WOW! WTG! 😀

Sleep well. 🙂

oh boy, what a day. Worked on deck, took 2 storage racks down to yard and cleaned with hose. cleaned that part of deck with vinegar and water, can actually see through window now. Took down a wood shutter that was rotten and cleaned then painted the area. Window air conditioner was very heavy but had to move it to clean area. There were of spiders to greet me. I did about 1/4 of that part of deck too tired to go on but will start again in morning, I see the potential of enjoying that section of the deck again. filled garbage bag, still more to toss tomorrow. Enjoyed most of the day.

Tillie and Dianne, if I can inspire anyone, I am amazed and happy if I can help. I still feel buried, but not willing to give up. I have no desire to go to garage sales this weekend, knock on wood.
My hoarder friend has been working on her hoard the past 2 weeks and reporting in daily, so I was surprised and disappointed that she almost convinced me to go with her today. A day at a time, I am chipping away. Tillie it is so helpful to hear your reminders like taking baby steps. My friend encourages me to keep going when I am exhausted, and today I feel so good to believe I deserve time to relax and enjoy this site, and my yard. I sure wish I could hug you Dianne and Tillie!!!

beautiful day today, sprayed back yard weeds for 3 hours, all weeds, don't use the area, usually pull all weeds, too much time so sprayed the whole thing. I have a friend here that is also a hoarder, she wanted me to go with her today to estate sales, at first I said yes, then called back and said it wouldn't be good for me, pretty sure I would add to my hoard. She was upset at first. She called to tell me of her bargains. I reminded her she just reorganized living room and complained there is too much furniture, then she bought more. She said there is room in garage, reminded her her goal this summer is to make room for car in garage, then thought we had better stop talking, she was defensive like any good hoarder would be.
I did cancel trip with another friend, her husband is going, I helped her in planning of trip, she was so stressed, glad I said no, even though she was disappointed, right now my focus is on not acquiring and getting rid of stuff. Today is warmest day so going to relax for awhile.
I am so grateful I didn't buckle and do what friends wanted this weekend, it would have not been good for me to go with either friend. I feel a sense of freedom.

So happy to read all you have done! WTG!!!

You inspire me and give me such hope for a brighter future.

I have found that munching on a few almonds periodically through out the day gives me some energy when I'm dragging, levels out my blood sugars and helps me to concentrate.

diane you are getting so much done. WTG!! Did you speak to your friend about not going away this weekend or did I miss that? How do you feel about it?

sprayed weeds this morning, finally called to make a doctors appointment. there was a cancelation today so went to doctor today. Went well, my thumb hurts like heck, got med refil, and rx for mammogram, and lymph nodes checked. I talked to her about hoarding and she said, "its just stuff, you don;t need to spend all your time deciding which clothes to keep, everything you bagged up, take to thrift store" sounded so logical when she said it. When I got home, it was easy to fill garbage can with things outside, that in reality, I will never use. Bought a new hose for yard, mine isn't old, just kinks everytime I move it and water stops. Got a good one at costco said it won't kink, hope so. I am going to try eating more protein,see if that helps me feel better.

hangers not in living room anymore, now see it will be easy to clean living room in morning

to clarify, the tarp roof was made two years ago when hoard expanded to deck. I plan to have a roof put on when I get the junk off, or just get junk off and enjoy the deck, hey that is even a better idea.

I just wrote a long note, and it is gone. thanks Tillie, I need to allow myself to do small steps with the clothes. Today I got so frustrated, I just put the piles in bags and stuck them in another closet, I know that is bad, just couldn't stand to deal with them. Now have to get all the hangers and some clothes out of living room. Tried clothes on out here, and the mess made me feel as bad as when I had piles all over living room when I first started this. Tomorrow my focus will be on getting living area totally organized again, I don't like the clutter at all. Started cleaning crap off my deck so I can enjoy it more. I made a roof out of a gazebo and tarp, it looks like a tacky mess. Needed to keep rain off my junk you know.

