i’ve just realised they are quite similar. 3 weeks ago

...had this goal a few times before in the past. My life has changed… dramatically since the first time I had this goal. In the last two years, I’ve really embraced living a minimalistic lifestyle, and this is becoming more important to me. For the most part, I really don’t have a lot of stuf that I use on a regular basis, but I do have a lot of things in storage that I haven’t really a clue what do to with… I don’t necessarily want it or use it, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to go through all of it. Hopefully, that will change soon. 2 months ago

Two more bags of shoes, purses, housewares and clothing that doesn’t get worn. Away to Goodwill with you, darken not my door!

The Man and I just completed a big reorganization of the downstairs area so that all his game stuff is where he actually uses it. It’s a lot of stuff, but at least he’s got it all in boxes. Hopefully this will be more functional than having it spread out all over the kitchen, living room and office.

We also corralled a bunch of cords and chargers etc. for electronics and put them all in the same place, stealing an idea from I Heart Organizing. It’s not as pretty as hers is, but it works. 2 months ago

Another bag ready to head to the Goodwill, filled with purses and shoes that I no longer wear, and storage containers that are not needed. I am starting to lighten the load with the idea of an eventual 450-mile move in mind.

Also getting rid of bath products I neither use nor like, and using up the bath products that have been sitting around for a while. 3 months ago

In Southern California, I can usually get through even our coldest weather with my sleeping-bag coat (a hooded Oakley down puffer jacket that comes down to my ankles). If I’m going to be outside, I may need an umbrella or gloves, perhaps a scarf if I am singing. I have a beanie too (a toque for you Canuckistani folks), for days when nobody cares what my hair looks like.

That is what I need. So why do I have seven scarves, three beanies, several pairs of gloves, and four different coats for four different types of weather? The coats I will deal with later. But many scarves and gloves and hats went to the Goodwill today. 5 months ago

A bag full of clothes/shoes/small stuff (belonging to both myself and the Man) went out to Goodwill today, along with a boxed-up massive blanket that was a gift from an ex-boyfriend. I’m decluttering emotionally as well as physically :) 5 months ago

Scanned and saved all my tax documents from 2006 on. Currently backing up the ol’ hard drive. Now contemplating putting a larger backup hard drive on my Xmas wishlist, along with the cloud backup service that is already on there.

Am I the only one who’s really looking forward to the day when I don’t even have to carry a wallet? They’ll just scan my retina or swipe my thumbprint at the grocery store, and that would be FABULOUS. (I say this, knowing that the next time some piece of technology fails, I’m going to scream and throw things.) 5 months ago

The big bag of socks and some of mum’s yarn went out in the alley with a sign that said FREE. Posted on Craigslist and Freecycle, both gone within the hour. I love Long Beach.

Next out are the non-fitting/never-worn undershirts, several non-fitting pairs of sweatpants, a robe I never wear even though it’s pretty and was a gift from the Man, some picture frames, and a few other odds-n-ends that I can’t remember having used within the last year or so.

Now I’m debating whether to list cold-weather stuff on Ebay, or just donate in the hope that someone local will need it. I’m definitely leaning toward the donation route at this point because I am tired and life is only going to get more hectic in the next two months. 6 months ago

Lots of clothes this time – clothes that are part of my fantasy life that I will likely never actually wear again, even though they are beautiful. Also going to rehome a lovely faux leopard-fur blanket that we never have occasion to use (was a gift from an ex).

I am doing a lot of cleaning out, and I wish the Man would do some too. He gets defensive when I suggest donating stuff that he is not sized to wear anymore :\ 7 months ago

A few days ago, I got rid of all my DVDs by trading them in to Amazon for a gift card. I realized I haven’t watched any of them in literally years, and all they were doing was collecting dust. Plus, I can get any of them on Netflix whenever I want :) 7 months ago

I have been thinking about this for some time, maybe a few years. This is a big task, and it may never be completed. Short of a disaster (not my desire), this might take a few years to accomplish. But, I know that somewhere between here (now) and my final resting place that I need to pass on things I am not using to those who can use them (hopefully to help others).

This might help me to focus on getting a few important things done, too. 8 months ago

I would love to have a dedicated meditation room. Something plain, with a hardwood floor and big sunny windows. Nothing else in it, except maybe a fountain or some plants.

Do you have the equivalent of a meditation area? A small shrine, a window bench or a porch that you go to think, or be still?

If not, would you like one? What would it look like? 8 months ago

One more bag ready to go to the donation center – too-small clothes, traded-up kitchenware, other odds and ends that I can’t even remember so clearly they weren’t all that important.

Also going: a massive box of lost-and-found clothing from last year’s students. Middle schoolers who come from a life of wealth and privilege are TERRIBLE about losing their sweaters and umbrellas. I put it all up on a rack at the end of the year last year, and this is all the unclaimed stuff. Hopefully someone else will need and use it.

I bought a hardcover edition of The Complete Maus, and I am going to see if any of the social studies teachers at school would like my old softcover editions. They’re still in great shape, as I’ve tried to be very careful with them. If not, they’ll go up on PaperBackSwap.

Graphic created by the starter of the William Morris Project, the lady behind Pancakes and French Fries :) 8 months ago

...as well. I’m seriously in need of getting rid of things. I’m ready to start devoting myself to minimalism. If I don’t love it or use it, it’s gone. I don’t want a lot of things, but I do want the things I have to be of good quality. 16 months ago

I joined 43 things, started journalizing here, then life interfered -) I gave up two of my goals and deleted them completely. This one is still a valid goal – and I am majking some progress – three years later!!

Why have I been gone? My business changed, my family changed, and my husband has passed away. My life has thrown me that curveball.

But not my goal isn’t gone – still I have this goal, and I’m working at it as hard as ever – accomplishing things that I never thought possible.

My life has changed utterly since the last time I was on this site, but I’m going to make the best of it. Things will be different, not the original path at all, but a great life nonetheless. 20 months ago

Woke up this morning and realized that I should sell some of my books to 1/2 Priced books and I should get rid of my box of files and use a folio instead. It saves space. Considering I look at the files once every month or two, it makes sense.

I wish I can get to a point where I see these needs immediately instead of having to sleep on it. 21 months ago