Finding Boundaries Between You and Your Stuff: Clutter and Self-image - The Clutter Fairy Weekly #27

[@ArtyAntics]

I personally feel like who we are is what we give out to the rest of the world rather than what is in my home. Most of the people I meet in life will never come to my home to ‘see’ this version of me I project. They see me by my actions, and I hope my actions and words reflect my values. Decluttering was very cathartic, like shedding all the ideas of who I should be, who I was and refocusing on who I want to be. I get stuck enough trying things to move forward without stuff holding me back. I also realised that being generous is something important to me and since I lost my income to illness I couldn’t give in the same way. It was really enjoyable to give away my craft stash to teachers and others on low incomes.

[@pumalibrarian]

I can really relate to the perils of impulse Amazon shopping during this pandemic! I finally created a Shopping List for myself on Amazon and marked it private. Now I put things on the Shopping List first, then go over the list a few days later. Often I find it was just an impulse, not a need, and I can just remove it from the list.

[@carlasamuels479]

Enjoying listening to this while decluttering basement for the millionth time ...its keeping me motivated🥰👍

[@BeautifulOaks]

Such deep thoughts from this video that is helping let go of things ...thanks

[@brigittesutmuller4060]

You are such wells of wisdom🎉Thank you ever so much❤again and again💞

[@kitchencounterculture8466]

Another deep discussion. Really appreciate Ed's contributions too.

[@sarahnp490]

Thank you for this episode! I'm beginning to de-clutter my childhood stuff. Wow, not as easy as I thought it would be.

[@grannym5094]

We appreciate it when people give donations to a favourite charity, rather than giving us gifts. We really don’t need any more things!

[@rachealclark8287]

This was Very Helpfull video. It’s motivating to see my items in a different way and let go. Also what to keep. Thanks🥰

[@sarahlevering9063]

On inheriting items, I had to decide that its not my job to be the keeper of the stuff, that lifted a huge load off my shoulders.

[@MsLeenite]

Thank you, Gayle and Ed and Cookie and fellow Clutter Fairy fans! Wishing y'all a happy Independence Day. Remember to be independent of your "stuff". ;-D

[@susankipper3769]

Taking a break from work and social media-what a great example for us. Thank you!!

[@TheClutterFairy]

I needed it!

[@Hippabellita1]

One of your commentators during the session commented on the size of the desk being a sign of social status ...... that rang memories of my first job, which was in HR in HQ of an insurance company, and actually, depending on your position you were given a certain sized desk, certain quality of carpet, room with a certain number of windows and a stagged bar and the flower watering service ........ LoL ..... these were the days. Today, you are a good manager, if you sit with your people in the shared office space or nowadays at home ;-)))))

[@buddyneher9359]

For me, books are my friends. I periodically let go of some of them, but not my books about The Beatles. Those will be part of my estate :-)

[@robingunn9213]

I agree. When I look on my shelf and see the books that I have read, most of the time I get a happy memory of how much I loved the book--its characters, its plot, how it made me feel. It's not ego for me. It's like looking at a photo album, except they are mental photographs of the experiences that occurred in the book. I can usually only give those books away if I give them to someone who I think would appreciate those books.

[@kathryndalton9867]

I rescued my mother's antique bureau. Used it the last 34 years just sent it to auction and it sold for a fiver got NOTHING. As fees cost a fiver. Makes me wonder sometimes wether they take in the end and just say that's all it sold for

[@czeidman8908]

Really enjoyed this one. Thank you! I was hoping you were going to share your bracelet.

[@feathersky860]

Love you both 💙 so 🦋. Watch ALL your meet-ups. Plus All # 27💥For the first time that fake mirror, was messin’ with my eye accuracy. Want to see more of you, your bead necklace’s & bracelet’s. You INSPIRE

[@vickielew5491]

So vital to our to self esteem maintenance is your ongoing show! Thank you so much🌻.

[@margeincharge8760]

Oh yeah I’ve got a fabulous reclining exercise bike I need to start using. It’s really nice and was given to me so at least I didn’t spend any money on it. But I would feel guilty getting rid of it because my poor husband dragged it home, maybe I’ll use it this winter (eyes rolling)

[@nancymuller3291]

I grew up without a town library. I spent my first paycheck to join Doubleday Book Club where I could order by mail and have the books come to the house where I lived. I have donated to library book sales over the years but I still love those books I read back then. I reduced my craft down to making greeting cards but am easing away from that. I gave up sewing and gave away all the fabric. I am still overwhelmed with too many things including baking items. I still have to bake because of allergies. I cannot just buy what I eat because commercial stuff will make me sick.