Remember to take baby steps, one little bite at a time will eventually get you results. 😀

just wrote a novel on here but hit a wrong button and it is gone----basically I was whining that I didn't get everything done, need to focus on all that I did get done. I am too tired to do any more and am going to a class at the library at 6 so need to go shower. I am having difficulty deciding what to get rid of so that "maybe" pile is too big and not enough in give away. Tomorrow am will give it another shot.

diane you are doing AMAZING!! Besides having all the extra space now you know you will always feel pretty with whatever you are wearing. That is such an encouragement to me.

I was going to add a lot more but will take it to the Personal Care thread.

Tried on all dress pants, saved 2 brown, 2 black, 11 dress pants to give away. Hung up capris, 5 pair fit and look good. Hung up brown and black jeans that look good. still have a stack of blue jeans. Ie think closet will be fine. although when pulled out the bins on the floor, found cute summer clothes I forgot I had. Will have to trade out some of tshirts hanging for cuter bin shirts. Think a shelving unit in closet with bins of shoes, leggings, shorts, might be good. I will have to measure space in closet and find a shelving unit to fit, I am sure I have one here, somewhere. It really is amazing how much stuff I have to go through. I get one part done and find more to deal with. At least I am motivated to continue and can now see benefit of just having cute clothes that fit in my closet. Thanks for being on here with me everyone.

another early morning, woke up anxious about telling my friend I am not driving her to her aunts apt (4hours away) She is so nice she will understand, it is just the fear she will be upset since she has had to deal with so much lately. (oh yea, I have gone through alot too)
I finally realized the reason I didn't wasn't trying on pants, it was under 60 degrees in here. I built a fire last night, and just stoked it so I can start trying on pants today and hang the ones I like best in my closet. I plan to count them and put that number in my closet so I remember what I have to go through to have enough room in closet to find clothes to wear. The sun will give plenty of light today so I can see any flaws in pants.
I used to try on pants at thrift stores for hours a day, so what is the big deal to do it here?7

Thanks Tillie. You are right, I do not want to get away. I really want to finish closet and be here for the sunday group. It is going to be in the 70's so want to be here to spray weeds. I will tell her tomorrow that I have enjoyed helping her with her aunt, and now I realize I really need to keep focused on my projects.

hahahaha Ah diane you made me laugh...the nerve of those pants, tipping over your chair, not moving, just staring at you, shame on those rascals!

Diane,

Could you explain to her that you are in the middle of a hard, long term process of getting your life back on a track to a new improved you?
Less stress, healthier lifestyle, developing positive habits to replace negative ones.

I think if you go when you really would rather keep doing this work you will get resentful and things could develope that would damage the friendship.

If you were looking forward to getting away I would say go. But you aren't.

After being away against your will you may lose all motivation to keep up with all this GREAT work you have been doing.

(((hugs)))

Thanks Tillie, I have to practice doing small steps. Hadn't considered breaking it down to 3-5 pair of pants at a time, that should be easier to start knowing I don't have to do it all, especially when I see how huge the pile is. I called my friend and that I am not interested in going for that many days, I think I really want to cancel going at all, told her I wanted to be here for group sunday, then she talked me into going on Sunday, I think I need to cancel, just afraid she will get disappointed. I wish it was easier to say no to people, and say yes to my well being. I do worry more about pleasing others than myself, so shopping was my go to thing to "take" care of myself. thanks everyone for your updates, I feel like I know you personaly even though I only met you a month ago, and not even in person.

WTG! on all you did today! 😀

Remember to break down a big task into smaller bites.
You could try on 3 or 4 pair, decide keep or not.
Then take a break and do something else.

