glad you are doing better, Tillie. Getting an upper hand on sinusitis isn't easy.

Anony, the clarity is important and I'm sorry it came at a cost (of feeling ridiculous and snapping at BF). Next time you feel that coming on, try a little trick I use. I take a breath and fast forward five hours. Am I going up feel sad and stupid and embarrassed and apologetic if I make a big deal about x, y, z now? And that helps me find perspective. Here's an example:one day taking brother grocery shopping and he was being particularly nasty. I wanted to tell him to bugger off and then I stopped myself and collected my thoughts. I realized that I'd be making things worse, we wouldn't get our groceries, he'd be mad and swearing, and then later on, I'd feel terrible about myself for not just soldiering on. I imagined myself crying and ashamed for not taking the high road and just letting the day pass. Let me know your thoughts. It helps me. May or may not be useful to you.

I am glad Anony that you have help with your place. Just keep moving forward and remember, you really will be happier with more space and fewer things. And if not, well then, we willl take it from there. I'll even send you my junk!!😉

I got the bag of books to car and to donation place. I took brother for groceries and he was lovely. Now that we spend less time together AND he has made friends, AND I've learned to let him be himself and not baby him, things are much better. Still a work in progress.

Well I am waiting now for BF to help with a few errands, after which I will come home and cook dinner. I'm hungry. Is but no time to cook and make dinner. I will also put those coats in a bag and further my quest to 30% less by end of January.

I'm happier just thinking about it. THANK YOU ALL. You are great friends and I love it when you post!

Hello to all! It seems everyone is making headway either in action or in decision!
I have experienced such a direct effect of my clinging to the way things are at my place, and the recent hurt from being excluded by my birth family. A lot of how it got this way was from an impossible situation i was put in years ago that caused a falling out with my sister. She had a grandchild & didnt want me to know, or her son didnt. When i look at how they see me, they could easily think im still doing drugs. That would make sense for they way they have been to me. There is nothing i can do to prove im not. If i bring it up, it could cause even more trouble. At the same time my awesome boyfriend is trying to help me clean things up & i can see how ridiculous i am being. I got upset cuz he buried a piece of old cardboard i was using to start bonfires for the cleared brush. I dont know why i reacted that way. It was a piece of cardboard....i am a mess right now, but at least im a mess with increased clarity?! 😀

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you for understanding.
WAY TO GO! for no pain decluttering! ;D
Happy you had a lovely relaxing day. (((HUGS)))

Almost 9:00am and the sun still can't shine through the clouds.
The snow has turned all icy and crusty.
I like the soft fresh snow so I can see all the different foot prints of all the creatures that visit at night.
Yesterday the biggest icicles fell off the eaves and made spooky crashing sounds.
Think that I have this sinus & cough thing under control.
As long as I keep on top of it I should be all better this week. 😀

TTYS 🙂

Hello everyone! Tillie oh boy in the snow shovel story. I know your laughing because the alternative is worse. Hope you and kitties are well today!

I didn't do anything household yesterday other than getting sheets changed. I did some laundry. I shoveled and visited BF and napped and hung out. And it was a lovely day.

I just spread some salt around outside and worked on the sidewalk. The sun and the salt will be a big help.

I'm thinking about carrying some of the books to the car on my way out and stopping at the donation place. I can't get all out but I can get a bag out. And that will feel terrific. Oh and I've ID'd two coats to say goodbye to. Didn't even hurt.

Hi Again Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hope you are making a very satisfying pile to admire in your donate corner! 😀
I don't understand people not taking the time to recover properly either.
Taking care of ourselves must be a priority because when we are sickly we are no good to others either.
Have a nice BF visit ;D

Well, this morning I asked again about him working on locating a snow shovel.
He said we don't have a snow shovel.
I know we do have snow shovels because I have shoveled snow here for decades.
He left to do his usual Saturday thrift shop shopping.
Later this afternoon he was out front shoveling the snow off the walkway with a brand new snow shovel he must have bought while out.

Wonder how long it will take before this one is sucked into the endless bottomless hoard,
never to be seen again.
;P
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL "hysterical laughter"

TTYS 🙂

Thanks for the encouragement, Tillie. I'm going to designate a spot my "donation corner" so it's all in one place and I can view it as an accomplishment rather than clutter.

