Anonymous
06/24/2016 12:57
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Anonymous wrote:
If you don't wear a piece of jewelry often anymore, you can always leave it in your jewelry box. That quality sheet set that your never seem to cycle onto the bed can just sit in the closet. Those dresses, maybe even if they still fit, don't suit your style anymore so they are placed at the back of your closet.
How do YOU move from this sort of passive archiving to actually letting them go?
I have a set of carpets that served me well for years, but they're actually too small for our place and were replaced last year with more suitable pieces. They are a classic design and quality wool. Uh, so I rolled them up and placed them under my king-size bed, where they annoy me. They're too nice to put in a rental property. I don't have anyone to give them to, who would need and use them. What do you tell yourself in this situation? I wouldn't get there value on Craigslist.
I have this problem with purses, too. They are great quality, classic bags THAT I NEVER EVER WEAR. I broke down on shoes, but find I'm blocked with other things.
What's the mental process? It feels impractical to have found timeless things of good value and not hold onto them.
Please help. I'd LOVE to clear out quite a few things and need the mental push. The Kon Mari method doesn't help because I do feel joy when I touch them. They just don't have a place in this life now. They're all from another time.
Start with the closet. Pack up what you don't want anymore in you car and drive to the nearest thrift shop that raises money for an organization you admire. If you don't want to do that sell them on EBay; give them away on freecycle. Just do it. Then move to the rugs and other things.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 12:49
Subject: Re:How do you let go of an item?
Anonymous wrote:This sounds totally hokey and ridiculous, I know - but I used to have this problem until I started thanking each item as I let it go. Literally taking a moment to appreciate the item and then thinking/saying "thank you for your service" when I put something in the donate pile.
I got this idea from KonMari - I think the exact line in the book is something like "not every item was meant to stay with you forever, and that's okay. Thank each item for its presence in your life and let it go." I think the idea is that when something/someone leaves your life, you say goodbye - and there's no reason to skip this step when culling possessions. For some reason, thinking about it this way gave me the sense of closure I needed to give nice things away. Haven't had a problem since.
That said, I promise I'm not a new-age devotee or anything like that! Just someone who gets attached to things
Not OP, but I really like this idea
Anonymous
06/24/2016 12:45
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
How is a rug "too good for a rental" but good enough to collect dust under your bed?
Anonymous
06/24/2016 11:27
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Get to know poorer people who have good taste and appreciate quality, like me. Give them stuff.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 11:23
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
If you feel joy, then keep them.
If there's some reason to get over the item, think of what the item has taught you. If it taught you something, take a mental note then toss, sell, or donate the item. Maybe it taught you that you dislike a certain color of jewelry, maybe it taught you the sheet material just isn't comfy to you. Maybe the item like the rugs served you for a period of your life but you can't see it fitting your life in he future.
I find when I have the most guilt, I try to sell the item. We made $500 from online sales and a small garage sale. T felt so good and I don't miss anything. Also I hate to admit I kept the stuff that didn't sell. Abd I haven't unpacked it in a year. I'm in the process of getting rid of that stuff.
If there's some reason to get over the item, think of what the item has taught you. If it taught you something, take a mental note then toss, sell, or donate the item. Maybe it taught you that you dislike a certain color of jewelry, maybe it taught you the sheet material just isn't comfy to you. Maybe the item like the rugs served you for a period of your life but you can't see it fitting your life in he future.
I find when I have the most guilt, I try to sell the item. We made $500 from online sales and a small garage sale. T felt so good and I don't miss anything. Also I hate to admit I kept the stuff that didn't sell. Abd I haven't unpacked it in a year. I'm in the process of getting rid of that stuff.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 11:18
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
KonMari.
She's a bit wacko but can help you get to that place mentally where you can freely get rid of stuff and feel good about it.
She's a bit wacko but can help you get to that place mentally where you can freely get rid of stuff and feel good about it.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 11:18
Subject: Re:How do you let go of an item?
