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1000 Things Day 4: The first week's summary

12/4/2014

2 Comments

 
On Thursday I cleaned out my office, replacing our somewhat awkward computer desk with a corner unit I spotted outside the thrift store when dropping off a parcel at the couriers. It was a real find - I've been looking for the right desk for 5 years! Funny how when you start releasing stuff, the things you actually need seem to appear. PTL! Some neighbours, however, were sitting outside a nearby café, and when they saw me picking up the desk called out "I thought you were getting rid of stuff - not collecting more!" LOL Can't get away with anything in a small town!

As I cleared out the office, I put aside 32 items for giving away, including 3 various CD/DVD carry cases, 24 computer games, a bag of beads, a pottery mouse, a cross stitch kit, a devotional book, and a jar.

I also created a poster to add to the board outside, of 4 items for sale - a motorbike, a wardrobe, the old computer desk, and a popcorn maker. I added another 3 books to my bag of books to sell as well.

These things would have been put outside on Friday, but it rained all day long. On Saturday morning (today as I write) it was still raining. I checked the forecast - and it shows rain for the next week. On the one hand, I'm so pleased it's raining - we've been suffering a drought for the last three months. But at the same time, I want to get rid of this stuff. So I got my husband to help me move a small, heavy "shed" from the paddock to the top of the drive, so I can put things that would otherwise be rain damaged in it, and I went ahead and put out things on Saturday - something of an experiment, as weekend there are often a lot of kids at the skate park across the road; we didn't want them taking things and being stupid with them. It went well most of the day - until a certain group of teens did just that, so from now on I'll stick to putting things out on weekdays when school is in session.

Picture
Meanwhile on Friday I had sorted out another 266 items to give away - 236 plant pots plus 1 piece of fabric, 9 items of clothes, a rag rug, a bike helmet, 10 books, a picnic bag, 1 flexi tub, a potter's wheel, a chest of drawers, and a lidded wooden box. Later I added to it another 8 items - 5 pairs of shoes, another helmet, a tennis racket, and a decorative wooden wheelbarrow.

So totals from the first week: 488 items set out to give away, 78 items for sale. Considerably ahead of the initial goal for the week - even if one discounts the 236 plant pots. Hmmmm.....we really do have a lot of extra stuff we don't need!
2 Comments
Rose
12/4/2014 01:59:19 am

Fabulous job you've done. I so appreciate what you said about the culture telling us that basically we need to hoard things because they might not be available one day. So contrary to God's Word! I had fallen for that lie, too. Thank you so much! I'm trying to do my own 1000 things gone, but I'm not keeping track as well as you.

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Cynthia
12/4/2014 09:19:01 am

Thanks Rose. :-) Yes, it's easy to absorb the thinking that is prevalent around us - I frequently find my mind needs renewing once again! The keeping track isn't really the important thing - it's the letting go. But if keeping track motivates you (as it does me), then try this: have a box that you put all your discards in. When it's full (or your decluttering session is done), stop and count how many things are in the box, and write it down, then immediately transfer it to the appropriate place for how you've decided to get rid of it - in your vehicle to drop off at the thrift store, for example, or by the road for people to help themselves to.

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    Cynthia Hancox's desire is to lead women step-by-step from chaos to peace in their homes and lives.

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