Keep taking care of yourself--people in my office have been limping around for weeks on end with a virus. If they took good care of themselves and slept and ate right, they could likely lick it faster. I know with children and other obligations it's hard to do, but we have generous sick pay/vacation pay at work, available to everyone, so why not just use it to pull yourself together? I'm not joking--I have 5 weeks this year. And I carried over a week, bringing me to six weeks of time off, plus something like eight or ten holidays plus a floating holiday or two. Treating ourselves right needs to be a priority!

Now that kitty has climbed into her bed, I'm going to strip the sheets and work on some chores. Will also go visit BF for a minute or two.

I'll report more later!!

About shoveling snow...
There's over 10 inches of snow on the walkway and porch.
I would have shoveled it but...
The snow shovels have been swallowed up by his massive hoard and he can't find them anywhere.
I know there are at least 3 snow shovels out there

somewhere :/

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
I always enjoyed being in my cat sitting house too and Marty (the cat) would always come with me.
Sometimes he was waiting for me on their front porch.
The key to decluttering/digging out all starts in the mind.
The very first thing to be successful is for us to have a change in our way of thinking.
WAY TO GO!!! for doing all your fantastic thinking!
(((HUGS)))
Wishing you all the best of luck finding the helper, time and finances to get that storage all sorted out.
One big drawback in sorting is often keeping things for "Justin Case".
Fear of a future need for things that we have but never used or needed before but worry that someday we will need them.
Don't let fear make your decisions for you.
Honestly, there has never been a time in my life when I needed something that I had let go of.
Years ago I got rid of all the big furniture that I could not move around on my own and it has made my life so much easier.
Having to find space for paints & temperature sensitive things is difficult for me too.
Been so nice being able to use the pump house ever since I removed all the clutter he was hoarding in there.
Hoping your cold/flu prevention tactics work and you stay virus free. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! for sleeping in!
WTG! for keeping on with your plans even though you can't get to the donation centers right now.
Stay indoors, stay warm and take today easy.
(((HUGS)))

Yesterday the temperature went from a low of 2 degrees all the way up to 11 degrees.
Today it should reach 20 degrees, a real heatwave! ;P
Have no idea what I will do today except stay inside.
Do believe that I am going to recover from this cold but am still taking good care of me.

So, what are you all up to this year? 😀

Thanks for the nice long posts, CM & Tillie. It's like having a visit!

We are getting snow today, so I changed plans with brother and will see him tomorrow. I slept in til now. Very nice to lounge in bed and take my time. I was at work late last night and stopped to get groceries for mom, so I didn't get in til 9PM. then I just made dinner and relaxed.

I'm easing in to this day. No obligations, although I will get my recycling out before the bin becomes buried in snow. I won't make it to donation center today, but I'm not going to let that stop me from pulling together stuff to go there. I can always get someone to help me with it. I don't want to carry a bunch of stuff in snow and I don't want to drive my car down here. Just want to stay comfy. I'll have to shovel later but otherwise nothing to do today! Yippee!!

Hi everyone from Kitty Resort! It is really a treat to come here - a 3,000 sq ft house where I can actually walk across a room and down hallways. And it is very nice and quiet, a break from the cramped frustrated life at home. Though I miss my own pets, the only drawback.

Tatoulia, again you are very inspiring. I can relate to so much of what you are saying and knowing someone else has gone through what I hope to do and had success is SO encouraging!

My storage units have seen me through three moves since 2011. I've had different ones depending on which side of town I lived on and a couple of times I even had two units at once, a "main" one and a temporary "auxiliary" one during the worst of a couple of the moves. I'd work on getting the stuff from the auxiliary one cleared out quickly.

Unfortunately, I was still more in the grip of the hoarding mentality than I am now, so that meant a lot of the stuff I "cleared out" got brought into the places I lived. Some of it went to the main storage unit.