[@TheClutterFairy]

Sounds like you have a lot of experience baking, so editing your cooking tools should be easy. You know which ones you need all the time and which ones are just taking up space. Try to work on one shelf each week, instead of everything at the same time. Best of luck!

[@Hippabellita1]

I was also recently dealing with the photo boxes from my parents AND my grandparents spontaneously handed to me by my sister ;-))) ..... which meant shoving them in 2 huge suitcases through high snow for quite some miles to and from the train station :-((( but with all the other stuff going on in our house right now, I stopped and moved them into our mini-attic space (about 20 sq. feet), for a later date ..... All the best on your road down memory lane and hope you can conclude this project quickly. :-))

[@TheClutterFairy]

LOL - apparently, sisters that fob off the photos to another sister is a thing now! That's funny! Yeah my boxes have sat in the office for some time now, and I'm finally working through them. Enjoy your trip down memory lane too! Here's to the sisters carrying the torch!

[@TheJudyJS]

They might get ruined in the attic.

[@donnaharris4310]

My son teased me about having too much toilet paper and toothpaste. He brings 5 to 10 people home twice a year for the Talladega races. When the lockdown happened I sat back and relaxed.

[@ArtyAntics]

I have started to boycott amazon, their modern slavery policy sucks, as does their working conditions. The guy who owns it asked for help paying his staff when he has made a fortune off this pandemic. I only go there if I can’t buy it from another store, preferably a local small business.

[@lifetobelived9102]

My sister in law works in an amazon warehouse. She told me how they were not protecting their workers at the beginning of the outbreak. Simple things like running out of soap in the bathrooms. They were not told on a timely about Covid cases. She took 2 months off until Michigan started to open again

[@ArtyAntics]

Life tobelived I’m sorry to hear that, although I’m not surprised. I also feel sorry for the thousands of low paid workers who make products abroad and the companies who have their designs ripped off and sold on their platform. It really is just a cess pit of bad morals. I hope your sister is safe and can find safer work 💜

[@TheClutterFairy]

Buying local can only help you, and you feel better buying that way. Good for you!

[@artsiecrafty4164]

Very helpful. My husband was a professor and a lover of books. It is costing me thousands to have them boxed and removed. Many of them will end up in a landfill because now, libraries and schools will not take donations because of the pandemic. How books spread disease is beyond me and very unscientific,

[@TheClutterFairy]

I would try the university where he taught to see if they would take them for their library, then also non-city run, private libraries. No one wants a donation of thousands of books at once usually, but it might be easier if you can donate in lesser quantities. And you can see if a second hand book seller wants to take Amy as well.

[@aromaofhope]

I've talked to my family and asked them not to give me gifts. They've mostly honored that request. It's hard for them, but I've tried to make it easier by not giving them anything, lol. (We get along pretty well, so it's not too awkward.)

[@margeincharge8760]

I’m going to ask people like my sister for gift cards or consumable products like food or wine. My sister got us Omaha Steaks for Christmas year before last and other than having to store them in the freezer for a time until we were ready to eat them, there was no long term storage issue.

[@trustdeuniverse9057]

You mentioned in a recent meetup that those shoe racks are a waste and do not hold many pairs- do you have any recommendations for how to store shoes?

[@kathryndalton9867]

Ottoman or smaller container

[@kathryndalton9867]

We all stocked food during the pandemic. I tried boxing in the spare bedroom but got mice. How I don't know. They weren't there before! So cost me to get rid of them and some food ended up ruined. All the rest I must eat now really

[@5anche5]

omg, I thought it was my cat meowing! awe, Cookie

[@amyt8475]

Me as well, I just went to get up to check where I had left them last because I thought it was mine that was crying 😂

[@kristinirwin7140]

I was wondering how a person leaves their digital items bought (books, audio books, music) to someone?

[@kathryndalton9867]

First edition books are worth money but just how we sell them I don't know

[@lifetobelived9102]

I’m actually going to start stock piling supplies again because of increased Covid cases. I’m not sure how things are going to play out in Texas

[@miranda8598]

Cookie! 😍

[@universaltruth2025]

Toilet paper & stockpiling was actually rational in the situation. Noone knew how long the pandemic would last, what shortages would eventuate, or how sick people would get.