Other than to paint more and finish/complete more paintings, my new year’s resolution is to declutter and minimise – to remove unnecessary items from my house/living space and to live and travel more lightly – to spend less and to buy less unnecessary things. I don’t really spend that much and most of the things that I buy/collect are inexpensive second hand items from charity stores or recycled found objects. But it’s all relative. And I’ll admit, I do have a tendency to collect/hoard unnecessary stuff that I had the best intentions with at the time but later often wonder – why on Earth? Which is a real nuisance especially in a small/compact living/studio space like ours. But those were the days. And now, we are refining.
This year, I’m going to cut right back. I’m going to make a conscious/serious effort to only want and desire and buy and have/keep what I really need. As an artist who appreciates beautiful/unusual things and require certain objects as props for painting compositions, this is a real challenge and difficult process to tackle/master/deal with. But it has to be done. I’ve made up my mind to live a simpler and more minimal life and I’ve started with quite brutally culling/selecting and keeping only a few favourite pot plants on the balcony. And the balcony looks better already – it’s now more open and neat. A work in progress but it’s an improvement and we’re getting there. But you have no idea the pain that I still have to deal with – to resist the temptation to buy new plants when I see them. I am strong. I am titanium. I can do this.
And regarding the extra/surplus bric a brac items in the house. Plates, bowls, vases, teapots, old bottles, cute/interesting found objects and other stuff – I’m going to go through them and be equally brutal. What I don’t want or need for my art this year, I’m going to either throw in the bin, give back to charity, keep for a family member or friend, or list and try to sell on eBay or Gumtree. What I can’t part with or can see use in for my art, I’ll keep and/or box for storage. This can only be a good thing. A decluttered and tidier/neater space/environment is cleaner and more conducive to productivity and work (I said this). It’s easier on the eye too, easier to breathe and a happier and healthier space. And documents and things are easier to find. Including misplaced keys. There will even be some room to do yoga perhaps.
Cynthia, Petunia and LBT
Oh beautiful one. Keep all you want and leave what you don’t. It doesn’t matter. You love collecting special things and that is fine! Balance that damn word balance seems to always creep back. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, not too little and not too much. We love all your fine collections and are most pleased that we are. We love you forever Ngeun as you are our Star.
Cynthia, Pet and Little Boy Wonder.
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🌈🌈🌈🌈💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕😊
Ngeun
Awww – thanks Cynthia, Pet and Little Boy Wonder! I love you too. <3
Cynthia Pet and LIttle Bot Wonder
❤️❤️❤️
David
As I approach the age of 60. I realize that I have collected many things in my life… decluttering would do me well, too, but I have a hard time doing that is there are sentimental associations with an object. If it’s merely something I picked up at a thrift store, that’s easy, but if it was a nut, or shell, or seed pod that takes me back to special day with Mark, or my parents, I can’t let go. For my parents, it is all I have left of them, save my memories and heart. Good luck. I know you will do well with you resolution!
Ngeun
Thanks David. I agree. I find sentimental values in nearly everything I find or buy. But I can and want to only keep a few. Gifts from parents are the most precious and difficult to part with if at all. Photos of our parents are powerful items indeed.