Why do I have such trouble throwing things out that I clearly don't use anymore?

Answer 1

Some of us had to do without as children or got only a few very special gifts. My grandmother gave me a doll, i cannot throw the ugly thing away, cuz it's one of the few things I have from her, she died when i was 10.

My parents are packrats and hoarders, I was not taught out with the old in with the new. I was taught to respect my elders, perhaps I am respecting my old outdated objects.

First I have to be willing to be willing to consider letting go!!!
We need to accept that we no longer need it, it no longer serves us, and it is taking up space and cluttering our lives and overwhelming us, and we feel stuck in the past.........once we start to donate these un-needed, unattached to items, we are making space for something new and exciting to come in.

I know someone who cleanned their closet and lost 12 lbs in 3 months. It's very difficult for some of us to just let go!!
Some people toss everything, nothing is sacred.
*I on the other hand am trying to find a healthy balance.
Sometimes just packing some of it away in boxes, labeling the box, and put an expiration date on the box, if you have not opened the box by 10/2010 then off to the donation site unopened. *hasn't worked for me!

I get hung up on the "investment" emotional and monetary.
I was a school teacher for 15 yrs, and beg, borrowed, made, and hunted thru trash cans for useable items for art and such........why did i not leave this at the school i last left? My life would be so much easier.
*** My teaching Career is so much of my Idenity, that I find that if I let it go, it never happened, i don't have any proof, or evidence of who i was and what I did!
--when in fact I have lots of evidence!!! my 3 yr old class is 21 now, my first class i ever taught is now 25, and i still run into them, and they sing one of the songs I made up. THAT is priceless, and can never be taken away from me, if I just let go of the puppets, flannel stories, my musical instruments, my books, I"m not giving away the experience. I still have the love.

Anything and everything we let go will never be lost. It will always be a part of us.

I told myself i would put 3 items in a big black garbage bag each day, well, i have, and then some, i have a lady who cleans for the neighbors and she comes by once a week and collects my black bags. I call this mission Black BAG!
*I asked her if she found any of it useful, and she said OH YES!! I gave all the men's clothes to my brother," I had forgotten what i black bagged, and I said, oh, i thought i got rid of all my husband's large man clothes, I told her he has lost 99 lbs and kept it off for over 1 1/2 yrs. She said her brother is big, and was very grateful.

So when i truly let go, I am rewarded, by doing something for someone else and relieving them of embarassing shopping and financial burdon.

I wish you the best of luck.
IM me if you need help or would like a copy of the 2 books that are helping me thru this mission Black BAG.
I have piles of junk covered with blankets in my so called guest room. I cannot wait to turn that room into my art studio.
***AND you bet'cha, I have takend classes and have 15 canvas's waiting, more paint than 10 people can use, and a multitude of brushes.

I used to say, "i'm creative, I am a clutterbug, if things are too neat and tidy it hinders my creativity.

I no longer say that, I have made a list of what I want to eliminate, and what i want to bring into my life.
Baby steps!!
It took years to collect it all, if you are truly ready to release your outdated, unused, stained, ugly, useless items, then accept that they no longer serve you and your not good for your well-being, and let them go. Have someone come take what you toss each day, so you won't have to see it and go thru it again.

Please don't get me wrong, WE have a lot of nice, useful, valid items as well, I just want to be able to get to mine. Finally moving forward!!!

im me,
Mystic_Gift
[e-mail]

1. is it useful?
2. do you love it?
3. is it beautiful?
4. will i wear it or use it?
ANY THING that doesn't fall into the are you beautiful, do i love you, will i use you catagory, release it!
Black bag it, and haul it away everyday!

best of luck!

Answer 2

You need to get out of that house. It's not a healthy living environment. Call a friend or family member right away and ask if you can stay over at their house for a few nights until you get things sorted out. If your parents call the police and they find you, explain your situation and you won't get in trouble. Talk to a councilor at your school or somewhere else and ask for their advice. You can call the police yourself and report child abuse because of the apparent hitting, slapping and the holding your face against the floor. They may take you away from your parents and have you live with a family member. The main thing at this point though is to leave. When they are out or something pack your bags, make arrangements and find somewhere to stay. You shouldn't be treated like this and so you need to get help. I hope I helped!

Answer 3

I was like this for a long time when I was much younger. I moved around a lot and there were several boxes I always moved around with me, I never used any of the stuff in them and it wasn't nostalgic or keepsake so there was no real need for these things. I finally broke down and had a yard sale one year, I unpacked those boxes and sold some of the stuff, gave some of it away and some things I simply threw away. I was so glad to finally get rid of those excess boxes!

Answer 4

Because like a lot of us, you are a pack rat. I am one as well.
A professioanl organizer, Peter (?) don't recall his last name, was on Oprah earlier this year. He said the reason people hold onto things:
1) In case it's needed sometime in the future.
2) Sentimental reasons.
Makes sense, dosn't it?
Well, currently, I am going thru what i call packrattitis, emptyouthouse-is.
In other words, sorting thru the things, deciding what to keep, what to toss, etc.
Take care.

Answer 5

I have this problem, too. In my case, I believe it's because I hate the idea of throwing something out that has some kind of value. I feel guilty, like I wasted something.

Answer 6

The pack-rat mentality. I've kept the clothes I wore in high school. Faded jeans a million sizes too small and t-shirts with disco sayings.

Answer 7

You may have unusual attachments to stuff. you could possibly be a hoarder.
The link below has a whole bunch of info and links for people who have this problem.

It also could be as simple as you do not want to be wasteful.
Pam

Answer 8

Because it is part of you. I have a ton of stuff that needs to go, one. you can have the mentality, you didn't miss it tucked away in the drawer, however, you might need it. It is not a anal retentiv disorder or a sickness, you'll be fine, call me in the morning.

Answer 9

you get attached to them.
you used them before and loved them.
so you dont want to lose them.
i do the same thing!
eventually you will realize that you need to let go of them.

Answer 10

It's natural, one of our traits as women is to nest. Basically we gather and make a nest. Mother nature made us that way I guess!