Nov052009
Purge Thursday: Revival
Filed under Home,Purge Thursday by Kim at 8:50 pm on Nov 05 2009
Remember the optimistic, joyous, burden-removing start I had when I said I was going to get rid of one thing every Thursday? I called it Purge Thursday, and a couple of folks even took it on, and started documenting what they were getting rid of every Thursday? We were all going to live more simply and make room for the things that were really important to us?
Yeah that all went to shit, didn’t it.
Well, it has to come back, and with a vengeance, because I have Plans. Those plans involve getting rid of almost every stick of furniture in our spare bedroom and tearing up carpet and purging a vast swathe of junk. No, I haven’t knitted anything in five years. No, I don’t need to keep my grandmother’s luggage that smells a little weird and I have hung on to for reasons I should probably go into with my therapist. No, I don’t plan on taking the harp back up now that I have drums and guitar. No, I don’t need 200 cassette tapes that probably wouldn’t play. Yes – I want a dedicated place to study that is not the kitchen table. This defines the whole Purge Thursday mentality. What’s really important?
So taking advantage of the fact that I might try to post every day this month, and the lack of exams and homework I have now that all my classes are done for a while, I hope to be using this Purge Thursday tag regularly. Just about everything you see in this picture – including the carpet – must go. Not sure of all the destinations but it has to go.
And hey if any of you have a recommendation for someone to install carpet in my local area, by all means do tell. 
Oh! And the plans do include a futon or day bed, something a person could sleep on, so not all guest bedroom properties will be compromised. But if you’ve stayed with us and you really liked the 4-poster, please either come get it or come by and sleep on it one more time, because it’s going.
I shall now shamelessly comment-bait by asking you to please, post encouraging thoughts or stories of your own remodeling or just tell me it’s all going to be OK, or point me to blogs about uncluttering or simple living, OR if you are comfortable enough, come over and hug me because I’m scared. I’ve been avoiding this too long!
1 TAOon 05 Nov 2009 at 9:58 pm
Um…I’ve got no stories for you but I’m sure everything will be OK. I’m not sure if it’s wise to invite the vast internet to come and hug you, though. For one thing I bet some of them have pretty bad breath.
Relax and do it. Nothing bad will happen except for paper cuts and other various tossing stuff out related injuries.
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Kim Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
The relax part is what I need to remember. Thank you.
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2 Mariaon 05 Nov 2009 at 10:21 pm
It’s all going to be ok. You’ve already gotten at least one step further than I have by planning exactly what to get rid of and what to replace it with. I just plan to do a Great Purging the next time I have a totally free weekend, which hasn’t happened in the past 4 or 5 months…
*virtual hugs!*
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Kim Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Oh, I’m an ace at planning! It’s doing that causes some difficulty.
Good luck with your great purging. If things are getting in your way, like they are getting in mine, then you will feel better!
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Maria Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Same here. Things aren’t getting in the way too much which is amazing since I have a one-bedroom apartment. But there are a lot of things that I’ve done absolutely nothing with except move them from place to place over the years. Some are important memories, but a lot of it could be unloaded. The tricky part is finding the right place: ebay? thrift store? Family? Two nights ago I put a computer chair (a bit ratty and missing a caster/wheel) and a box of past-best-by-date food with a sign in the trashroom and it was taken within 24 hours (trash hadn’t been picked up yet). So that’s good I guess? But now I feel bad that someone in my building was desperate enough to take my junk…or thriftier than I am!
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Kim Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 8:20 am
With stuff that’s attached to memories, I’m a big fan of the “take a picture and get rid of it” answer. It’s helped me get rid of some stuff I would never use.
3 Meganon 05 Nov 2009 at 10:36 pm
I’ll come do your room, if you come do mine. And you know the room I’m talking about . . . THE ROOM. Want to trade?
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Kim Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I saw the room. I am thinking that’s not a fair trade.
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4 Beckion 05 Nov 2009 at 11:05 pm
“Yeah that all went to shit, didn’t it.”
Yes. Yes it did. And I’m saying that because for me it did, too.
But you are an inspiring person! I will take up the challenge once more. I did manage to get rid of stuff and didn’t post about it, but it was small potatoes compared to what you’re doing.
I think the fact you even want to do this is a huge step forward and I send kudos your way. You will be fine. I have an idea you will feel amazingly lighter and less stressed after getting rid of so much stuff.
Speaking of getting rid of stuff, I may be interested in the knitting stuff. Like I need more stuff, argh!
