Things are just things

Before the new year I decided that I didn't want to enter 2016 with clutter, so I had a clear out. Something I realised whilst clearing out every payslip I'd ever received and my college work books from 6 years ago (I know, what the hell?), was that wow... I may have a slight case of OCD.

So there it began. I went slightly crazy and threw out everything that I hadn't used or didn't need to keep. There were so many things I'd kept thinking they were of 'sentimentle value' but couldn't even remember who had bought them for me or why I'd kept them. I had birthday cards from the last 7 years of birthdays. Perhaps I was planning to recycle them, who knows.

I'd also kept hold of things I'd bought in the spur of a past moment that had seemed like a good idea at the time but I had never actually used. The only reason I hadn't parted with them was because I wanted to convince myself that said posessions would eventually be used, rather than accepting I had in fact wasted my money on crap.

I had kept hold of things like tickets from past trips to Thorpe Park. I couldn't remember who I'd been there with that day or why it was important I kept the ticket. If, god forbid, my apartment was to burn down, these things would all be destroyed. Of course that would be overwhelmingly upsetting, however no souvenirs kept from good memories will compare to the actual memories I have in my mind.

I managed to get rid of 7 black bags worth of things to charity and 7 black bags to the tip. It was so refreshing. Since the clear out I have been a lot more responsible with the things I have bought too. There is no point in spending my hard earned money on something if it is never going to be used or appreciated. Yesterday I bought a slow cook recipe book as I've wanted one for a while (I'm getting old and boring apparently). It was reduced from £17.99 to £6.00 - an offer I could not refuse.

When I got it home, I was saddened to realise that actually the recipes in the book were not particularly inspiring. I'd grabbed the book so fast that I hadn't actually looked at it first. 2015 Mel would have kept hold of the book and hoped that her tastebuds would change and convince herself she would eventually utilise the recipes. 2016 Mel has decided this book is just going to sit on the shelf unused, gathering dust, so I will be returning the book to the shop I bought it from.

I'd really encourage everyone to have a clear out. There is no point in keeping hold of things you will not use. If they are still in good condition then donate them to a charity shop so someone else can benefit from your unwanted things.

Thank you for reading.

Mel x