The Return of the Daily Ditch or "Get it OUT"

Friends, I know it may seem strange to follow a post about finding treasures in the trash with one about tackling my increasingly overwhelming clutter, but so be it.

It is time, once again, to resurrect The Daily Ditch.



I think I told you that on MPB Day, after our lunch/pattern swap, I sent Michael home with a bag of nearly 40 patterns that nobody wanted.  Well, today I took that bag of unloved patterns to the Salvation Army.  It felt good!



Do you remember that papier maché plant/thing I found in the trash this summer?  It dawned on me gradually that, interesting as it was, this objet wasn't really enhancing my life.  It will be available for sale at the Salvation Army at 208 Eighth Avenue imminently, along with a few pair of my old pants, a scarf, hats, shoes, and a couple of books.



Monday's Ditch Total: two large bags.

Not bad considering I'm very out of practice.



I was talking to Michael today about all the things we hang onto because we either a) paid too much money for them to just give them away without some sort of compensation (which would mean selling them on eBay or Craigslist, with all the nuisance that entails); or b) care so much about them that we want them to go to somebody who's going to really appreciate them.

But what's the cost of hanging on to all that stuff?  Every time I encounter this clutter (daily) it brings me down and makes me feel trapped. 

Sometimes I think, What would I be willing to pay to have all of this stuff GONE and never have to deal with again.  $100?  $500?  $1,000?  I mean, sure, it's great to sell things on eBay and make money on the stuff, but that involves a great deal of work -- I know, I've done it.  But honestly, are we talking money that's really going to make a huge difference in the scheme of things? 

I was thinking today that, here in the United States, so many things are relatively cheap to purchase.  Most of this is stuff we don't actually need.  What we actually do need -- a place to live, health insurance, an education, good quality food -- is increasingly out of reach.  Just a thought.

Readers, I hope this post will inspire you to do some ditching of your own -- not that you need to, of course.  I'm aiming to keep this going for at least a week -- I still see plenty of clutter in my peripheral vision.

Have a great day, everybody!