My frustration level with my excess stuff is once again building to the point where it’s strong enough to motivate me to actually do something about it. Yesterday I went through two boxes that haven’t been unpacked since my last move, mostly figurines/ornaments/knick-knacks. I threw out a good bit (why on earth did I pack and transport half a dozen half-burned candles?! They were big chunky funky-coloured scented ones, in fairness, but still…), chose a couple of my favourites to display (yes, it’s probably unnecessary visual clutter, but I feel like they reflect me and I like having them out), repacked the ones I couldn’t bear to part with, and consigned the rest to the eBay/charity box. Two boxes down to one small one, yay!

I also went through a bag of clothes I’d put aside cos they needed things doing to them – mending, bleaching etc – and threw most of them into the clothes-recycling bag, too. If I haven’t wanted to wear them in I’m-embarrassed-to-say-how-long badly enough to mend them, I figure I don’t need them. One largish bag of clothes down to one top that just needs a quick whisk of a needle.

It felt good. Deciding to part with some of my dragon figurines cost me a little pang, but I think it was just cos they were there in front of me; I couldn’t have told you they were in that box before I opened it, so I obviously don’t love them that much. And it was well worth the feeling of lightness and control I had when I was done. I think I could get to really like that feeling.

Oh, and I’m starting to get good at not adding any more to the problem. Anytime I’m tempted to buy something, I find myself asking myself if I really want or need it, and most of the time the answer is no. I’m even finding myself doing the same thing when someone offers to give me something they no longer need, and turning it down if I’m not certain I can make use of it.

Maybe I’m starting to get a bit of a handle on this…