Bitten by the meh bug

[valis2]

I've packaged some of the freebies from the freebies entry and they will be mailed tomorrow, so if you've requested something, you might get it by the end of the week, or beginning of next week. Except for a couple things that I'm still scrounging up boxes for.

If you want something, check it out, there are still a few things available! Please!

gina_r_snape asked why I was giving things away. Well, I've been getting rid of stuff for years, really. I was a terrible packrat until I was in college; I lived with my parents a loooong time, and I amassed a lot of stuff (well, the stuff my mom didn't throw away, lol). Eventually, when I knew I was going to move out, I started to cull things.

At this point I'm pretty vicious about my clothing. That first cut so many years ago? I got rid of so much stuff (four garbage bags), but it was really painful. Of course, it didn't help that my mom told me that I'd never be a size 14 again. Well, she's probably right, but it was rough. I had these thoughts--that I'd lose weight, that it was too dear, etc., but eventually I realized that even if I lost weight, the clothes would be out of style--hell, they were already out of style. That's when I started buying at Lane Bryant, and cycling my clothing--if it shrinks, fades, etc., it's out the door. I get a little attached, but not as much.

Then I started applying that to my possessions. I don't have a ton of bric-a-brac, but I got rid of a lot of it. I eBayed a lot of it when I first started my eBay account. That helped me start a good reservoir of feedback.

Then I thought--why am I keeping all of these VHS tapes? Gone.

Then I thought--I should cut down on the videogames. When am I going to plug the Dreamcast back it? Much less the Genesis. So I started going through the games, and got rid of about half of them, and in the next few weeks I'll get rid of the systems and cull the videogames further. Much as I love Phantasy Star on the Sega Master System, I will never go back and play it again--there are too many new games that I want to play, games that are better paced for my life now. I no longer want to play eighteen hours of random enemy encounters just to get enough money for a hovercraft, thank you very much.

My storage room contains a lot of business stuff, and a ton of clothing from a friend who wears a lot of lovely things--I'm going to eBay it, and I now have a rig I can use to photograph the clothing, huzzah.

I'm happier without it. Each act is liberating. I still love the possessions I have (probably too much). The test is--am I joyful about them? Do I use them?

If I add up all of the things I've donated/given away over the last eight years, I am a very happy valis indeed.

(Why give them to the flist? Well, these are some fun things, things that I wasn't certain about giving to SA--and I'm a control freak, ha! I want them to have good homes.)

Comments

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

I think that's very commendable--and it's not just because I will soon be the recipitent of said purge:D

I have a friend who is trying to convince me that if I were to throw (or donate or what have you) one thing a day for 365 days, that I would have a much healthier, freer life. I'm starting to warm to it really. I think we all have too much stuff...I'm just too lazy most days to do anything about it!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could ever do a thing a day--I'm much better at working on things in groupings. Like, I'll go through a box, and toss a bunch of things in the box. Or the aforementioned VHS tapes.

As for throwing things away, I really, really, really try not to. Landfills are having difficulties as it is--I'd rather it go to the SA, if possible.

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm right there with donating rather then throwing away. I have discovered a great resource...it's called "Freecycle" and it is a community where you can give what away what you need to, or get what others want to give away. It's just so "grassroots" and I love it. Like Craiglist, but without the creep factor!

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I want my stuff to have good homes, too! Gya!
I really want to realize some money from some of it--that's another prob.
I should give away a fair amount, though.
Good call on the stuff out of style--I'm sad about some of my HS jeans that were so soft, but really? That's just silly. Even if I might fit into them, I might not--I don't weigh as much as I did for the last few years of college, but I surely have greater hips than I did in HS!
(shortly after I quit taking the Depo Provera, and got rid of the too much drinking & drunk punk bf, I lost weight. Heh.)
I'm really trying to get this clothing purge going. I've put some things aside, but there is just SO MUCH. It's brutal...especially b/c I try to take it out, but then it isn't wanted in the living space. *sigh*
But yeah. Getting rid of faded/worn stuff is a good place to start.
Those'll go to Goodwill or whatever, but I should maybe do a flist freebie post, too. :P
Thanks for being another drop of inspiration for my well--a lot of my other friends have been working on getting rid of stuff, too. ;D

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's really the most wonderful feeling to see the stack of stuff dwindling--it makes me deliriously happy. I really love getting rid of it, and knowing that someone wants it is even better.

The first clothing purge I did was absolutely heartbreaking, but I steeled myself, and tried to be ruthless about it. I had to really detach myself and wonder why I was holding on to them--but they represented high school, and fun, and I just had such a hard time getting rid of them.

I'm sure a lot of people have done flist freebies before, but I'm glad to be a "drop of inspiration," hooray!

[gypsyjolie.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on discovering the joy of detaching from stuff. Okay, so I'm still in training as a culler, but it's something that I just recently discovered the power of myself. It was freecycle that got me started - I post things that I don't want and twenty people ask for them, plead for them. I gave away so many clothes and books and kitchen stuff and it was really rewarding.

The husband would chime in now to say that I really need to start ridding myself of yarn and fabric and other crafty supplies - but that is a whole other untouchable category.

I think it is time for the great purge of clothes I haven't worn in a year or more soon. You have inspired me! Also, those boots that I think are sexy but I cannot stand in for more than 15 minutes? Gone.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I was really happy with Freecycle--I used it to get rid of all of my albums, and that worked out beautifully! I think you gave me the idea--I can't thank you enough.

The husband would chime in now to say that I really need to start ridding myself of yarn and fabric and other crafty supplies - but that is a whole other untouchable category

Oh yes, they are definitely untouchable!!

I think it is time for the great purge of clothes I haven't worn in a year or more soon. You have inspired me! Also, those boots that I think are sexy but I cannot stand in for more than 15 minutes? Gone.

I did the same thing. Anything that had "conditions" was sent to the Salvation Army (you know--lose 10 lbs, short shirts that I couldn't really quite move freely in, t-shirts that were a bit tight about the chest). I have to remind myself that I have enough clothing without conditions, and I should get rid of anything else!!

[morricone1900.livejournal.com]

Whatever your motivations, I'm just looking forward to my new/used/recycled RoboCalvin t-shirt! :D

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh yes--you should be getting it very soon!! :) Thanks again!