Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The three A's...

Do you ever feel that the universe is trying to tell you something? Perhaps even trying to tell you something big and ugly?

After spending some time in my basement, my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad basement I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into awareness. The awareness that my basement has become unmanageable.

This is an uncomfortable awareness and an awareness that was not without tantrums on my part.

"I love my junk!"

"If I had a house with closets I wouldn't have to store it all in the basement!"

"Life is not fair!"

Though all of those things are true, it does not change the fact that the current basement situation is not sustainable. I accept that it's time to consider some change.

Action will require some hard choices. I'll have to decide which things I must keep and which things I can pass on. My goal is to reduce the quantity of stuff in the basement by 50%.

Some things I may miss. Others I don't even remember that I own.

I will do this. And I will consume chocolate in victory.

10 comments:

Cheryl said...

Gotta love the 3As. Works every time. Need help? I can be ruthless with OPS (other people's shit).

Anonymous said...

Good for you! xoxo Mari

Lori said...

Yes, I also have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad basement. And it is the holder of EVERYTHING that does not have a place upstairs "until I figure out what I want to do with it". Which is leave it in the basement... I never want a basement again!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, baby girl....fifty percent is a large number...maybe 25 is more realistic...or perhaps, to quote Scarlett Ohara..."tomorrow is another day"...that was Wagners philosophy..
Love, Mom...

sarah said...

Ooh, 50%? I am sooo sorry. That's gonna be tough. BUT! You can do it! I've had to do it before, too, and it really (honestly) sucks while you're having to choose, but once it's gone, it's gone and not even missed. And you won't have to worry about stuff in floody basements anymore! It's just really hard to keep from moving on to the 4th & 5th A's: Accumulating Again! (Not that I know about that. Just don't look in the big closet in my bedroom.) (Seriously, don't. It's just dangerous.)
Good luck. Sending spring cleaning vibes your way :)

David W. Padrusch said...

I'd like to see 75%, but who the hell am I? :-)

Amy. said...

I've reduced our basement by probably 40% in recent months, but it still makes me mental. It is totally worth the effort to get rid of stuff, but I think part of your "acceptance A" has to be that there will always be more crap than you want there to be. On really bad days, I remind myself that it really isn't hurting anyone, it's just sitting there, and then I watch one of the Hoarders shows for inspiration/reassurance.

Anonymous said...

Mmmm Victory is sweet.... and basements are creepy. Stay strong!! - Ms. TT

Thea said...

just in time for garage sale weather!

Julie said...

I get dibs on the yellow dress! Man I want that dress. Oh yeah, good luck with that cleaning thing. I found a "brand new" cassette tape still in its' cellophane wrapping the other day.