Well, a lot has changed - my attitude about "stuff" having undergone this major epiphany with my most recent move over a year and a half ago. I've let go of things I would never have thought I would. And I'm on the hunt for more that can go. My big obstacles are money (to afford gasoline to go to the storage unit, which is now on the opposite side of town because of this move - I'd hoped to move the stuff to one closer but due to the following reasons that hasn't happened), solid blocks of time to move large amounts of stuff that has gotten in a jumble, and put it back neatly on shelves or pallets or whatever, and helpers who are able to lift stuff I can't and who will be patient with me and my moments when my brain locks up in indecision and I get flustered if I try to go too fast.

Indecision, I've read, is one of the biggest problems plaguing us hoarders. I dither so much. At least now I know that's a problem, and I can catch myself doing it and go "Stop dithering!" LOL!

As for the keeping stuff for that home of my dreams, yes, you hit the nail on the head. Though to my credit I have pared down the stuff and re-envisioned that home. If I ever get it, it's going to be way more minimalist than I would've imagined. I have seen a style on Pinterest and elsewhere called "Cozy Minimalism" which is kind of what I'd be shooting for. I may take it more in an artsy direction - think white walls like a gallery, with little areas here and there where stuff I use and a few family treasures would be. Not too much furniture either, and not big heavy furniture that I can't safely move without help.

The books I do keep may end up being stored in a series of small tubs rather than all on bookshelves, but that'll depend on how many books I keep vs. how many I let go of.

I know, pie in the sky for now. My current problem is living in a VERY small amount of space with the items like art supplies and such that are temperature sensitive so they had to come with me into my climate controlled living space where I rent. And my clothes and things use regularly, plus my pets and their cages/tanks.

Bigger issue than any of the above, though, is that I have to brainstorm how to fix my finances. I'm hanging onto my optimism that 2017 WILL be the year I start to see some improvement even though the start was not quite what I had hoped. If it can just be a temporary setback, I'll make it still.

Tillie, keep on feeling better - many folks have the crud of one sort or another. It's been a rough winter already. I'm going to start preventative vitamin C myself...

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Thank you.
Yeah, it is harder to downsize possessions when we're not settled into a permanent place yet.
Best of luck getting your storage to where you can find the things you need.
Sorry about the hassle of car maintenance and now needing even more.
Right now you are just finishing up the things from last year, so this year really should improve soon.
(((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! WTG! for sweeping and tossing those slippers you don't like anyways! 😀
I'm particular about the kinds of slippers I like best too.
You are doing GREAT! (((HUGS)))
When I moved into this house I had my things and a lot of things that were his recently deceased Grandma's.
Too much stuff. So I spent a long time deciding what to keep and what to let go.
Not once have I ever regretted or miss anything that's gone.

Yesterday I was so sleepy all day long.
Kept trying to wake up but just couldn't stay awake for very long.
I have been sleeping but it's been very disturbed all night long so I wasn't really getting all the sleep I needed.
Doing so much better today. 🙂
Yesterday morning saw we had over ten inches of fresh powdery snow and two foot long icicles.
So pretty. 🙂
Sunshine today is making it bright white outside.
The car is just a huge lump of snow out in the driveway.
Wish he would clear out the carport so the car wouldn't need digging out. "heavy Sigh"

TTYS 🙂

CM, I am so sorry that 2017 has started off on the wrong foot--financial problems are so terribly stressful and I feel your pain. I hope you know that things are going to turn around and you have us in good times and in bad times!

I too love my library but I can't keep everything. I am excited that I'm making these tough decisions. I like the idea of 30% less and I'm going to force myself to do it in January. I keep looking at the picture of the room I like.

I hope you are all sitting down because I swept the kitchen floor yesterday. And I threw out all stray slippers. I don't know why I let things collect in the kitchen the way I do. But now is the time for action, not the whys. I have two good pair of slippers right now and a new one in reserve--hear me out--because it's tough to find the kind of slipper I like. I can find something like it, but not it, and when I found these, I bought an extra pair. I also got rid of a pair of boots (into recycle bag) so I'm chipping away.

I feel very good about myself right now. The biggest thing is seeing the bookshelves being pared down. I'll feel better once I get the bags off to goodwill.

