It really surprises me how difficult this is. I was going to MAKE something with these!
I have this voice telling me that I should have found a use for the metal tins, and I probably could have, and my unplanned intention was to use them for some sort of crafty project that never happened.
The reality – each of them were $2-$3 I justified in my mind because I could use the tin for “something” later. Dollars that could be better spent, and empty calories I do not need. Don’t misunderstand, I do appreciate that there is the right time and place when an especially strong mint is needed and will continue to be used!
However, I am not going to use the tins someday. More importantly I am not using them now. They are a symbol of – however nicely organized in storage bins – collections of things I do not need or use.
I am setting some criteria for bringing any new, recycled or found “project” items into the house:
– Am I wasting money to get the item in the first place?
– I do have great project ideas and work on them regularly, however I should finish whatever
great project idea is associated with the items within one month.
– No more stashes of unfinished projects.
The tins are not the only thing taking up space – the unfinished idea takes away something else from me – it drains energy every time I walk by a project unfinished, it takes up space in my mind that should be spent on today, and what really matters. It creates a barrier between me and what is taking place around me, distracting me from what I want to do, and I use it as a distraction/excuse to keep those things unfinished.
What would a day without “what ifs” and distractions look like, I wonder?
What would a day lived in the moment be like?
My hope is that this “game” will bring me answers to the questions I have.
I sometimes have a very clear vision of what I would like my life, my home, my career to be.
It has to start with taking control of these seemingly small things, like little metal tins…
I don’t have any challenge for anyone with this – this is my game to play, and life to live, but if anything speaks to you – I would be interested in hearing about it.
Now I am off to put those tins in the recycling bin for Friday =)
Ah, this is the story of my life. I have been saving these Trader Joe's coffee tins for a couple of years, thinking they'd be great for something. I finally got rid of them. A few weeks later, my kids come home with Trader Joe's coffee tins they'd painted and turned into drum and/or banks in art class, haha. But I'd hadn't done anything with them. Maybe a local pre-school
I save so many things, thinking they will be great for something too! It isn't easy to work on one thing at a time, but I would like to try =) The tins are going out with the recycling tomorrow.