Unboxing Discoveries: Glamour Shots

Lately my general response when I open boxes that have been packed away for years is, "Oh my gosh ... I had completely forgotten about this!/I still have this?!/I thought I donated this?!" Which, based on my reaction, likely means that the item/s were not so valuable (if not completely vexing) to me. Despite the feelings of overwhelm they incite, it also means that sorting through it all is probably a good thing.

Yet, there are those relatively rare moments when a long-lost item does, as Marie Kondo would put it, "spark joy". Over a decade ago, I visited an antique store in Zionsville, IN, with my sister, nephew, and my parents. There I found a whole trunk full of black and white celebrity photos, probably from old magazines, that some meticulous soul had taken the trouble to laminate. Since many of the images were gorgeous and so reasonably priced, I (a broke graduate student at the time) couldn't resist. I was most attracted to photos of glamorous actresses from the 1930's-1960's. I vowed that, when I could afford it, I would get some beautiful frames to do those photos justice.

Fast forward three moves and many other life events, I found them still carefully packed away as I unsuspectingly opened the same box where I had placed them. Seeing once again the beautiful faces of these iconic women, I was initially saddened. Never mind the frames, why hadn't I displayed them? Truth be told, I had forgotten their existence.

In a seemingly unrelated matter, today I went window shopping for a valentine-themed tablecloth to see if I could find something suitable before looking online. Although I couldn't find a tablecloth, I did find a black and white photo holder, which I realized would be perfect for the long-lost photos! After pondering for some time (I want to have fewer things in my home, not more) I decided that for these photos, it was now or never. As luck would have it, the holder was also on clearance! Below you can see the photos as I have arranged them.

So, there you have it, one example of something that I was glad to find during my decluttering 'adventures'. Finds like this break through the tedium and motivate me to continue decluttering, box by box. I am happy that in this case my patience was rewarded.

What about you? Is there anything that you have 'found' on your decluttering jaunts that you were super excited about? Share in the comments!

Comments

Why I need a decluttering station

Right now I'm focusing on a new challenge : to get the garage cleaned out and sell some stuff on marketplace. Last year my dad came to visit and brought a beautiful 'new' table, one that my family had used as a dinner table when I was a teenager. Made by Mennonite craftsmen, the ingenuity of the pull-apart mechanism and the hidden leaves is exquisite. My dad had painstakingly refinished the four chairs, so the set is also a reminder of his handiwork. Although we loved our square breakfast nook table, now we can actually welcome more dinner and anytime guests. So what to do with the old table? I thought about selling it, decided to keep it for one main reason: The sticky issue of cleaning out the garage. As I mentioned in the new challenge post , I would like to clear out the half of the garage occupied by boxes, totes, and other items so that both vehicles can fit inside (and we can get rid of stuff we have now dragged through two moves!). The dilemma was being able to ta...

Not the beginning

I could start at the very beginning, but I won't, at least for now. The truth is, I've already come a long way. But now I want to go a little further. A lot further. Moving on from always feeling I am just on the cusp of something to diving in, with full immersion. That's where I am right now. And right now is important, because it is everything. I have decided that the way to make more progress with every current (and future) challenge is by engaging keen awareness. With mindfulness as my compass, I can accomplish anything and move towards lightness in my life. Will I falter and mess up sometimes? Yes, I will. I know that. But that is also where mindfulness and the present moment come in. I do not have to be afraid of the future, and I do not have to be affected by my past. I can decide not only to change, but to take action, in this (and every) moment. This possibility present within each passing moment is in itself an amazing opportunity, and it is my privilege to shar...

Decluttering: So far, so good, so much more

As I pulled my thoughts together to start this blog, I scrolled through images of donation pickups I'd scheduled since May of 2019. Literally boxes and boxes of stuff. In truth, I am a little amazed. Amazed: At myself, a supposedly money-conscious frugalista who shopped thrift stores and the clearance rack, At what this meant about the sheer volume of stuff I had before I started, and That all of that was STUFFED into a 1125 square foot 2 bedroom townhome, and a 900 sqft one before that! (no wonder I often felt like I was losing my mind!) Looking at the pictures, I feel like I've come a long way. And that's because I have come a long way. Even without showing items still lurking in my home, even people who don't know me can guess my progress. However, even with the validation that can come from others witnessing (and celebrating) my progress, it is not my reason for doing this. For me, reaching my full potential lies somewhere within declutter...

A Keen Slate

Search This Blog