Purgeapalooza: I donated 795 items
03/30/2010
It lacked the put-your-lighters-in-the-air vibe of a three-day music festival, but by the time my Purgeapalooza ended, anyone would have thought there was a mosh pit in my living room. As I ruthlessly deemed everything from a toaster oven, water socks, velvet pumps and Sponge Bob popcorn tin to a martini shaker, Minnie Mouse doll and inflatable pillow unworthy of occupying space in my life, the rug disappeared.
Shrapnel flew in every direction. Sweat dripped from my brow.
It was the best feeling in the world.
The urge to purge started, simply enough, with my semi-annual wardrobe transition – the fall/winter to spring/summer clothing switcheroo. As I pulled out my trusty under-the-bed bags stuffed with clothing for every occasion conceivable, I stopped dead in my tracks. I had more professional and casual outfit combinations than warm days ahead of me, and I live in the desert. Halters and sundresses and capris, oh my. Formal wear and club clothes and wrinkle-free items appropriate for international travel, oh god.
Why was I about to transfer all of it to my closet? Some items I hadn’t worn in three years. Club wear? I’ve never been clubbin’ and don’t plan to go, so did I have just-in-case club clothes simply because I live in Vegas? In my subconscious, did I feel this was a prerequisite for holding a Nevada driver’s license?
Someone call a shrink. Someone else get me Hefty Cinch Saks.
If this is what lurked under the bed, would my “new eyes” find similar madness in the kitchen cabinets? Hall closet? Garage? Every place I stuff random accessories, mementoes and décor?
I could either breathe into a paper bag or make green tea. I went with tea. It seemed like the Zen thing to do. Next, I Googled. I furiously read everything I could get my eyes on related to simplifying, minimizing, cleaning out and moving on. Armed with some simple tips, I entered a trance-like state that I assume a whirling dervish experiences prior to…whirling…and I ripped through my house. I touched every single item and asked myself the questions that my newfound minimalist heroes suggest:
- Do I use it?
- Do I use it enough to need it?
- Do I have more than one, or something that performs a similar function?
- Would life be just as good if I didn’t have it?
- Would life be less stressful if I didn’t have to think about storing/dusting/organizing/dry cleaning/managing it?
- Do I own this “just in case?”
- Is this a sentimental item I could snap a digital photo of and lighten my load?
795 items didn’t pass the test. That doesn’t include stuff that went right in the trash. Three bags in total.
It was a big day for Goodwill, and me.
Rock on.
03/30/2010 at 7:29 am
Will you still have this feeling the next time you come home and I ask you to go through the boxes of items you left behind?!
Just a thought!
Love, Mom
03/30/2010 at 7:58 pm
I had a hunch you’d ask that! Feel free to go through them and take digital photos – and then distribute appropriately among the landfill and Goodwill
03/30/2010 at 7:42 am
“Urge to purge”… haha… love it!
04/06/2010 at 7:47 pm
Thank you for the advice. I’ve found your first point to be most effective.
04/20/2010 at 9:14 pm
I’m glad you found it helpful. “Do I use it?” It’s a simple question that usually results in a simple answer…yes or no. That’s how you know to keep or donate. Thank you for reading.
04/12/2010 at 5:55 pm
You seem very chuffed about this subject and it comes across. Looking forward to future posts. Thank you.
04/20/2010 at 9:11 pm
Thank you! I am passionate about this subject and I’m quickly realizing so many others share my interest in the topic. Thank you for reading. Please continue to share your thoughts. Are you currently minimizing your “stuff” too?
04/13/2010 at 10:11 am
It is nice to definitely turn up a web site where the blogger is sophisticated. Thanks for creating your site.
04/20/2010 at 9:08 pm
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you get something from my posts. I appreciate you reading and hope you’ll keep in contact to let me know what other topics you’d like me to cover.
04/22/2010 at 9:11 pm
Hey, I think your really on target with this, I wouldn’t say I am completely on the same page, but its not really that much of a deal .
04/26/2010 at 8:08 am
I’ve been reading a few posts and i’m adding your blog to my rss reader , thanks ! acquisto case
04/27/2010 at 7:15 pm
Fantastic! I look forward to sharing comments with you along the way. I think we learn so much from each other in this process and I encourage you to weigh in with your ideas. Be well –
06/22/2010 at 2:33 pm
I’m in the process of doing the same thing and it’s liberating! I enjoyed reading your post.
06/23/2010 at 6:42 pm
Good for you, be ruthless! You won’t regret it. You won’t even remember what you donated. Crazy, I know. Glad you liked the post – thank you for reading.
03/27/2011 at 9:45 am
[...] bag handy for all the fuzzy key covers and peephole tissue boxes that have entered my life since my Purgeapalooza. Do you plan to do the same? Let me know what goodies you find lurking in the [...]