My grandmother lived through the depression. She learned to be scrappy and crafty in dire times and she learned to conserve and save. She never got rid of these traits. In fact, she held onto them so steadfastly that she was able to pass them right on down to her granddaughter. Being her granddaughter was wonderful as a kid-so much stuff to play with, so many things to eat. So many ways to challenge my overactive imagination around her house.
My mother is sentimental. She saves things that mean something. She also has a very good memory which means that a lot of things mean something. The great thing about my mother is she is also a planner. Especially when it comes to her daughters. She has taught us to plan well for our future.
My father is a fixer. I wonder if his father was this way also or if he became this way out of necessity when money became scarce after his father died. Either way he would rather fix an old thing over buying a new one. His motto is definitely function over fashion. If it works, it stays. Just because it may not be beautiful, doesn't mean it doesn't work really well.
From a grandmother, her daughter and her daughter's husband came me. A sentimental, crafty, scrappy, planning fixer. These might sound like some great traits to pass down. And sometimes they are great traits, but when it comes to creating a world of less clutter for myself, these traits greatly hinder me. Whether I am going through clothes, papers, the garage, the kitchen-it doesn't matter. I am constantly fighting against my own nature. My instinct is always to either fix it, make something new out of it, or save it- you know, "just in case." Hmmmm...I wonder where I get it.
For the moment, lets set aside the piles of papers I can't seem to part with, the old toys I won't let go of, the ripped clothing I am one day going to get around to fixing, and the jars, ribbons and other items saved to "create." Lets focus instead on my bedspread. My bedspread? Why oh why are we focusing on that you may ask? For over six months my duvet cover had a tear on its underside that went almost the entire length of the cover. It didn't affect me much because it was on my husband's side of the bed, but still it nagged at me. I am a very particular sleeper-obviously my husband is not. I tried to fix it with mighty mend-it, but could never quite find the time to take it off the bed and do it properly.
Finally, I broke down, ripped it off the bed and replaced it with a brand new bedspread and new sheets and new pillows. It felt freeing to just get rid of the old and bring in the new. Our new bed is calming, and beautiful and at last, we are done with a duvet and are living like real live adults with sheets and a blanket. Ahhhhh.
This was a turning point. Since the bed transformation, I have continued pushing myself to the limit of my comfort zone. So, go forth and get rid of things! I know this may not sound like the greenest way to think, and when you really are going to fix something, or make something, do it! But, don't be like me and hang onto things indefinitely. There must be a time limit and if the item sits around longer than that- then get it gone! Either recycle it, trash it, donate it, or give it away. Just work hard to make your life skinner and I will too :).
