It’s interesting how different people can be from each other, and yet we are still all basically the same.
I have to start with a story first, but I promise to keep it brief.
My wife and I are both sitting on the couch, each with our laptop (yes we are just that nerdy, however, my wife is clever enough that I would consider her a geek, while I am stuck at the nerd level). Anyways, I’m trying to find a CD with no luck at all. I’m checking all the sites I know. I’m using Google to try and come up with any used CD store with a presence on the web. I explain how this is an out of print CD that I just have to have.
The fact that I cannot find it just makes me want it more and more. It is becoming the holy grail with each passing minute. Minutes are turning into quarter and then half hours. I think it was about 2 hours into the search that my wife turns to me and asks “are you ever going to give up?” After a couple hours of searching for this CD, I would now trade my kingdom for it. How do I explain to her that I have barely begun the search if that is what it takes.
With a sigh, she tells me to go to Amazon UK, and I will find it listed there. She had found it in 5 to 10 minutes of realizing what I was looking for, and knowing I was not finding it. She thought it would be a brilliant Christmas gift, but I just wasn’t going to let it go.
So, what’s the point ……… Great question …… she keeps finding articles that I really enjoy, or are on exactly what I am trying to find articles on, but me being me, I take 10 times as much time to find stuff on the web.
Here is an article she sent to me …..
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1812185,00.html
The above is a link to an article that mentions both Dave (the 100 Thing Challenge guy), and Peter Walsh (the expert organizer / getting rid of junk guy / the Walshinator).
It’s great to see these guys getting promoted ….. they are changing lives ….. I know they are mine, even though I have just begun the journey.
There you have it!!!!!
Filed under: 100 Thing Challenge, About 2LiveSimple, Getting rid of STUFF!, Peter Walsh
I started this blog for a couple reasons.
1. To journal my path to a more simple life.
2. To connect with others that have similar goals, and to share ideas.
On the downside, I really haven’t been as regular with posting as I would like, and the process will continue to march slowly. And I have had very few visitors.
On the upside, I had one of my posts commented on by Peter Walsh. It was a complete honor to both myself and my wife. He is a guru to us, and I’m sure we will continue to read his book throughout this entire process, and thereafter to keep us in line from time to time. His book “It’s All Too Much!” has earned a permanent place in my library, and will be recommended often.
On my original quest to find others who are trying to strip down their lives (and I do mean strip down), I came across two people that made me quite curious.
The first was David Michael Bruno and his 100 Thing Challenge. He was doing exactly what I wanted to do. To really know what he had, and eliminate what he didn’t need. My only complaint was that I wished to have more updates from him on this. The good news is that he has started a new page for this, and appears to have posted a few times since I last checked. Here’s the link …..
http://www.guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge.html
The second was a mention of the “Rucksack Guy”. Every link I found kept leading to a dead end. The concept was he has 101 possessions that could all be carried in a rucksack in a single load. What was even better, was that he was said to have photographed all his possessions. Well, I finally found a site that had his list and photos. Very cool, and inspirational. I wish I could actually make contact with him, and have the opportunity to ask questions. He would be a most interesting person to interview. Here’s the site I found …..
http://mcshug.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
Just scroll down a bit if you don’t see it.
So, there are some updates on what is inspiring me.
Now, how am I doing with this challenge? I have been going back over my CD collection, and I think I finally broke through some barrier in my mind.
I used to have hundreds of CDs, and my collection has always been in flux. I will trade in CDs, and then get new CDs. My wife likes to laugh when I end up buying a CD that I had gotten rid of. The great news is that really doesn’t happen a lot, and it hasn’t been that big of a deal to replace something. I think for some people getting rid of stuff really triggers a fear response. In some ways I think that is what happens with me as well.
It’s bad enough to realize you will only get 10 cents on the dollar (sometimes if you are lucky), but then to think you may need to buy it back later is a very discouraging thought. My solution is to be far more careful when buying something in the first place. Works pretty well for me, but sometimes those impulses are mighty powerful.
I am revisiting my CDs, and now have them down to 71 at last count. While I am close to done, I still have a bit to go. Then I will of course move on to something else.
In my list of 100 things, I will count my CD collection as one thing (but MUST maintain at 100 or less). I know from reading other posts that many people either wish to criticize this, or abuse it. For me it is just what it is. I like books, CDs and DVDs a LOT. I have had over a couple thousand possessions at a time if you would have counted them at that time. For me, it is a great accomplishment to keep each of those categories under 100, and have them as 3 items on my list of 100.
I still wish I knew how many books David has on his 100 Thing Challenge. I am horribly curious.
Toodle Pip
I continue to use the principles of Peter Walsh as I downsize my life. I am also continuing to try to conduct my own 100 possession challenge.
I originally blogged about this on 5/4/2008.
Here’s the new twist in our trying to eliminate clutter.
We are seriously considering living in a home that is 120 square feet. That’s right, 120 square feet.
