Clutter, and how to let it rule your life.

[urbpan]

I've resolved that every time I leave my house, I take something out with me. If I brought something into the house previously (groceries, mail) I take out more stuff than I brought in. It's kind of hard (I forgot to do it when I took the puppy out--but he pooped, so that almost counts) but it makes me feel better about reducing the clutter.

Yesterday I took out a cordless drill that didn't work. If I hadn't resolved to take stuff out, I would have held onto that thing until we moved. "Maybe I'll find a replacement charger for it..." NO, you won't. You'll just add to the damn clutter with it. I know I have new boots down at my mailbox, but that means I have to get rid of some old boots. Fortunately I have a pair of canvas ("vegetarian") Doc Martens that are slightly stained, slightly uncomfortable, and besides all that, never really worn. I hold onto them because back when I only wanted to get non-leather shoes it was kind of a pain in the ass to find them. I ordered them on eBay and they were sent from the UK. That makes them valuable, right? No, that makes them garbage. Novelty garbage, but garbage.

I know it's very bad environmentalism, but good environmentalism would have been not accumulating all this garbage to begin with.

I tried giving things away, but paying 5-20 dollars for shipping something across the country or globe is not giving it away. Big Brothers Big Sisters is great because they actually come and take the stuff from you. I have a pile of books in my car that I've tried to give away and no one will take them. Next time I go to the library I'll bring them in and try to donate them.

We should take the time to be thankful that our problems are surplus, not shortages. I just wish that those who were short on paperback books and t-shirts and broken electronics would come and take mine away!

Comments

[barn-swallow.livejournal.com]

I recommend Freecycle as well. I have a hard time giving things away but it helps a lot when I know it is going to someone who actually wants it and will use it. Plus the person that wants it has to come get it from you, so the thing that takes me the most time is posting pictures of what I am giving away. And most people don't bother to do that and get rid of their stuff just fine!