I am a keeper.
a saver.
a pack-rat.
However, this summer something has come over me and I am in a pitching mood.
I have been digging into my attic and pulling out stuff I didn't
even know I had!
I want to clear out the clutter and live a cleaner, less stressful life, so I am taking baby steps.
To me they feel like giant leaps.
To me they feel like giant leaps.
Here's something I am learning:
- When you find clothes that "crunch" when you try to expand the once-elastic waistband to try them on, you know you have had them too long!
- Some stuff is only cute for a short time, like baby room decor.
- Some styles should not be resurrected.
As to that last one, I have an entire tub in my attic devoted to jeans for me. Now before you say anything, realize that for the last 11...almost 12 years I have been pregnant, post partum, breastfeeding, or "getting my body back". At first, I was all about tossing clothes I outgrew, but then I realized one day I might get pregnant again, or fat, or skinny... and that when that day came I may not have a whole lot of extra cash to go out and buy new pants. Or maybe I do, but I want to spend it on the bambinos, or maybe I just DON'T want to spend it on another pair of fat jeans when I KNOW I will be thin again one day. *wink*
...And so began the bottomless tub filled with jeans: low rise, ultra low rise, medium rise and "mom jeans"; Straight leg, boot cut, wide leg, skinny; Capris, shorts, bermudas and pedal pushers size 2,4,6,8,10 and 12!
When you are a keeper you have to talk yourself down from the ledge of panic that always follows the impulse to purge. You find the mom jeans, you gag, then you stuff them into the donation bag and try to keep moving. But all the while, the voice in the back of your head is whining: remember when you brought little Johnny home from the hospital in those? or Those were so comfy, maybe you should keep them in case that style comes back.
It's a never-ending battle for keepers. But this summer I am diving in head first. I am sorting, pitching and donating like crazy. Of course, I am constantly wrestling with my "voice", but I find that the crunch of the elastic drowns it out a bit.
I am jumping off this ledge.
How about you? Are you a keeper? How do you get rid of things?
If you have some sort of system, please share it. I might need it if I run out of elastic.
11 comments:
I am not a keeper...sometimes I feel like I should save more stuff...I should work on that.
I love the hiney pic...so funny :)
Hi, my name is Pat and I am a keeper, a pack rat, etc. :-) I do have to say that I'm getting better and better though! I am retired so do not need real suits or business attire anymore ~ have given a ton of that away already. Now, it's time to go through the jeans and the other things that I've held on to and moved around. I am working with the theory that I've not worn x, y or z in 6 mos, a year or 2 and it will bless someone else as the things are in really good condition. I don't want my closets packed anymore...I need to be able to breathe...and the clothes do too. :-)
If I'm not wearing it or haven't in the past year, out it goes. Also, if I bring home a t-shirt or whatever, the same number of clothing items have to go...NOW.
Good luck! I know we can do this ~
Pat
I had to laugh when you mentioned the crunch because I have heard that sound and it's not pretty!
Like you, I have the whole spectrum of sizes and every single time I swear it's the LAST time I'm losing the weight.
Funny thing is that I really do think this time was the last time. I think I'm back to my regular size for good now. So you just reminded me to toss those bigger sizes. FOREVER!
Thank you!!!!!
I usually save stuff in the moment and then go back and throw it out later. Well, donate it anyway. I only wear one or two pairs of jeans anyway. Why keep what doesn't look/feel good on you?
I am married to a keeper. It is so hard to be empathetic to their personality and yet not go crazy amidst the clutter.
Good for you and the purge! Doesn't it feel great?!?
I toss things out. Big things, I list on craigs list and normally sell within a few days. Small items I either throw away or give away.
Old jeans make the best quilts, though. They're durable. Great for picnics and ball games and anything that requires a blanket on the ground.
Had a major purge with all the remodeling last fall. It will feel great to be lean and mean and moveable, too. Keep going, you will forget what you got rid of in the end.
Kate
haha, love the mom jeans! i'm a big fan of going through my stuff and throwing out everything, so i'm not too much of a keeper. but i DO still have my childhood eraser collection!
congrats on 300 followers, by the way!
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I am totally a keeper and this summer I FINALLY donated all of my "some day I'll fit in to this" clothes. I figure if I can fit in to it, I'm taking myself shopping!!
BTW, thanks for stopping by. Us redheads need to stick together!
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