Go to www.tumbleweedhouses.com and take a look at the Lusby. This is the one we are seriously considering. I would LOVE to hear from anyone who is living in a home that Jay designed.
You can easily see how I would need to limit my possessions (my wife will have to do the same). I am currently working on a list of all I own. In each category I am doing a quick purge as Peter Walsh describes in his book “It’s All Too Much!”.
I then move on to something else. Then later revisit what I had purged earlier. It seems to me that two things are at work here: 1. Each time you revisit after a previous purge, you are confronted with a smaller task. 2. The break you take between the purges gives you a fresher perspective when you look at it again.
Next, I print out my current list (still don’t have everything on it – I think it would amaze the average person to do this exercise), and then I have my wife go over the list and draw a line through each item she would get rid of. I’m often surprised by what she would get rid of on the list. Sometimes it is liberating as I know she would be okay with me getting rid of something. It may be because I thought she wanted us to keep something. It may be because it is something she gave me, and I wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings. Sometimes it simply makes me really think about one possession or another, and other times I simply just think absolutely not. I think it is often those strong responses that speak strongest to me. You would actually have me get rid of the limited edition working replica Bat Signal that you gave me ….. No Way! And there you have it ….. it stays ….. it may not be a practical possession, but it does make me smile. First, I really love the old Batman comics (childhood nostalgia), and second, it was a gift from my wife. The challenge can be – How many of these items do you allow yourself to keep before they become a burden?
That’s my blogging for today – stay tuned – my 100 possession list to follow soon!
Filed under: Getting rid of STUFF!, Peter Walsh, simple finance, simple health
I’ve been a little removed from my normal routines in life as I have been dealing with health issues. Many doctors visits, and many tests. I will not cover it now, but I have come to the conclusion that good health is your most valuable asset you can possess (or if not an asset, at least a resource).
Today is going to focus back on uncluttering your life. I continually believe that it is clutter that complicates most things in life. Clutter causes more to be cleaned up, more difficulty doing the cleaning, more work hours to pay for all the stuff that clutters your home, to repair all the stuff in your home, insure all the stuff in your home, and maybe rent extra space to store all the extra stuff that no longer fits in your home.
If I could recommend one book to own, it would be “It’s All Too Much” by Peter Walsh. I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I will say it again. I have read a number of books that have spoken deeply to me, but this one calls me to action more than any other.
I have been systematically reducing all the clutter (with my wife’s help of course).
The latest task has been to go through all the contents in my file cabinet. Four drawers of statements, articles, manuals, and everything one could imagine.
Phone bills from five years ago. Manuals and receipts for items not owned for many years. Twenty copies of insurance policies that expired and replaced with new policy statement. Articles that I can not even fathom why I had saved in the first place. Home design ideas that no longer fit my taste.
That’s just the stuff that is simple to identify as absolutely not needed.
What do you do with the other stuff? I have adopted solutions put forth in “It’s All Too Much” by Peter Walsh (Big Surprise!!!!!). He has a way of cutting to the root of things.
You can buy all the organization stuff you could ever wish for, but how exactly does the average person organize, file and maintain 10,000 sheets of paper. More importantly, who would want to.
With Peter Walsh’s help I am shredding, and shredding, and shredding, and shredding and shredding …..
I am determining what I need, and an ongoing system (again courtesy of Peter Walsh) to keep the volume of paperwork in constant check.
It appears that what once took a four drawer file cabinet will now be contained in one of those small size plastic file container. The added bonus is that it is far more portable to move with me where I want to work.
I will share more details of what I have done once I feel I have taken it to where I wish to be.
Do you have any ideas? What do you do?
For anyone who does not know who Peter Walsh is, he has been on clean sweep, Oprah, and written a few books.
I spend most of my time doing those to-do items that aren’t specifically what I want to do, wishing I could be doing something else. Not very mindful! It largely comes back to my need to get rid of stuff. When you have so much clutter, it takes a lot of time to clean up.
Clear this counter or table, and move the pile someplace else. It’s like a huge chess game, but at least when playing chess, pieces actually get taken off the board.
Peter Walsh states, in his book “It’s All Too MUCH!”, that if you look for lost items 5 minutes a day, that will total about 30 hours each year. I’m sure I spend a lot more than an average of 5 minutes a day looking for stuff.
Have I said how much I love this book? It is truly motivating! I read a little, and want to actually take the steps to make it happen.
Peter is giving us the life we want, and I see it getting better every day.
CONFESSION: The more you clean, the more you find stuff you forgot you had, or didn’t know where it was.
I came across more books when sorting through a closet. I now have a total of 253 books, but still plan to continue to purge. After I make further progress on my list, I will be posting it, and updating it as I make progress.
RULE DEFINED: Counting Possessions – IT IS WHAT IT IS These are my rules, and you are free to take them, or share your own ideas. Everyone will never agree, and we all have to decide what works ourselves.
