Curiosity, enthusiasm, and the challenging art of decluttering
Mar 16, 2018, 11:26 AM
One thing I like about myself is that I like to try new things. I’m constantly curious about too many things. Don compliments me about it all the time.
I wouldn’t change that about me if I could. But as I sit here in my office typing this, I’m realizing there is a dark side to this trait.
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I’m currently drowning in the accumulated gear of all these curiosities. Decluttering it all is a challenge.
I had to get some stuff out of my closet. So I pulled out the inflatable kayak I bought last year. Turns out I really like to kayak on rivers, but on Lake Union — not so much. Now I have a kayak, paddles, life vests, air pump, and a little dolly to move it around.
Next to that is the giant computer I bought over Christmas break — to see if I wanted to mine some bitcoin. I got it working and figured it I couldn’t profitably compete with all the big Bitcoin farms in Eastern Washington. So I need to figure out what to do with that. There’s an entire section of this room that looks like an electronics grave yard. A spare monitor, an old Xbox (with the ring of death that I can’t bring myself to throw away), and two drones.
Next to that is my growing pile of books. I want to read them all. Really, I do. Like I said, I’m curious. But after a day spent reading the news and scanning websites for hours on end, the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is reading.
The books sit next to my home yoga station. I have the mat, the foam rollers, some dumbbells and a stretching ramp. And I actually use this a few times a week, if I can just keep the other stuff out of the way.
The art of decluttering
I could keep going, but I think you get the point. I’ve just spent the last two weekends decluttering the other part of the house, and now all the stuff I can’t let go of is now in this room.
The obvious answer is that I need to focus my enthusiasm on the art of throwing stuff away. I even bought the Marie Condo book “The Life Changing Magic of Tiding Up.” It’s sitting in the stack with the other books waiting to be read.
I know I should donate a lot of this stuff, or sell it on Craigslist. But I don’t have the time.
So as spring cleaning fever hits full force, I’m determined to let go of the clutter this year.
Wish me luck.
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