This might sound a bit silly but I sometimes catch myself thinking something like "Oh wow, she is such an awesome unclutterer, so accomplished and efficient! Ten moving boxes with contents binned today, imagine. I on the other hand recycled only a magazine". I do not really feel jealous of the junk (duh) but if I have a weaker moment I might still feel a form of inferiority. Especially the ATAD thread can have me thinking of the piles that are still waiting for me and I forget completely how much I have achieved already. Ring any bells?
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Posted 9 months ago #
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Indeed. I am jealous of those who are going through their papers, as difficult as it may be for them. I have a couple (large) plastic tubs in the basement with schoolwork. Haven't used them in 8 years and I think it's safe to say that I won't use them. But I know it will take a certain amount of time to go through them, and it will be difficult. So to all of you who have the courage to go through your papers, I salute you (and am slightly jealous).
Posted 9 months ago # -
I am jealous of those who are about to move to smaller quarters and whose previously uncooperative housemates are being forced to deal with too much stuff. By getting rid of it. :-)
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm jealous of those living in a very small minimalist place without all the superfluous! Only the necessities and a few loved things. I keep trying but don't think I'll ever get to that point unless a hurricane blows everything away.
Don't mean to sound ungrateful because I am blessed. I just need to make some hard decisions and quit complaining.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm jealous of people who have trash and recycling service instead of having to drag all their trash to the dumpster halfway across the apartment complex and all their shredding/paper recycling to work.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm jealous of people who have uncluttering control over their whole house or apartment. ;) Or those who don't have to deal with the dreaded Other People's Clutter. I only have jurisdiction over my own bedroom.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Nina, sometimes all it takes is some external motivation. I was highly motivated by a 30 day declutter challenge on another blog. Before that I had a long stretch were I was pretty indifferent to the remaining clutter. Actually, I've always been like that. I get a lot of stuff out, and then I don't do much for a while. I reached a point not long ago that I decided I was content and finished with decluttering, but I'm rethinking that. It is official that my son is going back to school, so a lot of stuff will be leaving with him. Once he's out, I want to go through every area in the house to reorganized everything, and hopefully, find clutter.
We could have our own challenge here if people are interested. A challenge that is easily done within 15 minutes or so gets posted daily. Of course it would be optional, and there are no prizes except the satisfaction of accomplishment.
Posted 9 months ago # -
JuliaJayne, the satisfaction of accomplishment is the best! I joined the "no new clothes for a year" challenge and my sister asked me what I was going to reward myself with at the end of the year. I told her my reward would be knowing I could go an entire year without buying any clothes!
Posted 9 months ago # -
I've not been jealous of other's accomplishments -- I use them as good examples for me to follow, or at least paths to explore. I am, though, grateful when I read about other's challenges -- I do have curbside recycling, a car to haul things away, a Goodwill donation station two minutes down the road, enough money do I don't have to worry too much about the value of the things I dispose of, a flexible schedule, good health and stamina -- it's all good. Except, perhaps, being married to the twin brother of "Justin Case."
Posted 9 months ago # -
i have been on a weight loss blog a few years ago and your question reminds me to that blog. there was a topic like ATAD, but it was a weekly "how much did i lose within the last week". i was kind of jealous at first, then i lost a lot of weight and after that i didn't feel jealous anymore. i turned to be a feeling of " oh dear, if you lost 2 or 3 kgs this week, you will have to lose a lot more". so is it here. if i read about those huge masses i assume how much there is still to do. the grass on the other side is always greener :)
Posted 9 months ago # -
i am old enough to have realised that the grass is greenest where it is watered.
so i take inspiration from you all and i go about my business with as much intention and heart as possible.Posted 9 months ago # -
Yes, mostly the forum is inspiring, please don't misunderstand me, but those weak moments come once in a while when I haven't been decluttering for a while or the speed is a bit too slow to my taste. Then there is a bit of a love-hate-relationship going on with ATAD :) Mostly it is love though! Thanks for your honest replies, and bandicoot, it is so true about watering the grass.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I am perhaps being a bit too enthusiastic about my updates; I'm sorry! I should put up photos of where we're starting on this room: it's terrifying and embarrassing, and there's still a long way to go (there's a full walk-in closet; I haven't gotten beyond opening a door, making a squeak of terror, and closing the door again).