I think 50 pair of pants is a bit excessive. 😉
Right now I have 6 pair and I wear jeans all the time until warm weather, then I only wear dresses & skirts.

the pant pile moved to the living room so I would have room to try them on, bedroom too tiny. I piled them all on my favorite recliner so I will have to go through them before I can enjoy my chair. the chair fell over backwards with the heavy load, hope I get my second wind soon. I did mow the lawn and cut around the edge, watered plants after my morning in the closet. Wind picked up so I am back inside observing my pile. Apparently pants won't move itself, still just sitting in the chair looking back at me. Looks like over 50 pair of pants, I think that may be more than one person needs.

my friend loaned me a serger, makes seams like on tshirts and swimsuits, so they are finished and don't fray. I want to cut apart some t shirts and put them together, sort of like quilting, but remaking tshirt into a work of art to wear. Can make dresses, skirts, shirts etc. combining pieces of tshirts.

I feel good about the front half of closet, but now wish I hadn't pulled all the pants out, it is overwhelming, guess I can try on just enough to put back in closet and go through rest later in the day, after I have my outside time. Although it is clouding up now. I am already tired, but did work on it for a few hours and did dishes. I need to appreciate what I have done and give myself a break. Ok, going to make a smoothie with frozen strawberries, soy milk and go sit in my favorite spot outside, water plants and just appreciate my progress. Thanks for reminding me small amounts of progress are enough when done daily. Thanks for input Tillie, I really needed to read that again.

Thanks Tillie. tops are done, now pulled all pants out and have to try them on before putting back, have no idea which fit and look good. There are so many crammed in closet, now on a heap on bed. So many jeans.
I woke up early anxious about telling my friend I would go 4hour drive to clean out aunts apartment. She wants to drive, Friday-Monday. I really want to drive my car so I have the freedom to leave when I want to. When I don't sleep well, get grumpy, so don't want to wreck this friendship. Her husband is coming over on Sunday and I want to leave Saturday night or Sunday, so finally called and left message that I want to drive etc. then she can ride back with him. I can leave Molly home for 1 or 2 nights with plenty of food and water. she has dog door. I now feel guilty for asking to drive and that I am less flexible with sleep and being home.

diane what's a serger project?

Thanks Dianne, sounds like you understand what I am up against. Got up early did dishes, then started on closet. Front half is all shirts and blouses now, went through again and got rid of more, now all look in good shape, and I have worn within the last year. Thought I had to go to thrift store to buy tshirts for my serger project, not now, have a pile of tshirts that will work perfectly for project. Project is my reward when I finish living areas. So nice to have space in front of closet, it was easier than I thought because I had already sorted by color etc. when I attempted cleaning a few months ago on my own, now was able to pull out all stuff that isn't great. Now the back half, which has not been done in years. It is crammed with skirts and pants. I do mean crammed. This section I will have to try on to see what looks good and fits, not liking that so took a break. I only need a few good pairs for when I work in the fall every year for 2 months. I love to wear stretch wastes now that I am old so have so many black athletic pants, when I couldn't find where I "organized" them I just bought a bunch more. I think a shelving unit might fit in my tiny closet once the floor piles are removed so could fold up fleece sweat shirts,my favorite, and athletic wear, takes up too much closet hanging space, then cant find skirts and casual pants. Have to eat then all pants and skirts are coming out of closet

There is this thing called "constructive avoidance".
You get all sorts of other tasks done just to avoid the thing you don't want to do the most.

If you could force yourself to do just 10 minutes or one square foot of the area you are avoiding daily it could help to break this task down until it is no longer so big and scary.

Sort of start nibbling at it around the edges.

Eventually you will feel more motivated to do more just to get it over with. 🙂

WTG! on all the things you have done! 😀

That's ok diane. You still got a lot of great work done and those areas make you feel better. Plus it sounds like they needed to be done anyway.

Good luck!!

Thanks for the input Dianne and Tillie. I feel so blessed to have you in my life. Today I had great plans, until I started in the yard, ended spended all day in yard cleaning up dead stuff in shrubs etc. Watered trees and shrubs. I enjoy being outside and worked all day but feel like I didn't make any progress, all though shrubs look so much better. I realize I am avoiding dealing with clothes hanging on walls, that should be in closet, since closet is too full. yikes, tomorrow is a new day

That's a great idea Tillie. It really helps some people to be able to see pretty much everything at once.