Tuesday 4 December 2012

Know Thyself

I was clearing out my favourites tab this week (it's a big job, believe me) and I came across a blog post from Eco In Black that I had bookmarked a while ago. This post is entitled Good Goth Keeping, (aka Know Thyself), and it's basically the start of a set of challenges to help flaily types in emotional crises, such as myself. (OK, OK, I don't know if that was quite Eco's original intent, but... that's what I'm doing with it. Eco wrote, "I realized I lost most of my sense of self. Understand: I still know what kinds of movies I like, the books I want to read, and that I still love Goth. But there are things missing, like a sense of direction, sense of control, or a even a hobby, really," and I practically exploded with relief when I read this, because this was exactly, exactly how I have felt throughout most of this year.)

The post linked to above incorporates tips one and two, which are as follows:

1. Assess your physical baggage and the psychological will follow. Get out of your own way.

2. Write. Write something. Write anything. Write. Everyday.

I already keep a good ol'fashioned paper-and-ink journal, so the writing part is not tremendously difficult for me. When not journaling I am often blogging (duh), and yesss, one of my goals for the next few months is to finally start working on some fiction projects again. I haven't approached fiction in more than a year, and as it was my first love and my whole reason for being for, oh, most of my existence, I figure it's time to give it another shot and stop letting it get pushed to the bottom of my priorities pile.

Assessing my physical baggage is... harder. I have been redecorating my lair for the better part of a year now; it's taking so long because of the sheer amount of STUFF that I have. I have gotten rid, so far, of FIFTY THREE bags of clothing, books, and miscellaneous junk. Fifty. Three. How I even managed to physically fit so much - OK, I'll say it - crap into my average-sized-to-small bedroom is beyond me. No wonder I couldn't move in there. It was getting claustrophobic. I couldn't stand to be in my own living space because I just felt overwhelmed by the volume of STUFF.
As things were.
Finally, now, I am getting somewhere with the redecoration project. I have new furniture. I have a carpet. My walls are painted (with a little help from my friends - I threw a painting party). I am really starting to love my room, although it is still a little untidy and looks somewhat like a very disorganised library.

The only downside is that I am still sifting through the junk. The trouble is that I am a hoarder, and I attach sentimental value to every damn thing. But as Eco very wisely says, "Going through the physical stuff allows the mind to go through the psychological stuff. I encourage you to get rid of the things you are lugging around to facilitate your getting rid of the ideas you're toting with you."

Currently, I am toting a lot of crap that I don't need. I look forward to being free of it. Even clearing out my favourites tab made me feel... lighter.

I am resolving to really be ruthless about my junk-sorting, to free myself of every damn thing that has no use and brings me no joy. I would like to thank Eco for motivating me to get back to work on de-junking both my space and my mind. There are so many more productive ways I could be using my headspace.

12 comments:

  1. This sounds like a very good idea! I know picking up my room makes me a much happier person with room to move. Getting rid of stuff would probably be even better!

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    1. Oh, it is! It's a big job though - sorting through my old paperwork, clearing out gone-off make-up... it feels never-ending! I'm sure it will all be worth it, I am just making sure to do something each day.

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  2. 53 bags?! Holy... I'm pretty sure you're going to win some type of award for getting rid of that much stuff!

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    1. I think I should win some kind of award for accumulating so much stuff in the first place. ;-)

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  3. And I was all proud of my 2 bags of stuff. 53! That's awesome!

    You are absolutely right. Good Goth Keeping is my way of making it through my own period of being flighty and emotional. I started blogging it just as a way of keeping accountabilibuddies - meaning people like you. Knowing someone - anyone - is reading my blog helps me keep on track.

    I genuinely honored that my desire to be a little better has encouraged you! You've made my whole day.

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    1. Awesome or insane? I'm actually afraid of how much stuff I was hoarding. Good lord.

      Just imagine me looming over your shoulder - it IS a terrifying thought, I can assure you ;-)

      Thank you! I'm glad. You've really helped me out. ^^

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  4. I just read a book called "The Joy of Less" by Francine Jay. It's about minimalism as a lifestyle, but even if you're not going that way Jay has plenty of good advice for paring down. I'm going through all my stuff and trying to get rid of as much as possible too. It's a huge undertaking, but energizing.

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    1. That sounds great! I'm not sure I could ever give my all to minimalism, I like STUFF too much, but I'm definitely interested in downsizing rather a lot. Thanks for the recommendation! ^^

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  5. Heres another tip from a hoarder! Boxes! Sort everything in boxes. Especially clothes that you don't want to throw away but not using for the moment. Your little treasures are also something to put in boxes. If you don't have room to stack them in your room. Maybe you can lend a spot in a utility room in your parents house.

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    1. Good idea! Thanks! (Eheheh... I have entirely taken over the utility room with my stuff already >.<)

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  6. One thing I do is I put aside an hour each day and push myself to do as much in that hour as I can fit in. I surprise myself at how much I can get done in that hour,if I try and do it any other way I just get discouraged and give up!

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    1. That's just what I've been doing! Although if I've done an hour's crap-shifting and still feel motivated I generally keep going. Good luck to you!

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