Purging

I must have known these meds were in the cabinet. Today is the fourth time (give or take) that I’ve de-stuffed from our big medicine cabinet. Did it take three previous purges to even be able to notice this batch? Seeing with the brain is the name of the minimizing game. It’s all expired. What will I find if I open the cupboard tomorrow?

What I got rid of today

1. Expired prescription #1
2. Expired prescription #2
3. Expired antacid tablets, box #1
4. Expired antacid tablets, box #2
5. Expired mouthwash
6. Expired antacid controller, pills
7. Expired Slippery Elm supplement
8. Expired Robitussin

The good news is, all this went unused and lurked around because we generally feel well (and almost never go through our med cabinet).

Goodbye unwanted stuff!

Time to purge some clothing.

November 10 — Five things I got rid of today (and why)

1. Plaid shirt—already I’m having doubts. I keep picturing myself on a 60 degree beautiful fall day, raking leaves while wearing this quintessential midweight-autumn-day fabric (cue the record-scratch) whauuuh!!! Sounds like a nice photo opp. I’m not doing this. I always grab the same crappy sweatshirt/t-shirt combo for this.
2. White long sleeve T—I have three others. Here’s the first to set sail.
3. Sparkly black shrug—I feel matronly in this. Everytime! Every single time.
4. Fabric belt—high maintenance. Always cinching it shut. Always, always, always.
5. Suspenders—These are from Sears. They don’t even get me close to feeling I live a life parallel to Janelle Monáe.

What’s this all about? Check out my November pact to purge

Truly, 27 things gone! Basically a “thing” is a decision. That pile of pouches, each pouch was a bit of a decision. I collect these things. Not sure why, most the time they just sit in a drawer. I’ve never needed this many at once.

November 8 — Five (piles of things) things I got rid of today (and why)

1. Toiletry bag and pouches—I have so many of these things! This is the pile of where I drew the line.
2. Beauty supplies (brushes, headbands, sharpener)—all duplicates
3. A glass—nothing wrong with it, other than the memories it triggers. Not bad memories, just odd. This is another Crate&Barrel thing I shouldn’t have bought. I used to work near the outlet, as I result I always did deal-focused retail therapy here. As a result I unintentionally conditioned myself to dislike Crate&Barrel as well as deals.
4. Ear buds & cord holder—Is three sets of ‘buds enough? Hope so, that’s what I kept. The cord holder I was briefly excited about, but it didn’t work well (bulky and cord often popped loose)
5. Trinkets and doodads (a silly cardboard sign, mini picture frame, magnets, lighter—the lighter was by far the most challenging choice to purge. I don’t remember why I have it. But, it has been with me a long time. It has a working traffic light design. Click it and all the lights blink! That was the why I was keeping it. But, I knew I needed to get rid of it because, as cute as it is, it kept hogging my attention in a way I did not value. As soon as I removed it from it’s home on my desk (placing it in the discard pile), it lost all it’s magic. This happens a lot. It might be the most powerful technique I’ve discovered yet.

What’s this all about? Check out my November pact to purge

Plus,  few more insights and actions behind the mindset of letting go.

Not only is it Friday, it is one full week since I’ve been doing this daily. It feels amazing! This is the first time I’ve documented my purges. I was afraid to do this. I had thought it would get in the way of my momentum. I also thought that seeing what I removed (forever living in a photo) would make me yearn for what was no longer mine. Exactly the opposite. I look at all these photos and think “What is wrong with me? This is junk! What took me so long to let these things go?”. Combined with this purge, I’m actively addressing why did I have X item to begin with. Why did I acquire this bowl? Most of the time my answer is emotional justification. Emotionally, I just had to have it. In order to feel like I was being responsible I’d justify that need/reaction with “oh, I can use it to cover up ugly plant pots. This will look so much nicer!”. Really, really eye opening to confront myself this way.

Combined with this purging of physical things I’ve also been purging of email subscriptions. I documented those too. I unsubscribed from over 50 retail-based emails. Shocking! My perception was that it would be something like ten and that 10-15 was a lot! I had more than 50 (Crate&Barrel, CB2, Banana Republic, Artifact Uprising, Walgreens, Joss & Main, Everlane, it goes on and on and on). I’m a visual designer in the digital space. There is a ton of value in seeing what other big corporations (and smaller ones) are doing to influence their audiences. And many of them are really good at this! Most of these emails would have me considering buying something that I otherwise would have never thought of. It is shocking how the power of suggestion, combined with a deal, can get some of us to change our thoughts. Therefore, I deleted. I had more than 35,000 unread emails. The majority were advertisements.

November 7 — Five things I got rid of today (and why)

1. Canning jar—too many.
2. Big bowl—wasn’t using. Had for 10 years. Every time I see it I think “that’s the item I was too chicken to get rid of”. I kept “what if’ing” That’s no way to live! It’s gone.
3. Assortment of baggies—I seem to mindlessly hoard these with other travel things. I don’t need so many. I don’t want to too many “what if” things hanging around.
4. Memo-note holder—wasn’t using.
5. Small jar—Way too many of these! I have a 1 gallon zip-loc full of toiletry containers. Maybe I’ll address that tomorrow…maybe.

What’s this all about? Check out my November pact to purge