#decluttering — Public Fediverse posts

More random 1990s ephemera. Mindspring was my first ISP. I appreciated their code of ethics a lot. Then they were bought by Earthlink and all that went right out the window.

#Mindspring #ISP #Decluttering

More random 1990s ephemera. Mindspring was my first ISP. I appreciated their code of ethics a lot. Then they were bought by Earthlink and all that went right out the window.

#Mindspring #ISP #Decluttering

getting rid of my most hated, most busted underpants. what a day!

i've also removed a car-seat couch that isn't getting used - even by the cats. i think the former-couch area will end up housing some shelves, but i have to think about what i want to keep there so that i get/build the right shelves.

anyway, today has been all about zone 0 decluttering. it was a fine day to garden, but the disorganization in my zone 0 was pressing on me and i needed to attend to it.

#decluttering #stuff #permaculture

getting rid of my most hated, most busted underpants. what a day!

i've also removed a car-seat couch that isn't getting used - even by the cats. i think the former-couch area will end up housing some shelves, but i have to think about what i want to keep there so that i get/build the right shelves.

anyway, today has been all about zone 0 decluttering. it was a fine day to garden, but the disorganization in my zone 0 was pressing on me and i needed to attend to it.

#decluttering #stuff #permaculture

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Millennials complain that their Boomer parents won’t throw anything away. A psychologist explains why.

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/millennials-complain-that-their-boomer-parents-wont-throw-anything-away-a-psychologist-explains-why-ex1/

Millennials complain that their Boomer parents won’t throw anything away. A psychologist explains why.

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/millennials-complain-that-their-boomer-parents-wont-throw-anything-away-a-psychologist-explains-why-ex1/

#Decluttering : one kitchen junk drawer, 2/3 of which went in the garbage, 2 small items into the Goodwill bag. Keeping: the current box of 1-quart freezer bags, knife sharpener, flashlights, pencil sharpener.

#Decluttering : one kitchen junk drawer, 2/3 of which went in the garbage, 2 small items into the Goodwill bag. Keeping: the current box of 1-quart freezer bags, knife sharpener, flashlights, pencil sharpener.

Entropy will sooner or later win the war but today it did lose a battle!

#Cleaning #Decluttering

1. Had the bathroom and kitchen professionally cleaned on Monday, including all the ceiling fans. The difference is remarkable.

2. Had the grass mowed this morning by a local fellow. It hadn’t been cut since last September when my brother last took care of it.

3. Coming here for two months to sort through things was absolutely the right decision. While I can’t move the heavy items, I’ve been able to bag, box, and donate many useful things to local charities.

Bonus: The cooler Upper Michigan weather has been a welcome change, though we’re expecting a high of 99°F next Monday. With no air conditioning, those freshly cleaned fans are about to earn their keep!

#ThreeGoodThings #3goodthings #UpperMichigan #Decluttering #Donation #HomeImprovement #LifeUpdate

1. Had the bathroom and kitchen professionally cleaned on Monday, including all the ceiling fans. The difference is remarkable.

2. Had the grass mowed this morning by a local fellow. It hadn’t been cut since last September when my brother last took care of it.

3. Coming here for two months to sort through things was absolutely the right decision. While I can’t move the heavy items, I’ve been able to bag, box, and donate many useful things to local charities.

Bonus: The cooler Upper Michigan weather has been a welcome change, though we’re expecting a high of 99°F next Monday. With no air conditioning, those freshly cleaned fans are about to earn their keep!

#ThreeGoodThings #3goodthings #UpperMichigan #Decluttering #Donation #HomeImprovement #LifeUpdate

Just because you've held onto a thing for decades, carrying it between multiple dwellings, doesn't mean you have to keep it forever if it no longer serves a meaningful purpose in your life. #Decluttering

Boxed up the majority of my old contemporary Christian music collection to donate to the thrift store tomorrow.

I held onto a handful of CDs for nostalgic and / or artistic reasons, even though the main message no longer resonates with me. #Decluttering

I've identified another target for decluttering: dozens of empty boxes that formerly held cameras, lenses and accessories.

Even if I resell gear down the road, having the original box has never been a big selling point. Places like KEH don't even ask for them. Bubble wrap works just as well for shipping. #Decluttering

Been hardcore unfuckening and decluttering today.

Glad I did it, but have a headache now.

🫤😑

Also ALSO ... ! I own a fUCKTonne* of books Y'all.

[* Metric fuck-tonne]

#UnfuckYourSpace #Decluttering #StressHeadache

Been hardcore unfuckening and decluttering today.

Glad I did it, but have a headache now.

🫤😑

Also ALSO ... ! I own a fUCKTonne* of books Y'all.

[* Metric fuck-tonne]

#UnfuckYourSpace #Decluttering #StressHeadache

Learning to Build Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

“Not everyone deserves unlimited access to your heart.”

For a long time, I believed that being a good person meant always being available, always understanding, and always giving people the benefit of the doubt. I took pride in being dependable. Whether at work, as a mother, a colleague, a friend, or a partner, I wanted people to know they could count on me.

But there is a quiet danger in living this way.

When we become accustomed to carrying other people’s burdens, we sometimes forget to ask who is carrying ours. We become so skilled at understanding others that we stop paying attention to our own needs. We mistake self-sacrifice for love and patience for compatibility. Then one day we find ourselves exhausted, disappointed, and wondering why our relationships feel unbalanced.

Healthy boundaries are not walls built to keep people out. They are gates that allow the right people in while protecting our peace, dignity, and emotional well-being.

