Another 2011 goal

Goals: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.


I like New Year's goals rather than resolutions. Goals mean achievement, goals require effort, goals can be adjusted to meet the end desired. Maybe it is silly to think that resolutions will be broken but goals will be achieved, but that is what I think and so I set goals for 2011. One of those goals is the Family Cookbook Challenge and another is to minimize the things in my life.

David Bruno has offered up a "100 Things Challenge" that intrigues me. Now, I do not plan to whittle my life down to 100 things, although I do plan to read his book about his life with 100 things. No, my goal is to get rid of 100 things; actually one unnecessary thing per day for a year, so a total of 365 things.

This idea began as I took out the boxes to decorate for Christmas. Heavens to Betsy there was a lot of stuff. Did you catch that? STUFF—not treasures and mementos but stuff. The most ridiculous is the box marked "Second Christmas Tree". Years ago I had hoped to have two Christmas trees in my house, a theme tree and a family tree. That was nearly 20 years ago, and I have never had two trees in my house.  It is time to make decisions about this "stuff."

Each month I shall have a disposal day where I share with you the collection of stuff headed out the door. This will keep me accountable and maybe entertain you; possibly it will inspire you to simplify your life too. So, here are the 31 items head to a charity (or in the garbage) for this month.

1. Old Maps—Really, how long was I planning on holding on to these. Google maps and our GPS make these nothing more than a fire hazard. (yeah, I had a lot of them)
2. Manual for iLife 04-—This book is for software that is probably two versions ago, at least
3. Manual for Microsoft Office 04—Another outdated book
4. Tiered appetizer tray that has a missing piece—When I brought this item home the piece was missing. What was I thinking?
5. Huge candle holder—huge candles cost too much and reed diffusers are growing on me.
6. Photo album purchased in 2006 and has never been used—we've gone digital, duh!
7. Basket used once in 2008
8. Old apple lady figurine that was my grandmother's—a dust catcher
9. Young girl apple figurine—another dust catch formerly my grandmother's. The memories of her are in my mind and heart. I don't need them sitting on my shelf.
10. China platter I don't ever remember using or how I acquired it.
11. Glass cup thing that is a mystery. I took it because of the mystery and now it just annoys me. Bye, bye.
12. Blue bear box
13. Mama bear box—these two things were at the back of the china hutch. Pointless, yes, so adios.
14. Mystery creamer—called a creamer because it has a spout. I am not really sure what it is. (see comment on item #11)
15. Two Japanese containers with lids—these came from a Japanese exchange student we had many, many years ago. We never kept touch and these were never used.
16. Carved wooden box with all contents—mailed to a friend. This box and the contents belong to her and my mailing them to her is long overdue.
17. White dove figurine and two antique potpourri hangers—??? (That's what I thought too!)
18. All the window stickees—These were fun when the kids were little. They loved putting them in the windows and I had stickees for every holiday. Fifteen plus years later they don't stick to the windows. This one might be regretted but they are in the garbage now.
19. Architect's ruler—I had two of these. I kept one for sentimental reasons which I won't go into here.
20. Kid's Choices cards—We used to do these at the dinner table when the kids were preteens. They hated them, and I think they always answered with what we wanted to hear. They were situations like "You see a good friend shoplift. What do you do?"
21. Whole box of 2nd Christmas tree decorations—This box goes to the garage for now but kids have one month to claim stuff and then the box is gone.
22. Christmas tree topper—I admit I bought a new one I like better so not sure this counts.
23. Wooden Easter bunny I painted
24. Wooden Easter bunny my sister painted—these two items are very 90's, mauve and blue in color, they and haven't been displayed for years.
25. Half used skein of blue baby yarn
26. Seven miscellaneous cloth napkins
27. A-Z Medical Encyclopedia—Everything I might need to know is on the internet, right?
28. Electric frying pan—haven't used it in the last year and it has been well used. Hmmm, maybe this can go to the camper. (Yes, we camp where we have electricity.)
29. Glass four-cup measure with a chipped spout—found out at Christmas that this thing measures wrong.
30. A wooden howling dog. We have nothing else that is Southwestern style.
31. Two to three boxes of stuff I culled previous to my minimizing goal of 2011. I'll count them as one item.

What takes up space in your life and needs to be removed?