lately i've given thought
to the idea of simplifying;
strange for someone who
has accumulated so many
things, like these antique pins.
i can't bear to throw anything away.
i've managed to gather a gigantic
collection of beads, trims, ribbon,
paper goods, books, and textiles
that would send a minimalist
over the edge. at times it has the
same effect on me.
along with collecting (or hoarding),
comes finding an appropriate way to
catalog. i still struggle with this, and
that is the reason why i rarely find
what i'm looking for.
i'm not saying i'm organizationally
challenged. quite the opposite.
i'm a bit like margaret from little britain.
if you have no idea who
i'm talking about,
little britain is a
british comedy that you must see
straight away.
to put it another way, i can tell you
the tube of alizarin crimson oil paint
is upstairs in the metal cabinet,
3rd drawer from the top, on the left-hand side,
next to the tube of williamsburg ultramarine.
all this from the living room downstairs.
if i were to sell some of these things,
i'd never make back what i spent.
but if someone is able to make
something beautiful from it...
why keep things i no longer need?
why hold onto things i've never used?
do you struggle with this? are you a
hoarder turned minimalist? if so, i'd love
to hear how you did it, and whether you'll
ever go back.
