Comments on: Getting Rid of Stuff…Insight from Martha

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 04:19:25 +0000

OMG….I think I do the same thing Ginny…I didn’t realize I was doing it…but I let my computer space get completely cluttered..and I am a NEAT freak with everything..my cans all face forward in my cupboards…I have the same exact hangars for all my closets…I could go on and on…thank you for enlightening me to the fact that I purposely (subconsciously) clutter certain spaces…only to declutter them later;-)

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:10:22 +0000

Any ideas on how to achieve the decluttering freedom of a single person with full reign to create their space when you live with 3 teenagers and a husband who holds onto everything!! We all know what it is like to get teenagers to keep their rooms tidy!

By: Nancy Darling

Nancy Darling — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:49:35 +0000

Hi Martha,
I love you dearly and I wish your posts were not written in almost invisible ink and 8 point type. To read your posts I have to enlarge the type on my computer or cop and paste into Word. But of course they are SO worth reading and I do this. Please consider black 11 point type. I know it’s not as stylish but…just sayin

By: Shauna

Shauna — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:37:35 +0000

Martha. I am moving in 7 days from a 3000 sq. foot house to a 1500 sq. foot house. My husband passed away 5 yrs. ago and I am going to set myself up in a little house so that my son does not have to worry about me. My husband said that he would send me signs from heaven and the buyers of the house have the same name as we do. My husband loved his stuff so I am donating all of it to Habitat for Humanity and Big brothers and Big Sisters. I figure that he can”t be mad at me for donating his things to charity. Time for new beliefs and a new life. Thank you for all of your wonderful insights. Love Shauna

By: Wednesday Writing Prompt: The Pray Rain Journal by Rochelle Melander | Write Now Coach! Blog

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:07:52 +0000

[...] in August, Martha Beck wrote a column about getting rid of stuff. Since I’d been madly tearing through my house, dumping books and old clothes into bags, and [...]

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:58:18 +0000

De-cluttering is a wonderful experience. Sometimes I think I pre-clutter simply for having stuff to de-clutter later. There is nothing like the satisfaction of a de-cluttered closet or drawer or….basement…or garage…or email address list.

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:54:55 +0000

Martha, I’ve always liked the idea of “random gifts,” but this is my experience: My pal Linda and I decided to drop little gifts and the occasional bit of money. We had great fun finding appropriate things to drop, and sometimes we even wrote little notes saying “If you found this, it is a gift to you.” Well!!! What happened is that people TOOK THE THINGS TO “LOST AND FOUND” departments or, in some cases, we’d find them rain-soaked and sodden exactly where we left them. So we quit doing it. Once we wrapped a little packet of quarters and even THEY were turned in to “lost and found.” Go figure….

By: liz

liz — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:16:25 +0000

Dear Martha,
I’m a mother of an almost 2 yr old with DS and am reading your book, “Expecting Adam” and cannot understand how you can use the “R” word or include it in your vocabulary? You refer to your son as a “R”, worry about him wearing “R” clothes, etc. I am absolutely astounded by this. I’m sure you are aware of how degrading, dehumanizing, hateful and hurtful this word is. Yet, you use it. A lot. I’m always shocked by the ignorance of people who use this word but am even more stunned and sickened by your use of it – a mother of a child with DS.
My criticism isn’t about being “PC.”. The use of the R word is demeaning. It’s an adjective used in a demeaning way and you use it repeatedly in your book. I just don’t understand this and feel like vomiting every time I read it in your book. Sadly, I feel as though it takes away from your story.

Liz

By: Zoe

Zoe — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:54:39 +0000

Getting Rid of Stuff..
Awesome advise! And, like the previous readers I too, had been thinking about de-cluttering and getting rid of stuff when I came across this article.

I love Martha’s advise, always right on! I wish she had more of her books on audio CD format.

By: M

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:26:50 +0000

Thank you for the uplifting thoughts and the idea to change your life! I needed this tonight. I see the hope for the future.