Tillie, hope you are on the mend. CM, I am sure it is tough not having your own place. I've forgotten the circumstances of your move into a room rather than an apartment but I know things will look up. While you are taking care of the kitties, are you able to sleep or nap there? Would that give you some momentary peace?

Although I cleaned out my storage in a matter of months, and said goodbye to childhood cherry wood bookcase, desk made by grandpa, bed linens and an unbelievable amount of stuff, I havent even once felt a tinge of regret. Also, this "matter of months" was over ten years in the making, I just kept filling it and filling it and filling it. Only when I became aware of the cost (something obscene like $367/mo) did I decide to call it a day. I even flirted with reducing to a smaller one but my financial guy said no. He was helping me dig out of my first ever financial mess and I told him, I hoard. He told me his father-in-law is a hoarder and I said, I will sell him my entire storage bin for 500/including oriental rugs. Of course I was joking but as soon as I said that I realized, I'm done with the fantasy of buying a house and having tons of room for all my stored treasures. It didn't work out that way, and I'm fine with it. I like my condo and will be happy once it's paid off.

Your situation is different, since you are in a room right now. But I hope you know that I had no regrets. I did it and I'm comfortable with it and it did not trigger any new feelings of needing to hoard. But I might be lucky at way. I think I told everyone here once that one day I thought, oh I could've used that blue dish as a soap dish in my kitchen , only to then realize, just because now I could find a use for it, doesn't mean I needed it. And so the fact that I had donated it did not suddenly become a reason to hoard everything. Does that make sense to you?

Anyway, I want to reassure you that 2017 owes you an apology, and it'll find its right footing for you soon.

Hi, all, great reading. Tillie, I hope your sinus infection is on the mend. They can hang on awhile, I know. I go for natural remedies myself. Have had luck with the sinus rinse in a squeeze bottle (or some people use a neti pot - whatever individual preference is). Also that Emergen-C powder mixed with a little elderberry juice in water. Feel better!

Tatoulia, great inspiration on the getting rid of books. That's something I did some of last year and will be doing more of. I always dreamed of having my own library in my home. Well, first I have to get a home again, LOL. The "library" will be a more pared-down version than I used to have, though, for simplicity's sake. I used to get books on a lot of non-fiction topics, but now I don't need to do that as there is the Internet for all kinds of info.

As for fiction - I'm only going to keep faves that I know I'll re-read. Gutenberg and other free ebook download places are great. I'm leery of Kindle and other paid ones, as I know some people have had problems with them. But that's just me, your mileage may vary. Finally, the library is always available and they'll store the books and I don't have to worry about it, just go and get what I want, read it and take it back. Totally clutter-free!

Also, Tatoulia, your inspiration about getting a storage unit emptied helps me press on with the goals I have for my unit. Due to my odd semi-homeless state, I don't know if I'd be able to do without it until (I pray) I have resources to move into my own place. But if I can just get the excess out and arrange the rest so I can FIND things!

I have two copy paper boxes full of old journals I need to go through. I want to type a few select excerpts, then shred the bulk of them.

-----

I needed to come on here and read some positive stuff today, because 2017 has started off hectic more than I wished. Happy news is that I did get the tires, but it was a complicated process, and I learned that I will need shock absorbers. There goes any idea of being able to wrap up the car repairs - and I'm concerned about finances for the foreseeable future AGAIN. May even have to dip into my tiny savings account. 🙁

I'm kitty sitting - and need gasoline to get there, the weather is bitey cold, yuck, not a great time to stand out putting gas in at the pump. The kitty sitting money of course is already spoken for with these expenses. Sigh. Well, I do get to enjoy the kitties, so that's a positive. And I think I'll take a nap this afternoon and maybe then I won't feel so frazzled.

I'm going to believe it will all improve once the year gets really rolling, though. Take care, everybody!

Thank you, Tillie! I hope you are doing okay--worried about the pain of the sinus infection.

I didn't take the books to the car--BF and I had this odd situation where we needed one car to save a parking spot while using the other car to jump a third car, which we would then move to the new parking spot. I couldn't run up there with the books. Plus I'm concerned re having the books in the car when I can't donate til weekend--my trunk is full of stuff and there is a young woman who uses my car each morning to get her son to school. I don't want them to deal with bags of books in my car. (The inside has nothing in it save for the occasional toy or snack her son leaves in it ). I'll get books up this weekend.

