Survey #164 Response from Joyce S (or rejoyce; I know there's at least one other listener named Joyce)
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| What are your most compelling reasons to reduce clutter and/or to get organized? These may include your personal goals, work objectives, plans, fears, physical limitations, lifestyle choices, family history, etc. | I refuse to put my family and friends through what we endured through moving late dad from his townhouse to assisted living. It took over 6 months AND a village. I was doing well until I stopped organizing paper, & haven't gone back to it. I have the family documents, photos, movies , and reel-to-reel-audio tapes of concerts, many of which featured my dad as bass soloist. Things are sorted, boxed, and (except paper) on shelves in closets. However, the closets are full. If I ever hope to downsize, paint, replace worn-out appliances, closet doors, & flooring in my condo, I HAVE to get back to the decluttering. |
| What external factors drive or support your organizing efforts? Think about positive or negative signals from outside yourself that influence your desire or inclination to declutter and organize. (Examples: pressure from your spouse, stuff inherited from elder family members, a need to work from home, etc.) | I'm my eldest brother's guardian, and as he's aged, his health has worsened, thanks to genetics and the pandemic shutdown. I have to keep track of his current health & paperwork, etc. even though he doesn't live with me. Keeping up with communication and doctor visits for my brother has taken from both time AND motivation to get back to decluttering. Also, with his current health needs, I'm in the "I can't make plans because I don't know what's going to be happening" mindset. I can't have family or friends visit overnight because what would be the spare bedroom is full of boxes of sorted paper. Plus, there's no real privacy in 2nd bedroom or living room because what would have been money for new window treatments has gone to repairs for my old car. I have lace curtains over the windows and UV tint, so it's ok in the daytime, but not at night. I'd love to turn the 2nd bedroom from home office back to a guestroom/multipurpose area. |
| What internal factors support your organizing efforts? Think about positive or negative thoughts or feelings that influence your desire or inclination to declutter and organize. (Examples: the urge to start a new hobby, feelings of guilt or shame, a desire to share your surplus with people who need it, etc.) | I'm tired of feeling as if I'm carrying the weight of the contents of my closets and family history on my back. I'd like to enjoy looking at family photos, etc. I'd like to get my piano tuned - and have a ceiling fixture in that area (former dining room area w/in a great room) that isn't going to whack anyone on the head who's taller than 4'11', I'd like to buy a new sewing machine and get back to sewing now that I'm retired. I have already shared my surplus, and try to limit purchases to replacements and/or items that have a designated storage space. I also look at pictures on Zillow of condos in my development (e.g., upstairs neighbors), and see all the wonderful ways they've updated virtually the same floor plan (except I don't have a loft), and know I need to do that kind of modernizing before I ever hope to sell and downsize. |
| What is the most exciting way in which your life will be different when you achieve your organizing goal(s)? | I can be creative - music, sewing & crocheting, & I can have company. I can reminisce guilt-free. I can plan for modernizing condo essentials & prepare to downsize. |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | What have either of you done when the needs of family members conflicts with the need to downsize your own things, in addition to theirs? I've DONE it before, and while I was teaching full-time, no less! It just seems harder now, & I don't know why. I'm retired, & still relatively young. |
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