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I did it--I admitted it...But I'm ready
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larsstarscanary posted:
I did it, I admitted that I needed help and found someone who was willing to help me.

I suddenly felt energized and started going through my closets and bagging clothes that either don't fit properly, have needed fixing but I haven't fixed them, etc and put them downstairs where most likely, they've been thrown out. I could have lugged them on public transportation, one day at a time, bag by bag, but I don't have that much time or that much energy. It's now or never.

Oh, the relief!

I got rid of bags of plastic bags, I the conscientious recycler. I put them where they can be recycled. I didn't look to see the ones I had saved for either sentimental or pragmatic reasons. I simply put them out.

My friend is helping me with all the chores that I find overwhelm me. He's helping me room by room. (He is) Priceless!

I also got a feng shui workbook that I pick up and follow.

I hung my chimes. I put my yarn projects in zippered clear plastic bags. I washed all of the blankets for all of the rooms. I put all of the paper in question into to large plastic closeable containers (so the cats can't get to them). I tackled the litterbox.

I feel quite accomplished now, and empowered. Inch by inch, slowly I turn...I want to have my house back by autumn, no later than winter of this year.
Goals are Great!
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Topaz03 responded:
Hi, I have this problem. Well, I'm not a hoarder, but I'm so messy, scattered and disorganized. I'm in a vicious circle and I feel trapped, but I can't seem to get a handle on it. I keep trying to throw things away.....but I don't think I have a lot of stuff in my home.

Papers...........I hate organizing things.

My bedroom is a problem. I have about 6 or 7 storage bins full of memorabilia from my dd, but I think I have a problem because when I was little everything got thrown away and go through serious measures to keep memories of my dd's past.
Plus, I had NO money when she was little so I don't have videos and I deeply regret this:(

I wonder if I really need to keep bank statements and check stubs..........I don't know which things to keep...........
 
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DizzyJgirl responded:
I am the SAME way as Kiira (Topaz). This is something I am trying to overcome also. I go in spurts. It overwhelmes and brings me down. All I want is order in my house but I can't seem to accomplish that.

I just bought a book on organizing. I don't remember the name of it offhand. I will look for it (lol, it isn't lost in the clutter, I am too lazy to go get it).

Part of my problem is that I am a perfectionist, so even when I do something, its not good enough. I know I can't have it perfect so then it is like I end up giving up. However, lately I have misplaced several major items/papers and it is absolutely driving me crazy that I can't find them. That is one thing pushing me to get organized.

The one good thing I did this spring was to organize clothes. I took everything out of my attic and sorted them and donated about 10 big bags of stuff. Maternity clothes..gone (my youngest is almost 10, I don't think I need them lol). A lot of baby clothes...gone. I kept a few items for each of my boys, then got rid of the rest. I figured someone who needs them is better off with them.

Paper is one of my battles. But in general, I have a habit of keeping things "just in case".

Sorry for going on. I will look for that book and see if there is something to share from it.
 
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Topaz03 replied to DizzyJgirl's response:
Hi J:) Me too! I try to be a perfectionist, but I can't be. So, I've been in my kitchen washing the blinds and walls.........and yet walking over piles of clutter in the other rooms, when I know I should start with that.

Just the site of clutter makes me so confused and frustrated. So, I don't know what to do about it. This morning I threw a lot of papers away, so that was good.

If I could get everyone to pick up after themselves here it would be great. I hate back tracking. If I cleaned something or a room, this means I can go on to something else, but when people won't pick up, then I go backwards again........

Somehow, I tend to leave things everywhere and I didn't used to be that way.

I know there is a website

Flylady.com I remember I started to look what they said and it helped. I should go back to that. I remember she said to always keep your sink cleaned every day, if anything...........

I don't mind cleaning........but I hate picking up and organizing. So, most days, I tend to look past it and it keep piling up...........

Mabey we can help each other here:) I really am trying to get it together, but struggling:)
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
I recently threw out the notebooks and things I had had since first grade. I won't say how old I am, but that was a long time ago since I was a first grader! What a relief to get rid of it all!

Also, I had my mom's baby shoes, her sister's baby shoes, my brother's baby shoes and mine. I kicked them to the curb as cute as they were!

