I've been sorting paper for two days.
Magazines.
Bills.
Catalogs.
Other people's stuff that somehow ends up here.
Articles and things I've printed from online sites, thinking I'll do something with them.
What's funny about this is I religiously toss junk mail, usually without opening it. So what's here is stuff I kept on purpose. How does that happen?
I try hard to keep up with the media mountains, but I feel like I'm fighting a battle against an opponent with unlimited ammunition. I develop filing systems and feel very efficient until the files fill up and flow over. I do electronic filing, and if it wasn't for that I would never be found in the paper blitz.
I won't even talk about books. The ones stacked every place I look--except the kitchen. Only cookbooks in there. At the moment. It could change when my back is turned.
After two days of sorting, filing and tossing, the piles are gone and things look, well, neat. Mostly. For today. Tomorrow's mail will being more matter into the house, and more decisions will need to be made about what to do with it all.
But for now, there are some clear spaces on my desk, and that feels pretty good.
I know what you are going through. I'm married to a hoarder. A person can't help but hum the tune to "Sanford & Son" whenever they walk in our front door.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced there never has been a book published that Shirley doesn't like. We have a room that is strictly a library but you can't get in it for all of the excess books. And God forbid I try to sneak a few of them off to Goodwill. I've found that if I take sneak a few out of here, she will ask where is such as such book. I don't know how she keeps track of them all, and she'll even know which books are on which shelves, stacks, etc.
I mean, I love books, but there comes a time when a person fears for their safety from stacks of falling books.
Matthew
My library gratefully accepts any books I bring, either for the shelves or for the "Friends of the Library" booksale. they take magazines, too, which is great! (and made me feel less guilty about the stacks of "to be read someday" magazines I dropped off before my move -- less to pack). We have curbside paper recycling for newspapers and such . . and still paper accumulates!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of composting and mulching with papers, which seems only fair, returning the wood products to the soil . . .
My library gratefully accepts any books I bring, either for the shelves or for the "Friends of the Library" booksale. they take magazines, too, which is great! (and made me feel less guilty about the stacks of "to be read someday" magazines I dropped off before my move -- less to pack). We have curbside paper recycling for newspapers and such . . and still paper accumulates!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of composting and mulching with papers, which seems only fair, returning the wood products to the soil . . .
I do the exact same thing!! I keep bits of paper and then wonder why I kept them in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone in this muddle.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing you do, Mary, sometimes donating back to the library things I bought from them in the first place. Round and round it goes!
I know how you feel. I think I would lock the door and pretend not to be home if someone came to the door right now. The couch has maybe a tiny spot free to sit on and the floor has a path to walk through, but that's about it. Where are your before and after pictures?
ReplyDeleteHa! who wants pictures of that? I didn't think about writing this post prior to writing about it. I'd probably be the only one to notice, anyway--the desk hid a lot! and so did the cabinet where magazines are stored. But open them, and as my youngest son said...dang.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's one I can never get on top of: we have boxes and boxes of paper that I *think* will be important, or that is or was or might be important, and then it just sits in a box until it isn't important anymore, and I throw it out eventually.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of time and storage, and I need a better system! Congratulations on sorting some of yours away and hurrah for clear spots on the desk!
Personally I think they multiply on their own volition. Its like a dirty dish in the sink...only one at first and then .... TADA! The sink is full and you didn't do anything. tm
ReplyDeleteBoy, can I identify! We also get tunneled under homeschool items, clothing and houseware items (my mom loves to go to sales and get us stuff she thinks we can use..;0)We have relatives that send us books and magazines and all added to that mountain of daily mail that somehow always lands on my dining room (school room) table---sheesh! I love the fact that I have so many wonderful, thoughtful friends and family members, but sometimes I just have to re-sort it all and send some of the items along to bless someone else. Otherwise, I would have to build a house the size of Solomon's Temple. Good luck in getting re-organized.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Charlotte
We just have so much stuff. And I like stuff! I am always looking at (and usually buying) antiques and vintage items--and books! lots of books. And puppets. And...the list goes on. I use the one in one out rule for clothes and furniture but I need to apply it across the board.
ReplyDelete