what have you realized about yourself from decluttering?

[happyhats]

We don't entertain. We don't need multiple serving dishes, cups of all shapes and sizes, etc. I'm down to two wine glasses, two margarita glasses, some cordials, and a shot glass.

I don't craft as much I used to, and I will never get around to do certain crafts anytime soon. I've never taught myself to crochet or knit, and I probably won't. I don't need a million different supplies. Now I have one box of crafting supplies, and I put my grandmother's knitting needles in a glass to display them for sentimental reasons.

We don't play board games. I have three right now, but I'm contemplating getting rid of at least one of them, as its never even been opened. One was pretty fun and we've played it a handful of times-it may go live with my sister as she already has a bunch of board games, lol. I also have a Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly, that is the third, next year it will go with Christmas gear and I want to make a tradition to play it with dh every year.

I'm not that adventurous decor or clothing wise. I am mostly drawn to the fall colors, and dark hues, and I don't wear much else even if I buy it at a yardsale, etc. I tend to keep an 'ecclectic' traditonal home, but I'lll never be someone with the amazing quirky home or wardrobe. Oh well, I'm just not that cool, lol.

I'm sure there's more.

[percussionsmith]

This is a good one. I think for me I've learned more of what I do value:

Pictures. I just can't bring myself to purge them.
Musical Instruments. We pay for storage unit almost exclusively so I don't have to get rid of them, then I rotate them in and out of the house.
Blocks. We have legos, duplos, wooden blocks and I make blocks. Its overboard.


I know that I could care less about clothes as long as we have enough to look good at school and work. I need only 2 pairs of shoes. The rest I've never missed. I keep things WAY too long, like until they are so old I feel silly even donating them. I function better and am less aggitated in an open, unstuffed space. I've learned my family is willing to keep toys at their homes because they think I'm depriving my kids and I think its hilarious!

I know there's more....

[Deanie]

I have learned:

-That the reason I have so much clutter is because I procrastinate in dealing with it. Uncluttering makes me address things head on and that has made me realize how much I avoid problems in other areas of my life rather than dealing with them. This all dawned on me when I started making my list of 52 organizational projects for this year and since then, I have learned to swim after years of saying that I'll get to it some day, and I'm currently working on another issue at our house as well that is a big challenge.
-That clutter is also a by-product of not prioritizing well and not being disciplined. These are also issues I am addressing.
-With the wardrobe, I too have come to realize that I only wear certain types of things. I have now figured out what I will wear and what I should just donate.
-I am holding myself accountable for a weight loss program so I actually CAN some day fit into my smaller clothes.

[Deanie]

Originally Posted by percussionsmith This is a good one. I think for me I've learned more of what I do value: Pictures. I just can't bring myself to purge them. Musical Instruments. We pay for storage unit almost exclusively so I don't have to get rid of them, then I rotate them in and out of the house. Blocks. We have legos, duplos, wooden blocks and I make blocks. Its overboard. I know that I could care less about clothes as long as we have enough to look good at school and work. I need only 2 pairs of shoes. The rest I've never missed. I keep things WAY too long, like until they are so old I feel silly even donating them. I function better and am less aggitated in an open, unstuffed space. I've learned my family is willing to keep toys at their homes because they think I'm depriving my kids and I think its hilarious! I know there's more....

Oh my goodness I just saw your siggy and love it (the domestic violence advocacy part). Do you mind if I borrow it?

[kierstenw]

I realized something similar.

We got a bunch of serving platters and sets of wine and martini glasses for our wedding and NEVER use them. Those are first on our list to get tossed when I get our boxes out of storage. (We're in a very *slow* process of moving.) I HATE wine. I can't even pretend to like it. And we have 2 sets of wine glasses. How ridiculous is that?

I never finish craft projects. I have a couple bags worth of scrapbooking stuff and fabric. I can't part with them because that will mean admitting that I'm *not* going to follow through, and I hate that. But I need to put my big girl panties on and realize that I am just too darn busy to sit down and crop pictures! I have good intentions, but I am just not a crafty person.

My husband has too many golf clubs. I could get about $50 for the whole lot of them if I took them to our local sports equipment consignment store, but he's training out of state and I don't want to get rid of his stuff without him.

[Hope4More]

I am an emotional hoarder. I'm able to get rid of some things. Grandma's china and my wedding dress/jewelry? Never. I'm ok with that.

I am a "what if" hoarder. What if I need that and I get rid of it? Then I'll need to rebuy it. I'm also working on this. I've Horton rid of a LOT of stuff since January.

I am proud of myself for throwing out my belongings- my mother told me I had made a sizable cleaning- that made me feel good.

I have also realized I will never purchase monogrammed/ personalized items for a wedding. I have 4 platters with my last name on them I can't donate...

I owned too many diapers for one butt and made $400 selling them off and paid off my car with that and the tax refund. Which brings me to my last realization: I buy WAY too much and WASTE my money. I would much rather take that money and GO somewhere and create great MEMORIES than have 8 pair of jeans and 21 sweatshirts... Yah.... The closet is next...

[evasimone]

I am much more of a clutterbug than I ever realized. I realized this when I sold my "back up" sewing machine on craigslist. Who needs two sewing machines?!?!

Clutter keeps you from actually enjoying/finding things you need.

[aprilkek]

That I have most of the crap in this house I know we have a lot of kid stuff, but there is box after box of craft stuff and other things that I keep for one reason or another. I really am to the point where I want to let a bunch of it go, but can't at the moment because I have to focus on just getting the house ready to put on the market. If I truly took the time right now we wouldn't get the house on the market until the middle of the summer. I have purged so much, but there is a basement full of stuff we don't need or use.

[angelisagemini]

That I like to buy scrapbook supplies more than I like to actually make scrapbooks. - Sold it all at a steal and made someones day and now I do digital scrapping.

That I like digital books just as much as real ones....except for children's books.

That my kiddo is happier with less toys.

That my marriage is happier when everything has a purpose and place it belongs. No nagging, makes for a happy man!

[ArronDalesMama]

After doing more purging this week seeing everything piled high waiting for garage sale on Saturday I came to the conclusion I am a pack rat and stuff is making me sick to my stomach. Yeah I love sewing and pyrex, those are the only 2 hobbies I want to keep around. I have an emotional attachment to stuff but oh my gosh I didn't know it was this bad. We want to tavel one day, give up everything except for a small storage unit. Maybe move into our cabin but I cannot see it happening with all this stuff. I'm starting to freak out a little.

Dh says I will feel better once the piles are out. I sure hope so. Lokking at it makes me wanna cry. Because I want it gone.

My stuff is owning me and I don't want it too!