Someone I know kept every single one of his pay stubs--It turns out he needed them to prove that he worked 20 years for an agency. If he hadn't kept them, they would have denied his pension.

I don't know how long to keep bank statements, either. I want to get rid of bills from years ago next. I think I'll do that right now...
Goals are Great!
 
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Topaz03 replied to larsstarscanary's response:
Oh wow, this all sounds very recent for you. Are you sure you are 100% ready? You aren't manic, right? I just don't want you to get rid of something you might regret later.

I tend to think like this.............If it is something I've been thinking about getting rid of for a while, then okay, but if it's on a whim with not much thought then mabey I better give it a bit more time.

I'm trying to think that way w/ my impulsive decision making. It helps some:)
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
Thanks for your concern. I'm okay--More depressed than manic.I think I'm too tired to be manic. I think the decisions I've made were good ones, especially getting rid of the big plastic bag filled with plastic bags.

My bed was littered with knit/crochet projects--There was no room for me. So I've been eliminating the clutter and putting things where they belong. I have 2 big bins of paper--This is the hard part, so hard that I avoid the boxes as much as possible. Soon, though, I want to get to it.

I've got a collection of hats. Today I decided that if they didn't fit, then I was going to give them away. And even though they are my favorite colors, one, a shade of purple, I got them out of the house.

I'm hungry.
Goals are Great!
 
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Topaz03 replied to larsstarscanary's response:
I just cluttered my room yesterday w/ crochet projects......grrrrrrr, projects that I don't like or I'm trying to come up with one. I got mad and threw one of them out yesterday. I started getting agitated.

That's very good about the hats:) I don't have any of those...........I keep looking at the big pile of stuffed animals in my room that aren't mine because my dd doesn't want her room cluttered with all that stuff.
They bring back memories........

I've decided that I'm a collector rather than a hoarder, but I need to let go of some more things..........
I can't decide what to get rid of so, for now, I'm going to stuff them in the closet and at least have the illusion that my room is clear, lol.
Then, I'll go from there. If that makes sense.
My dresser has no clothes in it.........but it's all filled with memories and I have no place for my clothes.

Getting better though. Since this exchange I have filled up 2 trash bags:)

It's definately helped me and has got me thinking. Funny, there was a time, where I had almost nothing in my place. It's been since I had my dd that I've struggled with getting rid of things....I'm afraid of throwing away memories.

I'm also paying more attention to Fly lady:) That website is a huge help!

Paper, I'm having a hard time with that...........but I proudly got rid of quite a bit recently.
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
Because I try to hold onto memories, I keep my cats' things from when they were kittens! But I've go to stop that now. What I'm going to do with those things is to put them next to the cats, or whatever cat will sit, and take a photo. Photos take up less space than the actual things. Then I will donate their things after I launder them just to be sure that the things are clean.

I don't think I hoard, either. I'm a collector, too. I've got to get rid some more of the coats in the vestibule or foyer closet. I should get rid of one tonight while I'm in the mood...

I will look at flylady again. For some reason, I didn't understand her website before, or something like that. I'll try again. Thanks.
Goals are Great!
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
What's a good way to clean blinds? I'm tempted just to save up and get new ones....

I admire you for being able to deal with other people not picking up after themselves...That's hard to keep the clutter fight up when other people aren't doing all that they can.

I still have to get to those 2 vats of paper, though. I find paper to be more of a nuisance than cleaning the toilet!
Goals are Great!
 
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Topaz03 replied to larsstarscanary's response:
Someone mentioned to me recently that she thought the best way to clean blinds was to take them off and wash them in the tub with soap and water.

She says they come out easily but I've yet to try this. I started cleaning mine, one blind at a time with windex and paper towels because they got really dusty and it's taking me forever.
They look good now though.
I don't like these skinny blinds because they break and bend easily and I broke one of them and then tried to patch it up w/ tape, but wasn't successful.

I also would like to save up for new blinds. The think ones that don't break and are easier to clean, lol. We'll see though.....
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
Come to think of it, my mom used to clean the blinds in the tub.

Unfortunately, I lack her height and arm strength/width.

I'm exhausted.
Goals are Great!
 
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larsstarscanary replied to Topaz03's response:
Congratulations on filling up the 2 trash bags--That's really good!
Goals are Great!


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