“What in the crap is this? And why did she/he save it?”
Thus begins another Halloween Horror story. However, this Nightmare on Elm Street may actually be on your street, or in your own house or garage.
You’ve probably uttered such questions yourself. Your children will likely have the same outburst, at some future day when they have to clean out your house after you die –- unless the tradition of hoarding is broken. If you don’t want to hear your name taken in vain, take strides now to purge and organize your paper trail and possessions, before you leave this mortal existence. I can promise if you don’t, your kids will be so burdened by your belongings, they won’t even blink nor cringe when they throw your precious things away.
I remember when my dad died. He had saved at least 30 years of bank statements, income tax records, and receipts. I did find a few other things of value in those boxes, but most people won’t take the time to sift through the stacks; they’ll just toss everything out. Photos abandoned in basement boxes tell no stories and will not be valued. You need to keep truly valuable things separate and well identified.
Need more motivation to declutter? Then simply rephrase the aforementioned question, “Why in the heck, am I saving this?” If you’ve never used it, never read it, haven’t worn it for more than 4 years, or it has no meaning to anyone else, it’s probably time to get rid of it. Picture your garage, front hall closet, pantry, basement, extra bedroom. My guess is that they are bulging over with things that haven’t been used in years. Like Audrey II, the man-eating plant, “stuff” starts taking over and your home becomes a “Little House of Horrors” as your junk grows exponentially like the national debt. Does Fibber McGee’s Closet ring a bell?
The excessive and potentially space-robbing stacks of printouts, files, newspapers and magazines are especially insidious. Line upon line, they encroach and steal the open peaceful spaces of our homes, sometimes turning our "living" space and hallways into a maze, instead of a restful haven. Wikipedia states that "compulsive hoarding may impair mobility (I.e. blocked hallways) and interfere with basic activities, including cooking, cleaning, hygiene, and sleeping." Defining traits are "the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. In addition, living spaces are sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designed."
The excessive and potentially space-robbing stacks of printouts, files, newspapers and magazines are especially insidious. Line upon line, they encroach and steal the open peaceful spaces of our homes, sometimes turning our "living" space and hallways into a maze, instead of a restful haven. Wikipedia states that "compulsive hoarding may impair mobility (I.e. blocked hallways) and interfere with basic activities, including cooking, cleaning, hygiene, and sleeping." Defining traits are "the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. In addition, living spaces are sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designed."
With the great blessing of the Internet where everything is just a click away, there is no need to save 30 years of Ensigns, Newsweeks, and National Geographics. There are schools, teachers, congregations, or recycle bins that can use them, and you in turn can come out from under this burdensome stack of paper.
Fabric Addictions
Personally my favorite guilty pleasure is my fabric stash. Over the past 30 years, I’ve
cleaned out cupboards and got rid of “real junk” in order to have a place for all my cloth. Then I bought containers, and boxes, for the ever expanding great deals, that I never had time to sew. Thus I joined the 20 million other quilting addicts in the USA
In a recent documentary Why Quilts Matter, the 2010 Quilting in America Survey reported that the average quilter has $3,677 worth of fabric stored! Now, this is starting to sound like a serious addiction! Fortunately, while serving on the Navajo reservation a few years ago, I had the chance to reduce my “materialism” by emptying many cupboards, and sharing boxes of fabric donated my quilting friends. We put the fabric to good use, teaching others how to sew and quilt. There are many little church congregations in the Four Corners area who would truly benefit from the fabric that lies unused in people’s homes. If that doesn’t work for you, then Miller has another antidotal song entitled, “The 12 Step Plan for Quilters.”
Technology Tricks to Reduce Clutter
I had an “ah-ha” experience with my own hoarding in 2010, when I started creating a media show for my 50th class reunion. Most of the pictures I needed were provided by digitally savvy classmates, who knew where their pictures were and how to scan them. But I still needed a few more mementos of the good old days for the show.
I pulled out my old “high school treasure box” and discovered some amazing things: dance programs, newspaper clippings, a basketball schedule of the ’59-‘60 season, a cardboard tinfoil crown, graduation tassel and certificates, and dried corsages. It’s true—I was a true-blue & gold hoarder who had a sentimental attachment to my high school memories! I knew none of my kids would care a whit about nostalgia, so I scanned each item, then tossed them away and was quickly able to empty out half of a file cabinet drawer.
When it comes to sentimental clutter, technology can be your salvation. You can get rid of “things” and still keep them digitally and look at them whenever you want. Your computer and scanner can become your best maids when it comes to “cleaning house.” I’d encourage those of you overly attached to your possessions, to take pictures of each item, or scan the documents and save them digitally. Then throw or give away the things that encumber you. This is an important step in hoarding recovery. It is a great feeling to be unshackled from “things”, but you should make a back up copy.
The other blessing when you break the hoarding cycle, is the potential benefit you can pass on to others. By recycling or regifting useful items, or donating to DI you can bless others. You can also put discards on your giveaway corner or donate to yard sales. Stuff can be a “regift” that can bless both the giver and the receiver, as well as the giver’s children! There are many in our community who could use your extra quilts, coats, clothing, cooking utensils, tools, books, boots, and “stuff.”
 |
| The Wilcox garage might need some decluttering! |
Winter time is perfect for diving into cupboards, closets, and drawers and honestly asking: “Do I need it? Do I use it? Will it be valuable to others in my family? If you can’t answer affirmatively to these questions, then get rid of it. For those of you who hoard stacks of papers, I believe the Blanding Post office still recycles paper, so drop them off and it will still do some good. And whatever you do, don’t keep your cardboard/tinfoil crowns for 50 years!
