It's been a weekend of catharsis. It all began on Saturday morning when D entered the playroom with a roll of black sacks. A few days later it is continuing with my wardrobe. There's something very liberating about getting rid of the things that no longer serve you or make you happy.
Cleaning out my wardrobe, I realised that it's full of things for a life I no longer lead, or that I never really did lead. I'd go as far as to say my wardrobe suggests I'm a size 10-12 party girl who can wear high heels and spends the summer in the Mediterranean. The reality is a much more cuddly 40 year old mum living in a small village surrounded by farmland! Looking at so much stuff that I can't even wear is quite depressing - so it's all going. Five sacks have been filled already... and it's not finished yet. I'm giving up on the (ridiculous) dream that these things might ever fit me or suit me again.
Giving up on so many useless things feels like a very positive thing and following the advice of Queen Elsa, I'm letting it all go. It's not limited to sorting toys and clothes either - it's spilling over into my knitting. Of course there are many situations where perseverance is important, nay critical. For example, half way through an enormous picot bind-off, on a shawl you've taken months to knit. You may feel you want to give up, but you're close to having a wonderful finished garment so it's important to focus and just get on with the job in hand - with a refreshment break or two thrown in for good measure. In those situations it's vital that you don't give up.
On the other hand, life is way too short to be working on projects that you absolutely hate. And I've found myself in just this situation of late...
Cleaning out my wardrobe, I realised that it's full of things for a life I no longer lead, or that I never really did lead. I'd go as far as to say my wardrobe suggests I'm a size 10-12 party girl who can wear high heels and spends the summer in the Mediterranean. The reality is a much more cuddly 40 year old mum living in a small village surrounded by farmland! Looking at so much stuff that I can't even wear is quite depressing - so it's all going. Five sacks have been filled already... and it's not finished yet. I'm giving up on the (ridiculous) dream that these things might ever fit me or suit me again.
Giving up on so many useless things feels like a very positive thing and following the advice of Queen Elsa, I'm letting it all go. It's not limited to sorting toys and clothes either - it's spilling over into my knitting. Of course there are many situations where perseverance is important, nay critical. For example, half way through an enormous picot bind-off, on a shawl you've taken months to knit. You may feel you want to give up, but you're close to having a wonderful finished garment so it's important to focus and just get on with the job in hand - with a refreshment break or two thrown in for good measure. In those situations it's vital that you don't give up.
On the other hand, life is way too short to be working on projects that you absolutely hate. And I've found myself in just this situation of late...
Do you remember the Entrelac collaboration that Wink and I started a while ago? You may have noticed that the instalments have been getting further apart... and that for the last one I didn't even show the 'actual' project being worked - I used other yarn (soft and lovely to handle Scheepjes Stone Washed) to illustrate the tutorial. The truth is I HATE the yarn we chose for this project. There, I said it! It's scratchy and hard and I just don't want to pick it up. Ever.
After much procrastination I finally confessed to Wink and was relieved that she felt the same way about it. Phew! I still intend to continue with the tutorials and to post a pattern for this project, so at Unravel 2015 (more details to follow later this week) I'll look for something much nicer, and will pick this project up again at a later date. In the meantime, there are various Entrelac resources listed in the earlier posts if you're keen to give it a go.
Lots to show you this week, so I'll see you again tomorrow!
After much procrastination I finally confessed to Wink and was relieved that she felt the same way about it. Phew! I still intend to continue with the tutorials and to post a pattern for this project, so at Unravel 2015 (more details to follow later this week) I'll look for something much nicer, and will pick this project up again at a later date. In the meantime, there are various Entrelac resources listed in the earlier posts if you're keen to give it a go.
Lots to show you this week, so I'll see you again tomorrow!
I do the same thing every new season with my wardrobe, but I should do it with my craft supplies too!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I felt much better this week after frogging a shawl that was going well until I made a mistake that I couldn't correct. I had a ripping time!!!
ReplyDeleteYour post remind me we need to let go more here before the summer. I got rid of items in the kitchen during winter break when I reorganized the shelves.
ReplyDeleteIt's liberating isn't it?! I'm part way through a sort out of my craft supplies and can't wait until I can sit in my craft room and actually enjoy the space! More power to your elbow!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I really need to cull all the size 10's in my wardrobe being as I'm probably never gonna fit into them again. You may have just spurred me on. Thanks
ReplyDelete