the tyranny of stuff

"Give yourself time my friend and you will start to see that the ties that bind you to stuff will begin to weaken and you will finally be free from the tyranny of placing too much importance on stuff. Very little of it matters and the more you declutter the more you will come to realise that. Just keep letting go of it and it will begin to let go of you."


Great advice from the blog 365 less things .  
 
Today as I looked through my off season clothing that had been stored over summer, I found a dress with a moth hole right in the centre front of the top.  I might be able to repair a small hole on a sleeve, but this has made the dress into garbage.  Not a huge loss, since I hadn't worn it for several years anyway.  The question is, why do I have so many things that I can't properly look after them?   This isn't valuing my posessions, it's me creating junk!  Pictures that aren't framed and displayed get mildew in the basement, wool items get moth eaten, metal rusts.  I might as well toss it now, or even better give it to someone who will value and look after it.
 
Plus it's a beautiful weekend and I'm inside dealing with clutter.  This is a poor way to live my life. 
 
Good news is I've rented the upstairs apartment.  Which is one of the reasons I have to deal with some of the extra stuff I had stored up there.  Now I have to be careful not to go buy more things I think I need, just because I have the extra income.   The 'one in one out' principle must be adhered to!
 

Cat photos - I love Audra's golden eyes!

The kittens are getting bigger.  This is a rare shot of all three together.

Old clutter

This weekend I got into some serious decluttering.  Following an example I saw on Raverly, I decided to let go of 50 items.  At first it was difficult, but as I went along it got easier, and I made it to 50 without too much difficulty.

Even better, I was able to let go of some sort of sentimental things that I'd carried around a long time.  Some of them I didn't even like much, for example a majorica plate from my grandmother, some were in poor shape like a strange egyptian wall hanging from a great aunt; some didn't work, like a watch my former husband gave me before we were married.  No reason to to be constrained by family history, have shabby things or hang on to the past.  Let it all go.

I also parted with some extras like the fourth set of sheets, or the odd towel. I find it difficult to part with these types of things, but honestly I think I'd prefer to have a spacious feeling instead of being overwhelmed by stuff. I even let go of a few books!

Picture of Rory and Pico - nothing to do with decluttering!

Simplicity and age

Read a blog recently about the Hindu idea of the four stages of life, and moving into the 'Forest Dweller' stage. Entering the forest of many delights


I heard about this many years ago. The concept always made sense, and the idea of moving beyond accumulation had an appeal, even when I was in the materialistic 'Householder' stage.

In my thirties I was very into my career - concerned about how much money I was making, looking for advancement, taking courses to improve my skills and get more credentials, always looking to move ahead.  I always had my resume ready, and I changed employers a few times.  Nowadays, I don't care anymore. Several openings to the Supervisor level have come up where I work - I won't apply for them. I enjoy my job, especially getting out in the field and getting things built. I won't trade a few extra dollars and a title for being stuck at a desk reviewing someone else's project.

I also remember in my 30's hearing that Elton John had a huge auction and got rid of most of his stage clothing and collectables. At the time I thought that was a strange thing to do, in fact I was shocked.  My then husband and I were busy accumulating furniture, dishes, pets, cars, all the householder items and we attached great importance to them. Then my marriage ended and I left most of it behind. It was freeing to live in a small apartment, with minimal possessions.
But I purchased a house, and slowly the accumulation crept up again. Things I "needed", and things I "wanted".  Clothes, furniture, motorcycles, a stereo, tools, knitting materials.  It's been seventeen years (hard to believe) and I have a full house again.  Now I find it hard to let go of some items, holding on to a younger life.

However, I have noticed a subtle shift in my life over the last few years, from always looking to acquire more, to an attitude of this is more than enough. For the first time over the last year I seriously considered retiring early.  Before I thought I'd want to work beyond age 65!

I am going to consider the Forest Dweller stage and how to let go of the mementos, the 'just in case' items, the tools for a life I don't live any more. It's a process, a shift I need to think about and honour.   It's time to let go.

PS on the letting go front I've taken three bags of clothing and books to the thrift store.  It's a start!

a funeral

Went downtown for the funeral of Jack Layton today.   I felt the urge to participate in a small way, just to be part of the event as his casket was taken from City Hall to Roy Thompson Hall for the funeral service. 

He was my Member of Parliament, but I didn't vote for him last time - I supported a friend who was running for the Green Party.  But I have voted for his party in the past, and apart from a symbolic vote for the Greens, I probably would have supported him.  And I admired so much that he changed his methods over time, became less confrontational, rising above mudslinging and attack politics to campaign on a positive message.  His contribution to the quality of my city when he was a City Councillor was huge too.

One thing I found very strange about the whole thing was the applause and even a few cheers as the hearse came by.  And the eulogies during the funeral ceremony got standing ovations!!  I guess people wanted to find a way to express what they felt about the man, what he had meant to them, the good concrete things he accomplished over his political career.

Rest in peace Jack.

Letting go

One of my challenges in life is a tendancy to purchase sale items that are close to but not quite what I wanted.  Perhaps an inherited trait from my very frugal mother, or an issue with my sense of selfworth.  Whatever, the result is usually a purchase that ends up as clutter.

I need to let go of some of these purchases and projects, hopefully to make room for better things in my life.

Yesterday I was looking at unfinished knitting projects, and I realized I have been working on two pale green cardigans.  I did not particularly say to myself "I could get a lot of wear from a pale green cardigan"  or "pale green fits in with my wardrobe, let's add more".  No, the wool was on sale in both cases.  Sweater one is too small and rather rough (purchased on line so no feel test).  I was going to reknit it larger, but why spend the time when it is a duplicate of sweater two?

The pattern of diamonds and crosses is very cool though. 

Sweater two is a nicer wool silk blend purchased at a store closing sale.  Right now it fits better, although I still want to change the back neck line.  Ripping out a couple of inches is better than ripping out an entire body. 

I intend to complete a couple more works in progress before I start anything else.  And I will be more deliberate when choosing my next knittng project.  Pick a colour and style that will work for me, even if I have to pay full price for the materials.

Black Cat Appreciation Day

Charlie playing with his toy troll.

He's got plush fur like a Gund toy.

Audra watching the kittens from a safe place.  My gleaming black panther cat.

Millie on the cat tower.

She's got a bit of white, but is mostly black so I'll post her picture today with my all black guys.

My summer vacation

Spent a week at my mother's cottage in Haliburton.  We had good weather, the lake water was really warm this year, so we went swimming every day. 

 This is down at the dock area, the cottage is up above this area.

 My mother on what is left of our dock.  She's going to be 90 next year, but is in good shape except for her eyesight.

This shows the stairs up to the cottage - 42 steps total!  My father built a seat for a rest half way up.  Rory is heading up.  He didn't go in the water, but came down with us.

This is the sleeping cabin - just enough space for a suitcase and a double bed.

This is a sunrise shot from the cottage deck.  I love getting up early and listening to the birds wake up.