I had posed the question of how to count a “Jeeves and Wooster” DVD box set I have (1 set, 4 seasons, or 8 DVDs). I have decided to go with the answer my wife gave me – 1 item. It is what it is – accept it. It is purchased as 1 item. If I bought each of the 4 seasons seperately, then it would be 4. You can’t alter this and call the 4 seasons a full set, because it did not come as a full set.
Today I went to the annual Arts In the Park. I have spent so much time lately trying to reduce clutter, and get rid of stuff, that it was hard to look at anything without thinking about trying to get rid of stuff.
I purchased 2 more photos from Jim Spillane today. He is an amazing photographer that spends 4 months each year in Nepal (if I remember correctly).
I purchased 1 ikibana vase. It is so small, that it can fit in a shallow drawer. and has a diameter of maybe 4 inches. Hand made, and beautiful. I cut a small branch from a tree in my back yard, and it looks like a little bonsai tree. This truly fits my desired lifestyle.
Not amazing skill on my part, but yet I am greatly pleased.
So, I am still thinking about “How much is enough????”
At zenhabits.net, Leo wrote about the “100 thing challenge” from Dave’s blog. I really enjoyed all the comments posted, but would like to see more ongoing commentary. People coming back with their lists. If you included pretty much everything in your house, what would your list look like.
From watching Peter Walsh at work, I don’t think personal possession make up the bulk of all excess. It is often a kitchen loaded with every device imaginable, and multiples of many items. It is garages filled to their limits, many times with boxes full of items that have not seen the light of day in years.
Read Leo’s and his reader’s comments here, and share your thoughts. I am working on a list right now, and I am pretty much going to count EVERYTHING (only not counting my wife’s personal possessions – or I am, but only on those items that are easy for me to count – she is a crafter, and that is a challenge to count – she does have a craft room, and the idea is to limit her items to what can be organized within that room).
http://zenhabits.net/2007/09/minimalist-fun-the-100-things-challenge/
Not everybody wants to do this, and many just don’t seem to get it. I am working on my list of everything, because I agree with what one of Leo’s readers posted. If you have 105 items, and bring it to 100 that is nice. If you have 5,000 and you bring it down to 2,500 then that is huge. I want to figure out where I am. Try to set a goal. Eliminate stuff, but keep everything I truly use, and love. I will even buy something if I truly feel it will add value to my life.
When we moved to Richmond from San Diego, we got rid of probably 12-15 boxes of books. I don’t even have any idea of how many books we had, but we still moved here with another 12-15 boxes of books.
Peter Walsh addresses the issue of too many books (funny enough, in his book on getting rid of all the excess stuff) in “It’s All Too MUCH”. I’m not even able to really answer the question of “Why is it so hard to get rid of books?”. The last time I counted how many books I have, it totaled a little over 500.
Today I counted, and came up with 262 books (including Peter’s book). With my wife looking over my shoulder (at my request), I found it easier to be more brutal, and pared down even more. I came up with 36 books to get rid of, and 12 to give to my sister. I put 16 books in a box that I want to read, but don’t yet have any idea of whether I would even want to keep or not.
This leaves me with 197 books, and I would like to get it down to 100. Once I get it to that level I would like to adopt a 1 book in / 1 book out policy.
Whether it is a book (and if it’s not obvious, I love to read) or anything else, why is it so difficult for us to get rid of stuff? What is the need? There are books I have been meaning to read for a number of years, and yet find it difficult to let go of the desire to keep it. Somehow I still believe I will read it.
I read a number of books on Buddhism, and love the idea of non-attachment, yet my emotions must somehow still be tied to stuff. I find it interesting that they often discuss the idea of a monk owning little to nothing. Often just their robes and a bowl. Yet I have yet to find anything that speaks to the layman about how to be part of this world, and control material possessions. For example, I cannot wear a robe to work, and I’m sure I would be talked to if all I had was 1 outfit that I wore every single day.
How much is enough?
I would love to hear about what others are doing to simplify their possessions. Does it come naturally, or do you have to work at it. Is it due to financial limitations, or are you trying to live lightly? Do you have rules you have established? How many square feet do you live in, and with how many people?
I will be trying to share all of my own answers to these questions in the following posts.
One of the most inspirational pictures I have ever seen is a picture of all of Gandhi’s possessions when he died.
Reading “Into the Wild”, I was Immediately impressed by Chris’ lack of attachment to material possessions. That he could feel so comfortable with the world without having a home, or much of anything.
We are currently trying to downsize our home. Get rid of everything that does not truly add to our lives. In this process we are following the teachings of Peter Walsh. Many would know him from clean sweep as the organization, keep/sell/throw/donate guy. Others would know him from his appearances on Oprah.
My goal is to get rid of 10 things for every 1 thing I keep right now, and if I were to make any recommendation for a book to buy, I would have to start with “It’s All Too MUCH: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff” by Peter Walsh.
In fact, Walsh should be a verb like to Google. To Walsh would be to really get organized once and for all. Not by buying expensive storage solutions, but by getting rid of all the crap that fills our homes.