I'm really happy. I've made tough decisions on the books so far. Will I read it again? Nope, not even if a favorite. What if I want to read it again? Then download on kindle. I am still keeping quite a few, but now the hardcovers are being shown the door. I am not down by 30% but I've got a great start right now. Bookshelf in room looks so much better and I've cleared out space in closet (which is fully shelved).

We are doing this. Not joking. We are doing this, Tillie. Everyone here--your support and encouragement has gotten me here. I'll be needy in the next few weeks, but I'll get it done with your help.

YEA!!!! Tatoulia 😀
You are doing FANTASTIC! and your plan to do the bigger stuff first is going to show progress the fastest.
Happy the plumbing is going OK.
(((HUGS)))
😀

I doubled the number of books. Have put in tote bags. Will carry to car and get box from BF. do not yet want to donate the totes.

Ok feeling good about this.

Plumbing job not finished but not disastrous either.

12 hardcover books in a pile ready to go. Need a box. Will get from BF.

I know I can shoot for 30% safely because I was able to get rid of everything in my storage space (12' by 10') all those years ago--was it three? I think it was! And I haven't missed or wanted even one thing in there. So I can do this too.

I'm going to work on 30% of the big stuff, like books, because the progress will be immediately apparent. Then I'll move to smaller stuff.

Tillie I have a picture of how I want my home to look. That means keeping all my furniture and getting rid of everything else. 90%. I need to print the picture. Because it truly shows me how I want my house to look.

I will start with 30% reduction. I'm in That spot right now. I'm in the spot where I can do 30%.

I can do this. If I got even 30% of my books out I could make a huge difference in my lifestyle.

Ok 30% by end of January. I'm going to be needy, folks. But I'm doing it.

Thank you dear Tillie for your support. I am sending you wa wishes and all my love. Have you thought about streaming Hulu? I think it's $8 a month. Has more tv than movies.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you ;D
So very tiring decluttering and working away from the home too.
I understand that high stress of having people in to do work.
Hoping that the plumber fixes it fast and right and that you are able to unwind.
(((HUGS)))
While making all those hard decluttering decisions keep the vision/dream in your mind of how you want your home to look and function.
You CAN do this!
I want you to find that peace and happiness in your stress free home. 😉
(((HUGS)))

Been doing all the stuff that WebMD said for natural, at home sinus infection curing.
It seems to be working, I'm doing much better. 🙂
"fingers crossed"
Been doing a little tidying up here & there around the house.
I feel better that things are not so disgustingly left undone.
Internet says we have a 100 percent chance of snow the next few days.
I think that I have watched every single video posted on Youtube and Netflix. ;P
I want to get outside and do lots of pruning back and clearing out dead growth in my garden/yard.
I love building a bon fire and doing yardwork in the winter! 😀

I know I can reduce. I just need to do it. I will be so much happier upon reducing my stuff. Happiness is guaranteed. I know it. Having too much stuff isn't making me happy. But each thing that leaves does make me happy.

Very stressed re plumber.

In my dream last night I had a big house and I was getting a rug delivered and the place was just a mess. I need to get hold of my clutter and send it packing.

Plumber coming today. I'm nervous & upset. If I didn't have kitty I'd just leave and come back once fixed. I hate being around when stuff is going on. Makes me very nervous.

Sorry your cold is morphing into something worse, Tillie. Sinus infections are awful. I am so sorry to learn of this.

Glad your opera coat was able to ring in the new year with you, Anony!

I came home from work today then ate & napped for hours. I had a stressful day at office.

Update on plumber--tomorrow afternoon is the day. Both looking forward to it and dreading it.

