In late October a post flit across my computer screen which emboldened me to try the 30 Day Minimalist Challenge. It captured my imagination and somehow gave me the confidence to try...
Here are the rules:
The whole thing takes 30 days. For me the easiest way to keep track was to start on the first day of November. The object is to declutter and to be thoughtful (pronounced HONEST) about what things in your home you actually use. It is about getting rid of 'stuff'. It's about my not saving the extra storage bins because 'some day' I might find a use for them. It's about carting that protein powder all the way from CO to AZ in my move because I 'may' learn to like the flavor. It's about seeing the two white bowls tucked on the cupboard floor that came with my original dish set back in 1978 and realizing I have used them approximately 5 times since then. It's about the bath brush I had for Russ and saving it because when I'm in my 80s it may come in handy.
So day one I found one thing to get rid of. On day two, two things. On day three, three things and so forth on and on.
Does it hurt you to even read those words? Does the thought give you heart palpitations?
As I looked about, I found duplicates, items out of date, and things I hadn't touched since moving into this house 9 months ago and some untouched for far longer. Things bought on a whim, things I needed for one event and all things unnecessary...gone. What did I do with these things? Some got thrown, some recycled and the majority will get brought to the thrift store.
We are a country of affluence, stuff and an inner need for more. It's rather embarrassing to know how completely I have fed that machine. At the same time I am delighted to know ow hard it's getting to find things to add to the table. Day 18 and on are requiring some fortitude, determination and ruthlessness!
I quit! Really, I couldn't/t get farther than Thanksgiving Day. I have been scrambling the last few days looking in boxes and at the back of shelves. I have scoured the garage, storage bins, under sinks, the laundry cupboard and my closet. I have been saying things like "well, really, I have only saved that for 'in case'...OR...I paid money for that - 'waste not, want not". My final search led me to my sewing bins. It's a chore I have wanted to tackle for a couple years and it just seemed too intense. I chose A LOT of fabric scrapes to send to the thrift shop; I had saved so much for a 'maybe' project. The problem with that thought is I generally buy new fabric selected just for that project.
Days 21, 22, 23 hurt. For sanity's sake, I gave up. With my sanity saved, I am proud for all my 'extras'. It’s time to quit, but I can feel good about that.
Days 24-31 I have an amazing collection to give away to the thrift shop. I have already trashed quite a bit and done a trip to the Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity thrift store). Next is a trip to InJoy… local thrift store.
DAY 1
Bath Brush
DAY 2
2 books
DAY 3
2 bowls
Halloween necklace
DAY 4
book
note cards
empty ring box
small shawl
DAY 5
2 duffel bags
Orange turtleneck sweater
1 WEEK magazine
Protein powder (I didn’t like the flavor)
DAY 6
Sandals
Wooden stacking rocks
Bookmark
Plastic corner to something?
Business card
Remote to something?
DAY 7
2 shirts
3 vases
AARP magazine
Thank you medallion (volunteer public health mobilizer during covid onset)
DAY 8
old (non-matching) cupboard door
Careblazer Survival Guide (dementia)
2 extra shelves
Clean-out from photo card box
2 grocery shopping bags
Empty box
Puzzle
DAY 9
blanket
2 hand towels
2 books
antique doll
landline phone cord
photos of ‘distraction screen’ project
Decorative orb
DAY !0
8 unders
2 socks
DAY 11
2 crocks
printer print-outs, not needed
old ear wax removal kit
Note cards
Socks
Pima County on Aging info
Mayonnaise..ick
Old Allspice
Storage container parts – not using
Note pads…never use
DAY 12
3 cupboard containers
3 unders
2004 tax records
Old Verizon bills from Colorado
2 cupboard doors
Large plastic bag
Full/old grocery notebook
DAY 13
2005-2008 tax records (yes, I shredded)
Empty bandage box (I consolidated)
Old wrap bandage
Note cards that came with envelopes
3 pieces of trash from under seat in car
2- year out of date Covid test kits
A coupon I will never act on
DAY 14
2 plastic sippy cups
plastic storage container
Empty Thanksgiving card box
2 bags of chips 6 mo. old in garage cupboard
2 plastic eye patches form old surgeries
Empty band-aid box
Old Visiting Ange and CNS driving weavers for Russ
Durango Herald bill
String wrap from tool storage
‘sleeve’ for storage of UV-ray umbrella of my car dash
DAY 15
extra copies of 2024 Medicare info
Plastic container
2 read The WEEK magazines
5 corks
Magazine rack
Night shirt
Foot file
Shoe laces
Out of date cream cheese
Light switch cover
DAY 16 (oops, 17)
Tall vase
70 yr old wool car robe
6 books to sell at Bookman’s
Read Magazine
2 medals
Rock solid Taco seasons
Out of date corn starch
Too large capri
Useless pastic container
Holey unders
Too well used pie crust cloth
DAY 17
Plastic container
Fabric
Read magazine
Linda medicine bills
Russell medical bills
Woodpecker distraction flag
Car sponge
3 way plug
Cloth napkins
Magnet
Metal hook
Furniture repair markers
Junk mail
Old manila folders
Batteries
Misc. Handle
Stanley utility knife
DAY 18
Plastic jug
Sale coupon
clean out of rolodex
2 napkins
Wash cloth
2 books
4 dish towels
Material
Magazine coupons
Vase
Random cord
Towel
Cozy throw
DAY 19
2 tank tops
Silk top
Straw basket
1 bag packaged trip
1 bag open trim
Sundried tomatoes bought for a recipe long ago
Matboard frame
2 power cords
Extension cord
Dried paints
Material scraps
Zippers (cir. 1975!)
Small frame
Fused glass cross
2 purses
DAY 20
Felt mattress pad – queen
large pieces, scrap fabric
Papers ‘saved and hiding’ on my counter
3 sets of curtains
bag of left-over pillow stuffing
odd container
‘extra’ friendship rocks
2 tired paintbrushes
1 old Liquid Nails
1 old clear Tough Grab
Over-door exercise pully
rollers for cupboards I no longer have
electric queen blanket
2 blanket controls
Broken Bernina sewing machine motor
2002 voter registration from Colorado
DAY 21
It’s getting hard to find things. I am now certain I will not be able to complete the month. I thought I had purged all I could when I moved to AZ, but obviously I have found things to eliminate. Today I am on the wind-down.
4 tubes of old caulking
Cording
Heat Bond
Shirt with hole
Unused/old towel (at least 50 years old)
Scrap fabric
DAY 22
2 read magazines
Sewing floss
Tube of black beads
Used toothbrush
Plastic container
Sewing scraps
Quilt miter tool (never used)
Ankle weights
DAY 23
Happy Thanksgiving
A tired pumpkin
DAY 24 to Day 31
It’s time to quit, but I can feel good about that. I have an amazing collection to give away to the thrift shop. I have already trashed quite a bit and done a trip to the
Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity thrift store). Next is a trip to InJoy… local thrift store.