Wow! Tomorrow it will be one year, to the day, that I put finger pads to keyboard pad and wrote my first ever blog about an issue that had enveloped me like no other! TOO MUCH STUFF!
This was one of the very first things I got rid of, in 2008, which was my son's Cubby House, as it wouldn't fit in my parents backyard and was actually sitting on the vegie patch when I sold it 4 years ago to a family with toddlers. Looking at the photos I took for the then 'Trading Post' seems so long ago now.
It also seems so long ago that I started this blog! I started out with humour, not thinking anyone would look at it, let alone read it. So far the most favoured post is still the one called 'Letting You Know' last June, which is when I first started with uploading photos to shake it up a bit. And these photos were of my daughters feet modelling the diamonte stilleto shoes that I finally did sell on eBay. Now, I so suspect it is more like people with a 'foot fettish' that took a shinee to my daughters feet and that was the attraction rather than the content... hmmmm.... but none the less it has been hugely popular.
Here are the said 'stilleto's' without feet/legs modelling them...
Now here is my daughter's leg/feet that ended up doing the modelling...
Which one wins! Absolutely, mine, of course, but don't tell my daughter will ya'!
The demographic or 'audience' is varied as well. I couldn't get over someone from Alaska, India, Afghanistan, Brazil, Russia, Bosnia & Herzegovnia, Uzbekistan, Canada, England (UK), Thailand and even from my parents homeland Latvija to name a few. The vast amount are from America (USA) and Australia (AUS). This just goes to show that we are not all that different from each other with our problems and ergo hopes and dreams. 'Stuff' effects us all, no matter where we live or circumstance.
Due to the fact that I have posted this on my FB page, I have had little feedback from those of you who view this blog. Apparently some have had diffuculty with this. I have written 28 posts so far with only 2 comments in that time. What's with that? Boy, are we a shy lot.
I would like to say just because you read this does not necessarily mean you also have this issue, but rather may be reading it to help another fellow friend or family member nearby. I decided to 'let it all hang out' so to speak and destigmatise this type of event in ones life. Like all problems, it can be sorted out in the end. And I no longer wanted to feel ashamed of what was thrust upon me. Be it that most of which I inherited and some of my own doing as well. So please, feel free to chime in once in awhile. We can help each other. A problem shared is a problem halved. Also, by sharing you start the process. Plus, I would like to hear from you with some feedback or some of your own suggestions or stories. Let's see if we can now take this to the next level, so don't be shy. Pipe up! There are usually many comments on my Facebook page when I post these ... so why not post there? Just look for Anita Sulcs and you should find me.
Entirely up to you, but I would enjoy the communication with you.
Like all things this is a process that takes time. Life factors get in the way and you have to work as well along with the pressures of daily life doesn't help either. But given time, and allow yourself that time, it does get done in the end. It doesn't have to be like the 'TV reality shows' and be done in a day or weekend. As, Lord knows we don't have 50 helpers and unlimited funds as they do, but rather more realistically and done in stages over a peiod of time and this is where you have to be generous, give yourself a deadline to reach or otherwise it will never have an ending. Decide what you want and visualise it and then with your 1, 2 or even 5 year plan, set about achieving that.
This is me one day for work on Conference in Sydney enjoying their Harbour near Manly. Tough life eh!
Life's trauma's do effect us all and can cause this and many other issues to get exponentially worse rapidly. If that is the case, forget the stuff and heal thyself first. Without you being whole, you will just crumble underneath the weight of the 'decluttering' and become even more overcome, which will defeat the whole excercise. Prioritise what is important. List it if necessary and tick each point when you achieve it. When you sit down one day in a years time ... do have those photos to remember where you were and you will be amazed at how far you have come, but had forgotten. A photo of a room taken from the same vantage point every several months does serve as a 'visual' reminder to yourself. We easily forget and it does help as a motivator. Even if it meant just one shelf got cleared, it is now one shelf closer to your end visualised picture in your mind of where you see this room to be.