I need to find half an hour to work on getting rid of stuff. Will pour a glass of juice and see what I can convince myself to do.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
You have been doing some serious purging! (((hugs)))
Yes, purging one thing or bag a day really does add up.
Also, making sure that for everything that comes in at least one thing goes out.
Fantastic! for emptying that bin and not bringing it into this new improved year! 😉
You have been doing a wonderful job of getting the usual daily/weekly maintenance done.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Great goal to strive for, getting your final wants/wishes taken care of.
That would give you a lot of peace of mind that your passing would not be a burden to others.
There are so many different house/home constructions & materials to choose from.
I once read an article where a man made his home out of thick stacks of old denim jeans.
Said it was well insulated and he also had it treated with fire retardant. LOL ;D

Heavy frost this morning with temperatures down in the teens.
I'm still working on getting a secondary infection due to that d#*$@ cold.
Getting old sucks.
Lots of things I had wanted to get to today but better just do the minimal.
I need to eat more but have no appetite or sense of taste. 😛
Oatmeal & eggs bland bla bla bla....
Have been enjoying working on making this rag rug.
Wonderful way to use up fabric that I have but have no solid plans for using in other projects.
And the rugs are pretty and will last for decades with proper care.
🙂

TTFN 🙂

Hi, all!!!
I loved wearing the opera coat & the sage smoke smudge was a perfect solution!
Im really looking at priorities of projects & balancing that with just enjoying my place. Im also looking into Earthbuildings, as an option. I know i keep changing the plan, but it is a big decision, and a complicated one.
CM, painting sounds great! Do it! Enjoying life, along with work & productivity is so important! Ive never seen the Harry Potter movies, but the skunk thing has been a repeating theme! Im still cleaning up from its mess!
Tillie, i hope you are feeling better?! It seems especially damp & cold lately, and makes being sick so much more miserable?!
Tatoulia, you seem to be on a wonderful roll of cleaning?! I wish i could catch that in a computer virus! I need to 'cross-addict'my internet addiction to a cleaning binge!
One thing im thinking about is talking to my step-son about getting my property when i pass, and that way my family would not be burdened with any clean-up. He loves my place & would likely be happy to live here someday. It would be a huge relief if i knew my sisters or their kids wouldnt have to deal with any of that.
~☆~♡~☆~Happy & Productive 2017!~☆♡☆~

Two large boxes of garbage out. Vacuumed the den/library. Got some things consolidated and out away.

Going to lay down. I didn't want to take the garbage out, but decided that if I lay down, I won't get it out and then it can't go out until Thursday night.

Ok, going to lay down. I emptied the bin I said I wouldn't bring into 2017 with me, Tillie.

I have more to do. But I feel better. I swept the floor in the dining area and kitty has all new and clean area to eat.

Shredding through the diaries and making decisions on different things. Making room for my Christmas stuff, now that I can't store at brothers. Found papers from my summer sessions in grad school. Credits were $430 an hour for summer session. This particular summer session would've been 1990, as I remember clearly that I left the exam and hopped a plane to Paris. Shredded it.

BF drove me to donation place and I got three bags of clothes shoes purses out. Even tossed in two books I didn't want to get rid of but I own too much stuff. Now I own less.

Read somewhere if I donate or trash one thing a day, I'll be 365 items less at end of year. I'll do that once I finish this big cleanout, which requires me to do much more than that.

Yes I'm doing laundry during this process. I just need a better looking house. I need to forge ahead. And I need your help.

YAY!🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊

I got my oranges!!! 😀

Good Morning! 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for making that decision and then just doing it!
(((hug)))
True, things like doing laundry don't seem like they do much about house cleaning but there really is an overall difference in the cleanliness of the home when we allow laundry, dishes, etc. to pile up.
So I do consider those things to be maintenance to keep things from backsliding once they have been tackled and gotten under control.
😉

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
YEA! for finishing the laundry! 😀
Good luck with the tires and the cat sitting opportunity.

Joan, sorry that you caught my computer generated virus. 😉

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hope you had a great time! 😀

As for me...
my nose and eyes have stopped watering profusely.
Now I have a cough and am working on developing a sinus infection, YEA!
Must go to WallyWorld today and get some proper food to finish fighting this.
At least now I am no longer so infectious.
I really want/need oranges!
And the cats need stuff too.

TTYL 🙂

I made room for some of my Christmas stuff by shredding my diaries from 1991 to 1994. That cleared up some shelf space. I skimmed them only generally before making the decision. I'm glad about that. I turned the music off and just went right through them.