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Kim Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Oh man! It would be awesome if I could know that my knitting stuff had a destination that wasn’t the trash or the thrift store. I have a big box of knitting needles and tools that were my grandmother’s, and while I never saw her knit, I still have this feeling they should go… somewhere specific, instead of somewhere nebulous? If that makes any sense. I have that and a half-drawer full of yarn, mostly cotton and acrylics because wool and angora makes me itch really bad.
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Becki Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Ooooh, tools. Can you take a picture of the knitting stuff? It doesn’t have to be a good one, just so’s I can get an idea of how many things are included. I could pay shipping?
I have all of my grandmothers knitting stuff, too.
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Kim Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I will try to remember to get a picture of the knitting stuff this weekend!
Kim Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I sent the email with the pictures, let me know if you got it!
5 The Baltimore Chopon 05 Nov 2009 at 11:45 pm
The Louisville Slugger said “Throw away the most precious thing you own first.”
I think that’s some Buddhist nonsense, but if you throw away the thing with the most sentimental value first, the rest should be that much easier to part with.
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Kim Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Thanks – maybe that’s a sign to get rid of the 4-poster first.
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Becki Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 12:36 am
And maybe getting rid of the biggest thing first will make the rest look less overwhelming.
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6 Nicon 06 Nov 2009 at 7:52 am
Wow, you are getting rid of a harp???!
I should really be responding to the whole purging message…as…well….I need to purge bigtime.
But wow, a harp! That’s always been my dream instrument.
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Kim Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
It’s just a lap harp, but yeah, I’ve been lugging it around for over a decade and almost never playing it. I think I found it a temporary home, it just needs to get to Richmond. But ultimately I may sell it…
Are you interested in buying?
As far as bigtime needing of purges, I think it’s easiest to just throw one thing away first. Once you’ve done it once, particularly if it was something you were attached to in a way that was strong but not healthy, then you can do it again more easily.
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7 Nicon 06 Nov 2009 at 7:55 am
ok ok, I will respond to the purging bit too…
I am more than willing to come over and give hugs.
And yeah, do it! Cause you don’t want your place to look like mine. If you do find any helpful sites, please pass them on.
Good luck, and I hope it ends up being easier than feared.
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Kim Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Check out the archives of Unclutterer!
http://unclutterer.com/
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8 paleotheiston 06 Nov 2009 at 8:19 am
I went through a major purge when I did that yard sale back in May. It was difficult at first, but be assured that you will feel great afterwards! It was actually very good for me to reexamine my attachment to things and look at where I was then versus where I am now. I think I’m in a better place now, so it was kinda nice to physically let go of the not so great parts of the old me as well as mentally let go. There was some good closure going on and that’s always healthy I think.
So even if it’s daunting now, think about how good you will feel when it’s over! You can do it!
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Kim Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Thank you! All this stuff really feels like emotional blockage, for sure.
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9 Christieon 06 Nov 2009 at 9:57 am
I meant to say 10-15 minutes *a day*!
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10 Christieon 06 Nov 2009 at 9:59 am
(with correct links this time)
The purge site that has been inspiring to me (besides your purge thursdays) has been: http://thejunkpyramid.blogspot.com/
I will definitely give you a hug the next time I see you!
I’m am so in the same boat – solidarity sister!
I may try to force myself to do 10-15 minutes of cleanup a day in my downstairs storage area which I feel needs to be sorted out before I can attack any other room properly- I’ll post pictures before I start.
Also I wanted to include inspiration in addition to solidarity:
Before:
http://fred-and-xie.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/10223849_jyYXp#704905387_vLz43
After:
http://fred-and-xie.smugmug.com/Home/Nursery/
It can in fact be done
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11 Jenon 06 Nov 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hugs and support, anytime you need ’em! There’s a lot of great advice already here and I don’t have a lot to add. I need to get back on organizing – I purged a lot when I moved but I still have to make the best use of my space. I liked the idea of getting rid of the most sentimental thing first – it seems like it would make sense. If the bed’s most sentimental that would also make a LOT of room! =D
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12 kittenscribbleon 06 Nov 2009 at 12:17 pm
I applaud your resolve! My life too is marked by abortive attempts to get rid of things (I get easily mired down in sentimentality). I guess the thing to keep in mind is that stuff is easily come by, should you need it again, and that the memories live in you, not in the stuff. Take a picture, if you need the trigger.
Maybe I’ll even remember that next time I go through a cleaning spree.
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13 CSueon 06 Nov 2009 at 6:57 pm
Once we decided that we needed to fix up the house, sell it, and MOVE, it got a lot easier mentally to say, OK, it’s got to go. And I am an utter packrat!
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