Survey #186 Response from Laurie

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PronounsShe/her
Statement #1: When I give valuable things to friends or family, I worry that they will turn around and give them away.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #2: When I give something away, I accept that I have no further claim to it, which gives me peace of mind.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #3: I only give things on the condition that the recipients will involve me in any decisions about the future disposition of things I’ve given them.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #4: I find it discouraging when I give useful and valuable things to friends and family who don't appreciate it.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #5: Worrying about what happens to things after you give them away is letting stuff hold too much power over you.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #6: It means a lot to me that my children recognize and understand the importance and value of items from our family’s history.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #7: Even though my stuff has become a burden in my life, it’s hard to let go of good things to people who don’t appreciate them.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #8: Remaining attached to our stuff and feeling like we need to find a good home for each item arises out of a need to remain in control.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Statement #9: When people don’t want the thing you give to them, it isn’t a judgment on you or the value of your gift.
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
What factors do you consider when you’re thinking about giving things away to family members, friends, neighbors, or other people you know?What is the reason behind me wanting to give this item to this person? Can this person use or enjoy this item or am I using the person to satisfy something within me. If it's all about me and my underlying discomfort of getting rid of the item, my intensions are wrong. I think it's best to ask the person if they would like the item and tell this person that I no longer need the item and am offering this to family and friends before donating it.
What factors do you consider when you’re thinking about donating items to a charity, shelter, or unknown recipient?I find it easy now, I didn't used to, to let go of items I no longer enjoy or use as long as they have little monetary value. I have trouble donating when I know the item has a value of over fifty dollars and, it makes me freeze and hold on to the item! Then I think that maybe I could sell it or offer it to a family member, but I haven't done that very often.
What is your all-time favorite hand-me-down, cast-off, or regifted item?I was delighted to give my five-year-old granddaughter several of the brooches that I have collected through the years for jewelry art I used to do. I got the brooches out and let her choose the ones she would like to have. The expression on her face of wonderment and joy truely touched my heart!
Future topics

Throwing items away. I have an interior dialogue with myself about how it's ok to throw things away. I ask myself some questions: Can I donate it? Can I sell it? Can I recycle it? Can I fix it? If the answer is no to these questions, it needs to be thrown away. If I think it's partially usable, I tend to want to hold on to it, to make excuses for why it should stay. My parents were children during the Depression, and I figure my "clinging" to items has a lot to do with their attitudes about things.

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