8 posts tagged “priorities”
When I was in North Carolina, I had a lot of time to consider how many things I own versus how many things I actually need, and by the time I got home I had convinced myself to act on my ideas. I realized that what was holding me back was guilt over getting rid of things. Before, I couldn't just throw something out that was perfectly useful or still pretty, even if I didn't need it or want it. I would make grandiose plans to make a giant trip to the Goodwill drop box or visit the consignment shop with items in hand, but the problem was that I would never follow through. When I got home, I looked around and saw a bunch of things taking up space in my house that were no longer benefiting me anymore.
Thank goodness for people who go through trash and save nice things, because without them I would be wrapping up today by feeling very guilty. That bridesmaid's dress that I haven't taken out of the plastic cover or even thought about for over two years? Hanging up near the trash dumpster. That cute little blazer that had the bird stenciled on the back and was way too small for me? Hanging there with it. The crystal cheese dome I won at the white elephant gift exchange at the office Christmas party last year and have never taken out of the box? Sitting next to the dumpster. They'll all be gone by the time I leave the house for work tomorrow, I guarantee it.
Someone out there is going to be the first person to find a crystal cheese dome in the garbage. And I'm okay with that.
I mentioned not long ago that I was surprised by how few items I really need in order to get through the day and do everything I need to do. Now that I'm back home, I still feel that way, and on top of that I look around the house and see all these things that I don't need. In fact, most of this stuff I didn't even think about or remember while I was gone. Isn't that a pretty good sign that I can unload a lot of it? We're also talking about buying a house one of these days, and I know for a fact that a lot of this stuff isn't worth packing up and moving. Inertia is a powerful unmotivator, otherwise I wouldn't still have all these things.
I never thought I'd have this problem.
I cannot come up with 100 personal items to pare my crap down. As you can see, I make it to somewhere around 30, and then I'm all, what now? I'm out of stuff!
If I buy a Kindle from Amazon and donate all my books to the local library, that'll take care of pretty much everything. Prioritizing can have some strange consequences!
20. Jewelry box
21. Makeup bag
22. Purse
23. DVD collection
14. Comb
15. Hairbrush
16. Wallet
17. Hair dryer
18. Glasses
19. Prescription sunglasses
10. Camera
11. Calendar book
12. Wedding rings
13. Flip flops
7. Clock radio
8. Day planner/calendar
9. Photo printer
I recently read an article about a man who is paring down all of his possessions down to 100 things, no more and no less. I don't know if this is something I will actually implement, but it will be an interesting exercise.
1. Laptop computer
2. Mobile phone
3. Car
4. Hair straightening iron
5. iPod
6. iPod docking boombox