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm sure people who have relocated more often than me have it easier because they've had to reconsider all their stuff more recently. But I have enough trouble with packing for a holiday, so not really jealous at all of the frequent movers.
Ninakk - completely understand the love / relationship with ATAD. Usually looking at Unclutterer and browsing the forums inspires me to get stuck in but occasionally it has the opposaite effect adn then I know I should leave it til another day.
Bandicoot - your post is briliant and I'm off to do some watering!
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'll make you all feel better - my front room and kitchen/dining room currently look like a couple of grenades have been tossed in there with all the paperwork (mostly mine) with which we haven't dealt appropriately, and probably won't until I finish my current TAFE subject and TESOL course, so sometime in September I'm guessing.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I feel happy when other people have a good old blitz, but that wouldn't make me feel that they were more organised or efficient or superior :) I tend to work best in spurts of activity, ATAD just keeps me on track when I have zero motivation or energy.
But I am jealous of those whose dh's don't have shoe or tshirt buying obsessions!Posted 9 months ago # -
And whilst I was busy listing my achievements on ATAD my kids have emptied the contents of 2 massive boxes of Lego over the lounge room floor, scattered all the other surfaces of the house with swords and crumbs, it has poured relentlessly all afternoon on all the washing I hung out to dry this morning, and I went shopping, opened the car boot and realised all the stuff I put in there to take to the tip before our holiday is still sitting in there.
My fridge is still clean though, and looking nicely uncluttered :)Posted 9 months ago # -
welcome back, Lottielot! how were your holidays?
I am more inspired than jealous to read other people's accomplishments, but unfortunately I do get a bit green over their space--I am an unwilling minimalist.
Rational me says, "look at all the fun you get to have! and how you love your work! and the location of your home is so near to everything! You don't need a bathtub, there is a spa 1/2 hour away! you have an adoring husband, great friends, and an affectionate cat" but juvenile me says, "she/he cleaned out a basement. I don't have a basement". Or, "she/he cleaned a closet/drawer/pantry/garage/shelf/collection/guest room/second bathroom and I don't have a closet/drawer/pantry/garage/shelf/collection/guest room/second bathroom.
Mostly rational me has the floor but once in a while juvenile me pops up and she needs a stern talking-to.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Lol djk! My holiday was lovely, thanks!
I think this forum is kind of US-centric, and in the US they tend to have more space and hence bigger houses with room for hall closets, lots of bathrooms, garages and suchlike. Not everywhere, obviously, as Apartment Therapy can testify to, but it seems that in countries where there is more space then houses are bigger. I do have friends in the UK who have big houses and lots of extra rooms and storage, but I tell myself that I like living in an Edwardian house with some character (well, small rooms) rather than my friends' ugly new houses. Actually, I used to think that the answer to my clutter problems was a bigger house, now I think it's less stuff and better organisation. I used to spend plenty of time on property websites mooning over houses with more bedrooms/bigger gardens/basements/utility rooms. I try to count my blessings more nowadays and think less about what other people have and more how great it is that I can walk to school with my kids in 10 minutes rather than stuck in traffic.
And actually, this forum is a bit of an eye-opener as you see that people with lots of storage still have clutter issues, just more hidden ones! I do know what you mean though. More obviously than most things in life, there is no such thing as the 'perfect' property, yet tv programmes etc try to portray it as possible. But there is always a trade-off in terms of price/location/convenience/size/number of bathrooms/proximity of neighbours/garden size/whatever. Remind yourself of your priorities on a daily basis and make full use of that spa!!
What's the saying, something like 'the secret to happiness is being content with what you have'? Something along those lines. I know
multimillionaires who are jealous of what other people have :)
Right now I'm happy because I told my kids to tidy up the lounge before pudding and they did so! Order is (temporarily) restored.Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm jealous of people whose kids tidy up the lounge when told to! My current goal is to stop them dropping bits of clothing round the house randomly and to actually put them in the laundry basket, or at least on the stairs to go up, instead of just leaving them wherever they happened to take them off. Especially socks. (This also applies to husband).
I'm also jealous of people whose houses have character, but then I remind myself that the main reason we bought this house (built in 1971) was the awful damp problems in our previous Victorian basement-level flat. Big rooms, and absolutely no damp. I would really really love a hall closet though. I need to do something about the shoe problem.
Posted 9 months ago #
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