or recycling). If it's something you do need, do not set it down -- that will tend to turn it into a "pile of stuff". Deal with it immediately -- filing cabinet, or transfer to softcopy, or put it in an appropriate "home" like a box for bill paying.

Don't put it down. Put it away.

We agree that everything we own should have a "home", right? We've got to remember that when we're done with something, we need to take the few extra seconds to put it back there! Leaving it out "just for now", or "just in case I need it again soon", is back on the road to clutter.

"May your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself."
(Jonathan Lockwood Huie)

Let us all be kind to ourselves this week.

It works if you work it.

i HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEK. (oPPS cAP lOCK) ha ha

"After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

(That's really two separate rules, but you can't apply the second one unless you've done the first.)

Every item you have, no matter what it is, should have a designated home. I keep books on the bookshelf, scratch paper within reach of my work area, writing implements in a pencil box. I recently wondered where I could put my 3d glasses where I'd be able to find them again -- I decided that near the television was good, but since they were likely to get lost, I created a specific home for them: an envelope taped to the side of the TV. Similarly, for incoming mail that I haven't looked at yet, I have a specific box.

Hmmm... maybe... maybe...

What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.
Brene Brown

I'm glad you liked it, I love finding these quotes and also find them motivating and they help me to focus and reflect on something specific for the day.

Simplicity is not the absence of clutter, that's a consequence of simplicity. Simplicity is somehow essentially describing the purpose and place of an object and product. The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.
--Jonathan Ive