What I do, is I set items aside, if I find I do not use them over a certain period of time, it could be six months or it could be one year, depending on the item and how much feelings I have for it. but if I find that I don't use it in that allotted timeframe it goes to Goodwill. I also have a friend who knows people in a very poor community in rural Virginia, I sometimes give her my stuff and she donates them there. Like a previous poster said, I sometimes think that once my time with the item is done somebody else can enjoy the item especially if I kept it in excellent condition.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 11:11
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
This is the beginning of old people hoarding. They all think their stuff is so darn NICE and too good to sell cheaply, donate, etc. It all may be nice and high quality, but only to you at this point. Find a place that could use this nice stuff, and give them a second life, OP.
doodlebug
06/24/2016 10:58
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
I think of myself when I was young and broke and how happy I would have been to find a nearly new set of sheets (or dress I can wear to an interview or work, or houseware item I needed etc) at Goodwill for a price I could afford. I would have been ecstatic (like when I found a cute red swing coat by Ann Taylor for $5 when I was broke and needed a coat.) Just think about the joy you'll bring someone else who can't afford what you have.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:56
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Donate them OP. Give them to a shelter and know they're going to someone who really needs them. That helps.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:55
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Get it all out of your immediate living space. If you have to, rent a storage unit. After a month you will notice you don't care and then just get rid of it. It's just stuff.
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:29
Subject: Re:How do you let go of an item?
This sounds totally hokey and ridiculous, I know - but I used to have this problem until I started thanking each item as I let it go. Literally taking a moment to appreciate the item and then thinking/saying "thank you for your service" when I put something in the donate pile.
I got this idea from KonMari - I think the exact line in the book is something like "not every item was meant to stay with you forever, and that's okay. Thank each item for its presence in your life and let it go." I think the idea is that when something/someone leaves your life, you say goodbye - and there's no reason to skip this step when culling possessions. For some reason, thinking about it this way gave me the sense of closure I needed to give nice things away. Haven't had a problem since.
That said, I promise I'm not a new-age devotee or anything like that! Just someone who gets attached to things
I got this idea from KonMari - I think the exact line in the book is something like "not every item was meant to stay with you forever, and that's okay. Thank each item for its presence in your life and let it go." I think the idea is that when something/someone leaves your life, you say goodbye - and there's no reason to skip this step when culling possessions. For some reason, thinking about it this way gave me the sense of closure I needed to give nice things away. Haven't had a problem since.
That said, I promise I'm not a new-age devotee or anything like that! Just someone who gets attached to things
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:28
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Guilty!!!
---OP
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:25
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
Passive archiving? That's classic "new speak" for hoarding! Haha
Anonymous
06/24/2016 10:21
Subject: How do you let go of an item?
If you don't wear a piece of jewelry often anymore, you can always leave it in your jewelry box. That quality sheet set that your never seem to cycle onto the bed can just sit in the closet. Those dresses, maybe even if they still fit, don't suit your style anymore so they are placed at the back of your closet.
How do YOU move from this sort of passive archiving to actually letting them go?
I have a set of carpets that served me well for years, but they're actually too small for our place and were replaced last year with more suitable pieces. They are a classic design and quality wool. Uh, so I rolled them up and placed them under my king-size bed, where they annoy me. They're too nice to put in a rental property. I don't have anyone to give them to, who would need and use them. What do you tell yourself in this situation? I wouldn't get there value on Craigslist.
I have this problem with purses, too. They are great quality, classic bags THAT I NEVER EVER WEAR. I broke down on shoes, but find I'm blocked with other things.
What's the mental process? It feels impractical to have found timeless things of good value and not hold onto them.
Please help. I'd LOVE to clear out quite a few things and need the mental push. The Kon Mari method doesn't help because I do feel joy when I touch them. They just don't have a place in this life now. They're all from another time.