I have a very odd attachment to things and stuff. Absolutely anything can hold a deep sentimental place in my heart, a teaspoon a friend stole for me in France, my ID card from my first job, A post it picture someone drew for me 6 years ago… I hang on to absolutely everything. Now… there’s a problem. I’m moving back in with my parents.
The horror! The stigma! The utter disbelief! Maybe not. Believe it or not I’m actually happy about it! Let me just run through the last few years, I went from the family house, to my Moms house, to a house share in London, to a flat with a boyfriend, back to moms then back to the family house where I lived alone for a while (yep my parents got back together – nawww). Then I went to Asia for a few months to collect my thoughts (and a tan), my new big brother moved in just before I went travelling, so for the last year we’ve been sharing the family house.
Now, to give us all a bit more money and a lot less stress, we’ve decided to move to a bigger house… altogether.
Now, the problem is that I need to get rid of a lot of things but I… just.. can’t… let it… go.
I don’t think that’s a bad thing though. In fact, I think we could all do with being a bit more sentimental. The sheer volume of ‘things and stuff’ that we just throw away because it doesn’t suit us anymore horrifies me. Especially, when we can give it to someone that needs it. I realised that once when I gave some clothes away. To me, those clothes were no longer fit for purpose but when I saw my friend wearing them I realised they were still lovely clothes, I’d just grown tired of them. And I think it’s easy to get like that.
The constant need to change and upgrade is why our landfills are full and our bank accounts are empty. I’m not saying be a hoarder but maybe instead of going to Ikea to buy a cheap table, why not go upcycle your existing one or find one online that can be reconditioned while giving your old one to someone that needs it? You’ll know that no one else has that piece; you’re doing good for the environment and your bank balance. Even just a lick of paint can make all the difference.
Plus, if you don’t know how to upcycle your furniture – I can do it for you!