Decluttering Spices, Silverware, & Clocks

I spent this weekend decluttering. I don’t have the energy to do that much during the work week. After a good night’s sleep Friday night I can wake up on Saturday morning with energy to do what I want to do around the house. I didn’t video it, but I did a lot.

I went into the shed and pulled out box after box of stuff of mine. I found a box of neon clocks. You can see those in my video note (below) asking for advice on what to do with them. I know I delayed doing anything with them because I felt like there were no good options.

Well, that and the fact that I wasn’t sure if they worked. I spent a good portion of time plugging them all in and testing the neon portion, which all worked. Also tested the actual clock (which requires a AA battery), and those all work as well. However two of the AC adapters don’t work, and I had to mix and match. So if someone got the last two then they would need to buy their own adapter. That’s if I try to sell them anyway.

You can see by the comments that to most people it seems very easy to get rid of these. People could say I’m making excuses. I just find it more difficult to rid myself of these. And they do relate to a time of issues for me, so I’m tied up emotionally in all of that. I didn’t buy them, and I didn’t want to take them from my foreclosed house. I’ve just sort of “inherited” them by not having any boundaries and always been told I should sell them, which to me seemed impossible. So I’ve been carrying them around with me everywhere I go (in a metaphysical sense). Part of me wants to throw them away to get rid of them, but they seem too desirable to let me do that. I’m also unsure that it’s a good idea to just throw away neon anything.

I also pulled out a box of my glassware and silverware. I washed them all in the dishwasher and dried them and figured out what I would keep and what I would donate. I’m donating most of those.

I could maybe donate the clocks, but I’m not sure the place I donate items to wants those sorts of items. My donations can help families in trouble (like battered women trying to start life over again or orphans, etc). I don’t know how the clocks would fit in with that.

I started with spices though. I almost forgot since it was the first thing I did. I took all the spices out, after buying a new spice rack, and I went through the duplicates and merged spices, and threw out some old ones (where I had plenty new ones). It was a whole process and a bit of sneezing with spices flying around.

But I put a rack that turns around in a cabinet (instead of on the counter), and I put the wooden rack on the counter so everything is easy to see. I then have a spot for extra spices for when I need to refill them. The ones I use all the time are on the counter. The ones I somewhat use are in the turning around deal. I think this will make it so much easier to use (without having to rummage around when I’m in a hurry). I can also easily remove the trays from the cabinet and look in them when I need to. They were difficult to remove in the old position. And I threw many spices out (or old empty bottles due to merging things) away. So it’s a lot less cluttered.

I felt cluttered when I saw the turning-around spice holder on the counter, but it didn’t fit in most of the cabinets. I like that it’s out of the way now. And I also went through the (multiple) drawers of silverware and took many duplicates out, which will be packed away (since they’re not mine). But I was able to cut back on a bunch of items so that things actually fit into neat drawer organizers and not fall out or cover other items where I can’t find things.

I have bunches of boxes in my car of things to donate. Too many things for one day. So I’ll likely be bringing things in to donate throughout the week, even if all the work in finding them is done. They’ll sit in my car until I can get rid of them.

I also moved some furniture around. I want to get rid of some of the furniture, but I’m not sure how to do that. I’ll need help. I’m realizing that the bigger the item is then the more hassle it brings in trying to get rid of it. But I also know that once they’re gone I’ll feel loads better as well.

I want to scan my books as I said, but I am very aware that scanning and decluttering a single book doesn’t feel like progress in the same way that getting rid of boxes upon boxes does. I had a fantastic weekend decluttering, but I can see where my “mountains” are. I’ll need to have faith that God can help me move the larger things out.

It really was a great weekend getting things out of here. I also finished about a book and a half by listening to them on Audible while I cleaned. I also went to the gym on Friday for the first time since finding out I got financial aid again this year. I had been dreading going back, in case they asked me to pay some of the bill. But, I am still going to have a free membership thanks to the local financial aid help. I really find going to the gym helpful mentally and emotionally (beyond physically) but if I had to pay for it I wouldn’t go. I really appreciate the help I’m getting there. I grumble enough to myself about having to pay for gas to get there and back (as it’s about a 20-minute drive there).

But that’s all going well. I have to get ready for bed, even though it’s early because I need sleep in order to wake up early and be refreshed for work this week. But I am thankful. Thankful that I got this done, and everything went well with the gym, and thankful for you readers. Have a good week y’all.

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