Update #4 - Feeling A Bit Discouraged

In some ways I've made some good progress on my 100 Thing Challenge.  For example, in the area of clothing, I've separated my closet into a side of stuff I'll keep and a side of stuff I'll get rid of.  I have not touched the get rid of side except one weak moment several days ago when I slipped on an old ragged pair of jeans to work in the garage.  (They were really cozy, but they are still going to go.)  And I've managed to sell some stuff on Ebay.  And overall, I have to say that the effort I'm putting forth to reduce, refuse, and rejigger my stuff has led to a more pleasant couple of months.  Finally, the extra space in my mind and life have come in handy, as the last couple of weeks have been very tough on a personal level.  So mostly things are good.  And as I write this it becomes harder to complain.  But hey, does that stop you?

Tonight I'm feeling a bit discouraged.  Will I ever not be stuck in stuff?!  Tell me, am I schizophrenic or does it seem like the world will not rest unless I am ever overwhelmed in a heap of unnecessary stuff?  Really it should not astonish me, but it always does.  It always baffles me when I think of how much other people seem interested in having me acquire stuff.  And it is tiring to me to realize how difficult it is to get rid of stuff.  Easy to acquire.  Hard to reduce.

Anyway, that's my complaint for the night.  But things are not too bad.  If all goes well I'll be spending some time in the wilderness soon.  The Padres are whipping the Dodgers' butts right now.  My super secret rejigger project is coming along nicely.  And my wife just got a cute haircut today.

Comments

[Robby]

Keep at it! You're doing great (from what I can tell on your blog)! I'm glad to hear you're already feeling the positive effects of less clutter and it makes me want to give the challenge a go... I don't know if I could give up so much though.

[Karol]

I so know what you mean. Every bit of my being longs to have a simple life. My happiest times are camping with only my tent, sleeping bag, a few pots, and some cans of beans to go along with the fish. Yet I am so bogged down with stuff that has crept up on me over 41 years of marriage, most of it kept for sentimental reasons. I love your blog and admire your goal of 100. Thanks for the inspiration.

[steve]

as i read your entry today, i thought you might be interested in a book called "Better Off", check it out on Amazon. i think the author felt the same "battle" (if you will) against Stuff. i'd be interested in what you thought of it.

[Nina Ruth]

You're doing a great job...not easy to declutter with a wife, 3 girls & folks who express love by giving you more...STUFF! :-)

Getting off to the wilderness was often Richard Foster's "cure" in his book, "Freedom of Simplicity," so hope it goes well! Keep it up!

[debbie]

nope, you're just having a mood...it happens to everyone and comes on you for no real reason. you'll be back on your game soon enough.

[Wobagi]

Don't give up! I am fan of your blog and I was amazed to see how many people want to achieve a similar goal. I am also decluttering my space. I haven't limited myself to 100 things but to a such amount of stuff, I can take with me on my own back and in hands. It's mostly a psychological struggle. I found that it's much easier to get rid of stuff after making a photo of it. Maybe I am crazy, but I photographed every single thing in my home. And it was like a cure. I could just sell or throw away things without feeling that I am loosing something. The electronic version of stuff is of course not functional at all, but it showed me that it is enough to kill the sentiments when throwing away things. It is also a great documentation over years. And such photos work great as a packlist when leaving for a trip.
Keep the great work! You will make it!

[Dave Bruno]

Thanks for all the kind encouragement!

Yeah, I'm back at it. As I've said so often, the hardest part of not having too much stuff (at least for me) it finding a way to get rid of all the excess stuff I've already got.

Where there's a will, there a way.

[Jamie Cain]

Dave, I'm positively inspired! I've been battling my inner Grand Acquisitor for a while now. Thanks for the inspiration, and keep going, bro!