Okay. I was watching a television programme today about de-cluttering. It was Oprah and the subject was “what can you live without?” It focused on technology. Could two families, fairly typical ones live without their technology and their 60 hour weeks for a whole week and commit to do family activities for the week without distraction?
They showed a woman who had collected so many clothes, shoes and other paraphernalia and the compensation of the losing her husband in an accident over 10 years ago. She had de-cluttered and had boxes and boxes of clothes and shoes and whatever else removed from her house.
I have been talking about reinventing myself and simplifying my life for a long time now, and like many others have made several attempts with varying results. However, something in that program today spurred me on to look around and realise that I had way too much stuff. It prompted an energy shift in me. That energy shift resulted in my drafting the following e-mail:
Many of you know that I have a tendency to collect handbags. Until recently, I only had a few. More recently, I’ve started subtly collecting them again and while it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be — I once again have more than I need. I’m going on a simplification drive. The handbags/wallets/bag collection is just a place to start.
Rather than list them all, if you have seen me use a handbag that you would be interested in adopting (free to a good home), please let me know. I’m not entirely sure which ones I am interested in keeping except:
my patchwork “weekend” bag that my mother made me and
my butterfly purse.I’m assuming that I will be left with a few to choose from and then donate to charity. (WAG I think Liz G) I’m not interested in making money or in using the time to list everything on eBay.
If people want specific descriptions or photos please let me know. Please feel free to pass this on to other folks. With the exception of the big black briefcase they are all in pretty good nick.
So far I’ve had e-mails of congratulations but no requests yet. It’s an interesting experiment working out what you actually need versus what you think you need or enjoy buying.
I’ve also recently been watching a lecture given by an author on the role of the more creative people in society to assist with climate change and the push the society to adopt sustainable living practices. Sustainability isn’t just climate change, water use, or the use of public transport. In my mind at least it is also about the sustainability of relationships, the diversity of society, and the role of our homes to be in those places that rise up to meet us at the end of a hard day. So I’m cleaning my home, my lifestyle my habits as well as my recycling bins, so that I can be secure and welcome in my own home.
As requested I will put photos up of the handbags purses and the like.
Possibly Related Posts:
- The email I wrote for international day last year
- Just writing
- it was a time
- Vale Common Sense
- Moments with Socrates — making choices
