Comments on: The Stickiest Reason We Keep Stuff We Don’t Want

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:44:53 +0000

I used to work at an archives and we were always getting unsolicited donations. Mostly it was people who just could NOT throw out some ancestral item. Great-grandma’s receipt book from 1918? One postcard from Niagara Falls that was in Grandma’s sock drawer? A single ticket stub that may have belonged to Uncle Mikey? I was always amazed at the energy these people put into not making the decision: driving downtown to the archives, dropping the stuff off, telling us to do whatever we wanted with it, just to have us turn around and bin it. Think of the time and energy they would have saved, and the empowerment if they had been the one to ditch said item!

I’m a bit of a nut about having only beautiful and/or useful things in my home. I do hate putting gifts people have given me into a box destined for Goodwill, so this year I have asked my family and friends not to give me any gifts. My friends and I take each other out for brunch as a birthday treat. That way we get time together and can enjoy a good meal. My younger sister passed away suddenly a couple of years ago and that really cemented it for me: nothing is more precious than TIME, time with your loved ones, time to yourself. You can never get it back.

By: unreliable narrator

unreliable narrator — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:39:30 +0000

Must…get…rid…of…dozen…unused…zippy…bags….[groan]

By: Links to Success: Week of 16th September 2007 - Life Coaches

Links to Success: Week of 16th September 2007 - Life Coaches — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:55:20 +0000

[...] then it isn’t serving its purpose or its usefulness in this world.” Discover the number one stickiest reason we keep stuff we don’t want, from Christine [...]

By: Mike in DC

Mike in DC — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:57:51 +0000

One of the best ways to fight clutter is to have friends who cart off your furniture every time they visit! It works even better when they’re starting out singer songwriters before they hit it big.

As for hitting it big…..two weeks ago I’m driving through Portsmouth Virginia, listening to the local NPR station, and the host is plugging Christine! (OK, I read that back, and it didn’t exactly come out right, but you all know what I mean) And it wasn’t just a plug – it was a heartfelt “we’re so lucky that someone of her stature is coming to play in our challenged little town” plug. Over the top gushing. Completely deserved, I might add.

I’m proud to know you!

By: Staci Schoff

Staci Schoff — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:55:24 +0000

Thank you for pointing this out. I am the opposite of a pack rat — to the point that once in a while I look around and think “Didn’t I used to have… boy I wish I still had that…”

But I just am not that attached to things, generally speaking. Unsentimental to the degree that I do feel guilty about it sometimes.

By: Burt Carter

Burt Carter — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:48:40 +0000

Great post. When I moved from Charlotte to Minneapolis last year, I was faced with the same guilt. What wasn’t sold at the final garage sale was either pawned off on friends or thrown away. I also have not received any visits from angry spirits.

I miss Asheville and Bele Chere and am really looking forward to seeing you on the 23rd here in Saint Paul.

By: gregg

gregg — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:14:50 +0000

Hello; I am a jewlry designer and sculptor and I collect things mostly printed materials thinking that I’m going to need them as reference etc. in the future, but I have sooo much now that i can’t get into my workroom and I know it’s not a guilt thing although I have some of that too around the house but i’m going to get brutal and start clearing out.

Thanks for the post its inspiring! G.

By: Casey Finn

Casey Finn — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:11:53 +0000

Oh AMEN! I look at all the stuff and think “why?”. We want to retire in a few years and will downsize to a smaller house, so I know I need to start getting rid of this “stuff” soon. What a great blog and I love all the comments. Thanks!

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:43:41 +0000

Your blog is always so poignant to me. I’m always amazed at the cycles people go through at the same time. I’ve been sitting in my house frustrated that it’s gotten to cluttered over the past year and I had promised it wouldn’t. But I can’t seem to get rid of anything. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard to throw things out. I now see why…and I feel like my legs up to my hips are stuck in tar, aka guilt.

Time to get out some garbage bags! Thanks Christine!

By: Christine Kane - 9 Seemingly Logical Excuses for Clinging to Clutter

Christine Kane - 9 Seemingly Logical Excuses for Clinging to Clutter — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:05:06 +0000

[...] Guilt is the stickiest reason why we keep things we don’t want. It’s the heavy gooey energy that convinces us we’re bad people if we let go of heirlooms, sentimental items, knick-knacks, unwanted clothing, unwanted gifts, and grandfather clocks that no longer work. These items clutter up our lives and keep us in a comfortable – but draining – place where we never have to decide what we do want in our environment. [...]