This was the loungeroom some 3 years ago. This is almost empty as it was storing many boxes and furniture. We couldn't get through and had to use the corridor only to get to the kitchen. So imagine where to glass part of the cabinet is and that was where top of the boxes were and the whole lounge was full to the brim. And I have to say that there was the 2 huge piles under the carport along with the boxes and crates in Richmond on a mezzanine floor and all my furniture and more boxes in my neighbours garage. Now the lounge is usable, the carport has decreased by two thirds and there is nothing in Richmond any longer and only 6 pieces of furniture in my neighbours garage. I have come along way when I look back and reflect.
Here is the lounge room empty looking back diagonally towards where the other photo was taken...
Now a usable space!
I, myself am two thirds of the way there. When I look back at these photos now to where I was, I am still amazed at how muc I have achieved. But I cannot stop, even though the Christmas break and work has interferred yet once more.
There is much less of this now. Lower with more room. The mower has been given away and I need to set a future weekend aside and will seriously knock what is left off, hopefully in early March. Well, that is the plan. But I can actually see the road now from the porch which obviously early last year you could clearly not!
I did end up doing a clean out of the carport area of all the 'rubbish' and now have to organise for that to go to the tip, being that my local council only does hard rubbish collection just a miserly once a year. I am getting a new mattress next week. One that will be better support for my back so making my day will be much easier and pain free. The old mattress has to be thrown out to the tip so when that it removed outside it will join the other rubbish and will all go for good.
I have only recently decided to stay where I am and 'pay out the 2 recipients from my Mum's Will more than 2 years ealier than I have to'. The monkey will be off my back and I wont feel like I am in 'no man's land'. Then the place will be completely mine and I can truly get my projects sorted and underway one by one, which will motivate me to 'GET RID OF THE STUFF' even more.
Here are my parents, Zaiga and Eddie, Dusi Saldi.
And the home I can soon call my own!
Now that I have decided to stay I can now fine tune my future plans more efficiently and effectively.
Once I got passed just chatting on this blog and discovered how to post photos, I really got to see more rather than just 'talk' about the issue. I do hope that you have found the photos of some value and interest.
This is me celebrating my birthday with family and friends, which really is in the worst time of the year... early January. No one is ever around to celebrate due to being away! This year I got lucky and overjoyed by the turnout. We need these 'happy' breaks to keep going. Otherwise, what is life for!!! Just to slog it out. Hell no... give me some hearty gatherings of gorgeous friends anytime. This is my reward.
This blog has given me much more than I could've ever realise and has proven to be a useful tool in better dealing with the process of 'decluttering'. I have found it less stressful and far more bearable. I can totally recommend others doing the same.
So there you have it, this blog one whole year on! Unbelievable really. From where I was, to where I am now. Even though I detest and resent being in this situation, I have learnt so much more personally by going and getting through it. One that I do not now regret.
Here's me with my daughter, Aija.
Now don't be shy. Please do say 'boo' even. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
I have found sayings off the internet, mainly facebook that I find enlightening. You may find these help... or not.
But one thing is for sure and that is....
But try to think along other lines to help you get out of your rut...
Which is what I am currently doing and sharing what I no longer need, or is way too much for one person...
So I can go and finally enjoy those sunsets and one day even find myself under an Aurora Borealis!
Sounds better than 'STUFF' to me.
Well, here's to the next year, which I have given myself to clear the hallway, the carport, the shed, the attic and what is over in the neighbours garage. Along with getting that mortgage so I can truly be a home owner once more.
Totally achievable now that I have looked back at where I have come from and now to where I am heading.
Cheers all
Anita
ps - don't forget to comment or go over to my facebook page and comment there if you are having difficulty doing so here.
Love your blog Anita, I'm sure many people can relate to similar issues, Thank you for sharing. With love Tania GW
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