Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

[NatureLover]

Thanks for your lovely message @Bow and for popping in ❤️

I don't know what can improve things, other than an extended burst of energy and determination maybe. For that I need to eat better - i.e. eat some fruit and veggies. I can't cook as the stovetop is covered in stuff and so is the small kitchen bench...so I need to eat fruit. Thanks for reminding me!

Am about to pop over to your thread to see how you're doing 💜

[NatureLover]

@Oaktree  Sorry, I seem to have missed your post - I've been offline a bit this week. I hear you and empathise about about the piles of clutter everywhere with no home for it 😞

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@Oaktree wrote:

Please send help!

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Would you like to write your goal(s) for the day, and then check back in with us, either here or on @Dimity 's thread The Magic of Tidying ? I find that helps me. You could start on your bedroom with maybe one corner of it or something? 

Another thing that's helped me is to go online on Facebook and join your local "Buy Nothing" group. That way you can post items you want to give away and people come and collect them. If you're uncomfortable with people coming to the house, like I am, you can nominate a pick up place close by. You may prefer to sell items, in which case you can advertise on your local area noticeboard on Facebook. That's if you're on Facebook, of course, you may not be.

I have not had any luck with selling items, but every item I've listed on the Buy Nothing group has gone the same day, and it's a great feeling to get it out of the house and that someone is benefitting from the item and it's not just wasted. 

If you think of some other way in  which we can support you, please let us know 🙂

[NatureLover]

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@tyme wrote:

Then... I got this 'thing' in my head.... and now I'm a minimalist. I don't keep anything. I think it is because I realised that if I were to 'go', I didn't want people having to clean up after me. 

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Hi @tyme ...this is incredible! I wish I knew what it was that got into your head, to make you do 180 like that! Was it  just that you didn't want to leave a lot of things behind you, for others to clean up? It sounds like it...I'm very impressed. 

That worries me a lot too, but I still can't manage it. Or rather, I feel I'm trying to clean up all the time, but not getting far. 

One point though is that you have to be fairly financially secure to do this I reckon, as you can just buy whatever you need once you've thrown it out. What do you think, @tyme  and @Dimity  and @Oaktree ?

[Dimity]

The salvias sound lovely @NatureLover. They were a thoughtful gift. I just bought a red salvia and already had a lovely black and blue one. I used to have a lovely pink one called Bethel Sage. I find they only need watering occasionally in summer, and being cut back hard in winter. 

I think having a functional kitchen is really important and you deserve that. Please don't neglect yourself, especially if it's re-enacting old patterns - we're complicated critters and sometimes need to be reminded of our own value. 

I've probably touched on a couple of incidents with my psychiatrist but haven't been awake to the likely full burden. 

Keep up the light box when you can. Washing the bags is good but feeding yourself well should be one of your highest priorities. Do you have any favourite meals?

[NatureLover]

A black and blue salvia @Dimity ?! Wow! It sounds so striking! 😮

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@Dimity wrote:

I find they only need watering occasionally in summer, and being cut back hard in winter. 

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Thanks - that's helpful 🙂

I am actually not sure if I'm re-enacting old patterns...I will have to consider that...

My favourite meal is vegetarian lasagna with spinach and ricotta, but I haven't had lasagna for many years. However I recently saw a post on the local noticeboard on Facebook offering home cooked meals, so I ordered a lasagna. It was expensive but I figured I'd try it out. I pick it up on Friday and am excited about having a decent meal. (I couldn't possible cook a lasagna myself!)

I also bought some pureed fruit yesterday at the supermarket, and ate some for dinner, and have some for work today. 

I didn't actually manage to clear the bench or the floor yesterday 😞 But am so happy for you that you feel you are back on track with doing some decluttering every day 🙂 💚

Thank you for your care ❤️

[Dimity]

Yum vegetarian lasagne.... haven't had it for years. I used to make a version with lentils and grated carrot. Spinach and ricotta with it would be lovely and very healthy!

Yes @NatureLover I did a bit again today. So I'm improving. 

I hope your work day went well.

Tomorrow I'll try to catch up on household chores. 

[NatureLover]

Yum, lentils and carrot - I'd forgotten that! I might order a lasagna with that next!

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@Dimity wrote:

Yes @NatureLover I did a bit again today. So I'm improving. 

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So happy for you @Dimity  🙂

Do you distinguish between decluttering and household chores like general tidying (making bed, doing laundry etc)? 

I actually did some work on the bags in the lounge-room last night - on a work day! 😮 Today am meeting my half sister for lunch but I hope to do some work on the small kitchen bench too. 

[Dimity]

Well done with the loungeroom bags @NatureLover . 

I'm trying on both fronts, both chores and decluttering, but there's room for improvement in both. 

I hope you enjoyed lunch. I had a couple of meals with family over Easter. 

[Shaz51]

hello @Dimity , @NatureLover , thinking of you lots today , how are you going xxx

[NatureLover]

Thank you @Shaz51 ❤️ ...I feel completely overwhelmed by the chaotic state of the house, and I think @Dimity  does too...