Extreme makeover: self edition
I suppose I’ve taken the first step and admitted that I have a problem… with clutter.
I posted a lot of pictures to flickr today of my apartment, and it’s pretty revealing just how bad I’ve let my place get. I’ve been here a little over a year, and it does look like someone lives here, it looks like a crazy person has come in, while somebody was away and just thrown shit all over the apartment. So I created a photo set, I was going to mark it friends and family only but actually made it public.. I’m not sure why exactly, but I guess it’s so that the abuse/support can come from anywhere, not just my friends.
It’s my attachment to stuff that drags me down. I just can’t let go sometimes I spend money on stuff and it has to stay around even if I don’t use it or can’t use it, but I’m trying to turn that around. The two new pairs of Kenneth Cole shoes I bought, that I thought fit a little snugly… they really don’t fit it all. I was trying to convince myself to keep them so they’ll probably go to eBay since I think it’s too late to return them. I have other things around the house that might sell well on eBay, but for the most part I should probably get rid of.
I think with my birthday coming up its starting to hit me just how much clutter there is in my life whether that’s physical or emotional or what have you, and I’d like to free myself of some of it. Recently, someone who I sort of have a crush on was over at my apartment, and I prefaced it with saying to my apartment was messy. But even so, I just felt a little bit ashamed to have them over, because it’s a pig sty, as my mother would say. And while I’m sure we all go through messy stages without a roommate even one that wasn’t all that stable at all times. My place has simply gone to pot, just because there’s no one else I have to keep the place tidy for on a regular basis. Additionally, I have friends coming in from out of town this weekend. Who’ve never seen my place, and I suppose, I feel that it’s rude, if I don’t at the very least, invite them over. Once again my stupid sense of manners gets me into trouble.
Anyway, enough rambling for now, I need to get back to it and enjoy some healthy fruit and veg that I got at the Farmer’s Market today for dinner.
dude, we’re going through the same thing. we’re both packrats.
Amen, brutha. You’re the one that inspired me to do this.
I’m right there with you. I want to have a place I’m not ashamed to have people come over and visit. right now I can get away with saying “I just moved in,” but that won’t last long. I was going to eBay things or try to get a good price for them, but now I’m thinking, “this is how you learn not to add clutter to your life, by getting rid of it in a way that you don’t get anything back but space and good karma.”
P.S. I have so many empty boxes. I’m going to go take all my garbage out now. If you don’t hear from me by noon tomorrow, send a pizza and a fifth of vodka.
Good space and karma are lovely things.. but part of my keeping is tied a bit to value. I know that the things have no real value in the grand scheme, but this is my mother’s and father’s DNA in conflict. So I’ll probably be heading to eBay within the week.
I have to agree with Lindsay on this one. The only way to keep it from happening on a consistent cycle of binge and purge is if you have to go through punishment for keeping clutter. Therefore as punishment you have to rip it out of your life, throw it in the trash, and move on.
Having moved 3 times in less then 2 years has kinda helped me get rid of crap. 🙂
Really? wow! our living room is clean and has stayed clutter free for like 2 weeks now, and the kitchen after garbage day will be clean too!
keep up the great work!
Last night I focused on the fireplace mantle while Jenifer kept me company and watched football. One thing that keeps me cleaning is having company. They can be there to help or just hang out, but having someone else to talk to is definitely a plus for me.
The place is coming together. I might almost be ready for my first “after” picture.
I think I’ll be able to do some after photos sometime this weekend for the kitchen and the living room.