R u a Hoarder to?

Hi @BlueBells , I don't have much rubbish around although there are a few empty boxes. However I put them in the recycling each week.

Today I want to tackle the small kitchen bench which I still haven't tackled. That would create some room in the kitchen.

What is your goal for today?

Thanks for tag @BlueBells ... wow I noticed the start date of the thread and your early posts. Love your mouse plague joke.... cleaning up stuff. Love your 5 things a day idea.

Yes about buy buy buy ... throw throw throw ... and keep keep keep.

I think hoarding is on a spectrum too. I know a clean freak lady who calls a friend a hoarder, and that friend has started double guessing herself, but all I see is gracious piles of creativity and a generally a clean home. SO am thinking that the finger pointing lady is just jealous she is not so arty. My friend is into the arts and textiles and always has a project on the go. All power to her.

My own attitude is complicated. I feel a bit allergic to overly home beautiful, as I have seen it be a sign of people who can be aggressive with others re the "gotta clean" issue, and also a sign of ambition and keeping up with Joneses rather than caring about real issues in the family.

My seriously hoarding sister in law of my rich brother (decd), challenges me with why do I keep the house so clean. My ex husband's sisters challenged me over not being clean enough and having too much in my pantry, bordering on hoarding. Cant please em all. Now I can laugh it off, but when I was in the thick of child rearing it was very hurtful and frustrating.

My conscious personal attitude was work as hard I could on my list. When we were renovating for 10 years, cleaning was often cleaning up after painting or sanding, etc etc. When things started to look good, my husband would make nasty jibes about who I was trying to impress. Nobody. Had not thought of it. Was his own cynicism and not good for the marriage. I certainly cleaned up after him leaving tools laying around, that were dangerous in a house of babes and toddlers and kids.

I have had sorting out issues, as when I inherit stuff, or am doing a big sort, and am I allowed to lay stuff out to see what I have got and do the sort. I also have sorted out stuff in the work place, old paper manila files in fed govt dept and working on excell on computer in another role near State library. My brain is always sore from sorting things out. Sorting out all the complications of my childhood etc etc.

So I have settled on a mild level of chaos as being a good rather than something to afraid of. I do not feel reassured by a clinical look in a home. The ladies yesterday said my place was homely. I have a lot of books ... organised ... a lot of music ... getting organised ... but it is a lot....a lot of plants in a busy garden. Yes I cleaned up before the group of 6, but its just an impetus and respect rather than social superficiality. One of them said I had lots of treasures.. and another said ... you can never have too many books, and they meant it.

So I am feeling better connected than ever before with people who are sympathetic to me. Life begins after 60! Sad that my family of origin and family of creation with my own flesh and blood could not extend understanding. Mourning my past connections and learning to celebrate what and who is in my life now.

Hey @NatureLover

Hi @BlueBells , I also use the "10 minutes and then stop" strategy, and it works well. I haven't tried the "put 5 things away" strategy.

How did you go with your 5 things yesterday? I'm sorry to hear your water heater has died 😣

I am also looking for a handyman. I will try to advertise on my local Facebook page for one this weekend.

I seem to have built my kitchen bench up into a big thing, so you're right, I need to tackle just one corner of it at a time. I will try again today.

Hi @Appleblossom 🙂