TMS (Too Much Stuff) and an ADHD disorder

As I alluded to in my previous post, I have a lot of beautiful and quite a lot of not so beautiful things. Just things. Dozens of vintage cameras, dozens of tin thermometers and dozens upon dozens of pottery items.

Only some of which I really like. I still have a thing for McCoy planters and a few other McCoy items.

Mostly I have way too much stuff!

The solution seemed simple enough at the time, have a combination yard and collector sale. Yard Sale items outside, and collector items inside.

My brother, who helped me arrive at this solution also volunteered to come up to help me execute the solution. He's been an incredible help! For the past two weekends, there has been a yard and collector sale at my home. He helped the first weekend and Mom came down for the second.

And it was a huge success!

Although I still have a lot of stuff - I have less now.
I was just a bit naive about some of the details it took to execute the plan.

For example, at my brothers suggestion, he and I emptied out the garage of items not for sale.
These items are now stacked in places around my home awaiting my attention. Like I can miss this huge pile of papers in front of my office or the other stack just outside my office? I look at these stacks of things I still need to sort and I freeze up.

It's just too much to face and a real slap-in-the-face with the reality of my ADHD. Now, I'm bright enough to understand that ADHD is very real, and that like any other challenge, one can compensate with other strengths and even find ways to overcome some of the challenges. I even know on a cognitive level ways to overcome many of the challenges. But just looking at the stacks of stuff and I feel as if my brain functions are switched off like a light bulb.
I'm not looking to cure myself of ADHD, I actually embrace many of the aspects it brings to me, especially my creativity.

There are many muse with ADHD to be sure!

It's just I've got to tackle this project one step at a time, or in this case, box at a time. Yes, cognitively I understand it, but looking around my home at the disorder brings to mind the challenges of ADHD and why it is considered a disorder.

Stay tuned as I put myself and home back in order.

Hot Hot Hot Yard and Collectibles Sale

I don't know who's bright idea it was to hold a yard sale on the hottest day in September and possibly even August but it was a success!

We sold some cookies and bottled water along with the yard sale items which brought in some extra cash too. The whole day went fairly smooth in spite of record heat. 

We sold a lot of the kid items, and a number of the collectible items and other household items. We had a steady stream of traffic thanks in part to Craigslist and our signs. 

We'd gotten some change the day before and had things pretty well set up to ensure a smooth day. Having the kids sell the waters, cookies and their own items helped them to make connections to money that they never would have gotten in a classroom!

Did I mention yet that the above photos are after the sale? 

We'll be having a repeat this next week with a 20% - 50% reduction in prices. I like the money and I'm enjoying having less clutter and reminders of the ex around. Oh, how he enjoyed "the kill" on eBay. I'll have to tell you that story someday.

Clutter Purging and Clarity of Mind

I have a genetic predisposition to weight gain - the external type. I am a pack-rat. My grand mother saved everything, and mom may not save exactly everything but she has clothes and shoes in more than two closets. 

I'm more like my grandmother. I have boxes and boxes of stuff. Now mind you many items are important - to me. I have inherited most of my grandmother's photographs and I really will one day sort through them. In fact, I have sorted through several boxes of them already. But she was a shutterbug who lived into her nineties.

I also have a lot of photography stuff of my own. Thanks, Grandmom. and I really do mean thanks, I love photography. I also have a couple boxes of seashells for some projects that I will one day get to... and other craft items, and... 

all kinds of collectible stuff that I received from an ex-husband who was addicted to ordering from ebay and oh my gosh, the paperwork challenges of a woman with ADHD. Unless you have ADHD (or love someone who has it) you have no idea what I'm talking about!

Things and projects and stuff can weigh one down in so many ways! 

If you're a pack rat maybe its time... Purge yourself! 

Get help if you need it, either to help physically and/or mentally or even emotionally. I need all the help I can get.

My brother is helping me to put on a yard sale and collector's sale. He's been helping me go through boxes and organize and price and such. Having him here has been really helpful in keeping me focused. He also reminds me by just knowing his own habits, that with help, one can overcome the clutter-bug and pack rat syndromes. 

I keep my objective in focus - better clarity of thought for the projects I want to do, like write and put those pictures Grandmom and I have taken to use!