I spent much of yesterday emptying the china cabinet and bookshelves and packing up everything so it can all be moved out to make room for the carpet installers on Tuesday.
Sophie and I crawled into bed (Vann's at hunting camp) at about 9:00, I was aching all over and couldn't keep still. Sophie finally decided to get on her chair next to the bed to avoid all my wiggling and kicking.
While waiting for sleep (which didn't come until around 2:00 a.m.), I re-read a book on managing fibromyalgia. One of the points the author made over and over was SIMPLIFY. Get rid of stuff you don't need. Keep everything organized and orderly to reduce the stress in your life.
Well, I know that, but I like my stuff--except when it comes time to move it all about in order to replace carpet, or when the sewing room or my office gets so jumbled and tumbled that I can't work.
I'm not sure what it is that causes me to want to collect things--dishes, fabric, pages out of magazines, interesting junk mail, pennies I find lying in parking lots, buttons, yarn, books, do-dads, nicknacks, pattywacks, give the dog a bone! I could say it's because I suffered through a very poor childhood in which we didn't have anything and now I'm trying to make up for that by hoarding stuff. But that wouldn't be true--exactly. We weren't wealthy by any means, but it seems we always had a preponderance of stuff about, just the same. Mama collected too. The only difference was that she took fits from time to time and threw out everything. That's why I have virtually no mementos from my childhood and teenage years. She chunked it all, Mama did. Maybe that's why she lived to be 91, almost, and never suffered from stupid conditions like fibromyalgia and plantar fascitis. She sure knew how to simplify.
OK. 'Nuff of that. I have a few more books to box up, and a few more dishes and do-dads nicknacks and pattywacks. The ones in the photo above and their companions can stay where they are, I think. They're in the kitchen. I don't believe the carpeters will be going in there.
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On 12/01/2007, phyllis king said ...
Susan, you are a BRAVE WOMAN to be upsetting your household and putting in new carpet right here near the holidays, dear!!! Way to go! I'd be locked in a closet until they all went away.....and I think we inherit some of those "collecting" genes from our parents, for sure! At least yours seems to be organized; another trait I greatly admire in others....I tend to take a "Bohemian" attitude w/my house and "collections"! But we're having fun, right?! Can't wait to see new pix of the carpet.....do some yoga and take an aspirin, dear one.
On 12/01/2007, poetryman69 said ...
Consecrating a Holy vessel for my eternal consciousness.
A renewed body and a refreshed mind.
Be thankful. Blessings unto you and yours.
Of Angel hugs and of love and laughter
and of happily ever after.
Of kind words and healing balms.
Of buzzing bees in the tall, green grasses.
On 12/01/2007, Trudy Neill of Windemere Farm said ...
Susan, what you suffer from are no stupid diseases....they very much affect ones entire life. As for what living conditions can do to ones stress level, I do believe that. In Jan 2006 I had emergency open heart surgery...9 blockages, 4 bypasses, two of which are already closed. I lived a good clean life, dont drink, never, ever smoked....but there you go..genetics.
I , too, like my stuff...and I have to pitch and sort from time to time myself. My kids tease me all the time....mom...you could live 7 lifetimes and never use up all that yarn, or fabric, or whatever...and I laugh at them and carry right on. My "stuff" makes me feel better and it shall stay right here! Hope you are feeling better soon!
On 12/01/2007, Sherri said ...
Susan, I had no idea you suffered from Fibro too! I was diagnosed in 1995 Eyuk huh? I know what you mean by too much stuff, I have way too much but cant seem to part with it. My daughter Abbea is helping by taking some to her place but she is not aloud to give it away:) heehee I know I know Im controlling I just love my stuff!
On 12/01/2007, mom2fur said ...
Maybe the trick isn't just to get rid of stuff, but to keep only things that you either love, or have real use for!
I hope that you are feeling better now. I couldn't imagine living with what you have!
On 12/01/2007, Debra Spincic said ...
I used to collect lots of little stuff that I picked up at the thrift store or a garage sale. It didn't cost much and I think I felt OK about that because I really couldn't afford big ticket items. Then, when I married Wes, he has no patience whatsoever for little stuff and he is all about big ticket items, like sculptures and paintings. So, the pendulum has kind of swung the other direction and I don't feel the need for little knick knacks anymore.
When I go to my mother's house and she has these rows of little stuff everywhere, I want to go screaming out into the street. But, I realize that I learned it from her. We all want to buy stuff and the little stuff just doesn't cost anything so we pacify that need with something small. The downside is that all that little stuff begins to choke the life out of us. Sometimes it is just not worth the effort. Better to stay home and stitch!
On 12/02/2007, Rian said ...
My mother was a collector and our house was filled with piles of clutter. There was no place to put anything and you had to move stacks of STUFF all the time. Conversely, I abhor clutter. I only subscribe to 1 mag (Quilting Arts) because I don't want stacks of magazines (or anything else) around that I'm too busy to read. If I don't use it, I don't keep it.
On 12/02/2007, Our Red House said ...
Clutter can be such a problem, can't it?
I am looking forward to seeing your new carpet.
On 12/02/2007, Nicole said ...
I am all for simplifying things in my life too. It makes things much easier on many levels. Once I moved from a very large house into a much smaller one. All I took with me to the new place were the things I loved best. That was actually quite wonderful, to be surrounded by only my favorite things.
On 12/02/2007, nita from red tin heart said ...
I have decided I am a born pack rat. I love all the things you just mentioned. I am just trying to organize my stuff and weed out what I don't love. I never thanked you for you reading my story and for your advice. It was brilliant advice by the way. xoxo Nita
On 12/02/2007, redgeraniumcottage said ...
Susan,
I've gotten rid of so much stuff in the past week. Goodwill loves me right now. But I feel so much better getting all the clutter out of here.
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