Week 7

Week 7- item weight:  24.5lbs    Cumulative junk loss: 165.9lbs

Contents include: 26 books and a motorcycle helmet

Process: I was really busy yesterday and got out of my Friday routine, but that's ok- it's still this week! I have been going through my book shelves and finding satisfaction in clearing some room. I think I may have a bookshelf for sale sometime soon!  I am slowly getting rid of my massive war novel collection. There was a time about 10 years ago when I bought book after book to add to it- but there came a time about 6 years ago when I just couldn't stomach another book on violence. My fascination as a pacifist, had met it's satiation. I know without any doubt in my mind that war is terrible- no need to surround myself with books to iron in that point.

The motorcycle helmet- I don't know why i've held on to it. It was tossed in the sale of my most recent bike and I had been planning to donate it. I don't trust second hand lids, and I don't even dream of wearing something that isn't a full helmet. Off to the goodwill you go! (Very suitable for a Halloween costume- friends, don't ever buy a second hand helmet for safety reasons)

Week 6

Week 6- item weight:  23lbs    Cumulative junk loss: 141.4lbs

Contents include: 25 books

Process: This week I have been pretty distracted so the books were an easy thing to de-clutter. I continued my work from last week and cleared a few shelves of all my books. It's a little like seeing old friends- unfortunately for these "friends" I haven't open their covers in ages. I don't need those books to remember the fun times and the great stories. Time for them to bring joy to someone else. My John Marsden series (Tomorrow when the war began, The Ellie Chronicles) was hard to let go- it took me a while to collect all the books but I have them all in electronic format. None of them seem special enough to hold on to in my future life of limited space. Only a few select books will make that cut!

Week 5

Week 5- item weight:  24.4lbs    Cumulative junk loss: 118.4lbs

Contents include: Lots of books, a sleeping bag, blood pressure cuff, alarm clock and board game.

Process: This week was mainly my stuff, although my husband parted with his antique alarm clock. It used to be white- now it's a strange yellow from sun exposure. My work is doing a book sale and it's given me a little motivation to clear some shelves. I will likely donate more books this week and stash it as a cheat week. Better they go to a good cause, then simply to the thrift store.

Week 4

 

Week 4- item weight:  22.4lbs    Cumulative junk loss: 94lbs

Contents include: 3 laptop cases (you read that right, 3!), a puzzle, books, Christmas ornaments, a game, some Christmas decorations, a lost season 2 box set.

Process: This was the first week I found myself struggling a little with the process. the past couple boxes felt simple as I could look around me and immediately spot something I knew belonged in the boxes. I found myself pacing a little and wondering what the next step was. I guess I must have some form of item hierarchy of importance, something I've never really given much thought to. I think I want to become more mindful when I acquire new things about where they fit in this hierarchy, maybe that would help me sift out what I truly need.

The books again were difficult. I made the conscious decision to part with some of my Everest/mountaineering collection. Although it was quite small, I had taken the time to gather some really cool books. But they gather dust on the shelf and although I like seeing it there, I know the stories I don't need the pages to remind me of them. Time for someone else to enjoy them. I am dangerously close to the 100lbs point. That's kind of surreal as there doesn't yet seem to be much gone. It causes me to wonder how incredible of a change my living space will have had after 48 more junk purges!