One lesson I am learning is that love should not require constant proving. The right people do not need endless demonstrations of loyalty before they choose to stay. They do not leave us guessing about our value. They do not take our kindness as permission to give less in return.

A boundary says, “I can care about you without neglecting myself.”

It means recognizing when effort is one-sided. It means refusing to chase people who consistently fail to meet us halfway. It means understanding that being understanding does not require accepting behavior that hurts us.

For someone who naturally nurtures others, boundaries can feel uncomfortable at first. Saying “no” may feel selfish. Speaking up about our needs may feel demanding. Walking away from unhealthy situations may feel like failure.

In reality, boundaries are acts of self-respect.

They teach others how we expect to be treated. They remind us that our time, energy, and emotions have value. Most importantly, they help us distinguish between people who appreciate our kindness and people who simply benefit from it.

Healthy relationships are built on reciprocity. Both people contribute. Both people listen. Both people make room for each other’s dreams, struggles, and growth. The relationship becomes a shelter rather than a burden.

As I continue growing, I want to stop measuring my worth by how much I can give. I want to measure it by how well I honor myself. I want relationships where I can be loved not because of everything I do for others, but because of who I am.

Setting boundaries does not make us less compassionate. It makes our compassion sustainable.

And perhaps the most important boundary of all is this: never allowing loneliness to convince us to accept less than we deserve.

Because the right people will never ask us to shrink, chase, or prove our worth. They will recognize it, respect it, and cherish it from the beginning.

That is not a fantasy. It is the standard.

💖💖💖

Learning to Build Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

“Not everyone deserves unlimited access to your heart.”

For a long time, I believed that being a good person meant always being available, always understanding, and always giving people the benefit of the doubt. I took pride in being dependable. Whether at work, as a mother, a colleague, a friend, or a partner, I wanted people to know they could count on me.

But there is a quiet danger in living this way.

When we become accustomed to carrying other people’s burdens, we sometimes forget to ask who is carrying ours. We become so skilled at understanding others that we stop paying attention to our own needs. We mistake self-sacrifice for love and patience for compatibility. Then one day we find ourselves exhausted, disappointed, and wondering why our relationships feel unbalanced.

Healthy boundaries are not walls built to keep people out. They are gates that allow the right people in while protecting our peace, dignity, and emotional well-being.

One lesson I am learning is that love should not require constant proving. The right people do not need endless demonstrations of loyalty before they choose to stay. They do not leave us guessing about our value. They do not take our kindness as permission to give less in return.

A boundary says, “I can care about you without neglecting myself.”

It means recognizing when effort is one-sided. It means refusing to chase people who consistently fail to meet us halfway. It means understanding that being understanding does not require accepting behavior that hurts us.

For someone who naturally nurtures others, boundaries can feel uncomfortable at first. Saying “no” may feel selfish. Speaking up about our needs may feel demanding. Walking away from unhealthy situations may feel like failure.

In reality, boundaries are acts of self-respect.

They teach others how we expect to be treated. They remind us that our time, energy, and emotions have value. Most importantly, they help us distinguish between people who appreciate our kindness and people who simply benefit from it.

Healthy relationships are built on reciprocity. Both people contribute. Both people listen. Both people make room for each other’s dreams, struggles, and growth. The relationship becomes a shelter rather than a burden.

As I continue growing, I want to stop measuring my worth by how much I can give. I want to measure it by how well I honor myself. I want relationships where I can be loved not because of everything I do for others, but because of who I am.

Setting boundaries does not make us less compassionate. It makes our compassion sustainable.

And perhaps the most important boundary of all is this: never allowing loneliness to convince us to accept less than we deserve.

Because the right people will never ask us to shrink, chase, or prove our worth. They will recognize it, respect it, and cherish it from the beginning.

That is not a fantasy. It is the standard.

💖💖💖

Still #Decluttering / #Downsizing / project prioritising / #Unfucking my space and it still mostly suuucks BUT ! It has to be done.

If you are doing any of the above, how's it going for you ?

Still #Decluttering / #Downsizing / project prioritising / #Unfucking my space and it still mostly suuucks BUT ! It has to be done.

If you are doing any of the above, how's it going for you ?

Seeking Clarity

If humans had taglines, mine would be:

“I ask questions not because I doubt life, but because understanding helps me embrace it.”

I have never been someone who simply accepts things at face value. When something feels unclear, unusual, or incomplete, I ask questions. Not because I want to challenge everything, but because I value understanding. Clarity brings me peace, and knowledge helps me move forward with confidence.

This habit has followed me through every chapter of my life. In my work, it means looking beyond the obvious answer and searching for the real cause of a problem. In learning, it means staying curious, even when I think I already know enough. In relationships, it means seeking understanding before judgment. And in life, it means listening to both facts and feelings, because both have something important to say.

Some people see questions as signs of uncertainty. I see them as signs of engagement. Questions are how we learn, how we grow, and how we discover truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Every meaningful lesson in my life began with a simple question.

My journey has not always been straightforward. There have been moments of change, responsibility, and challenges that required courage I did not know I had. Through each season, curiosity became my compass. It helped me navigate unfamiliar places, make difficult decisions, and continue growing into the person I wanted to become.

I believe feelings are valid. When something does not sit right with me, I pay attention. Instead of ignoring it, I explore it. Sometimes the answer is practical. Sometimes it is emotional. Often, it is a combination of both. Understanding what lies beneath a feeling transforms worry into awareness and uncertainty into wisdom.

At the heart of it all, I am simply someone who wants to understand the world a little better today than I did yesterday. I am a learner, a seeker, a problem-solver, and a storyteller of my own experiences.

So if I had a tagline, it would not be about having all the answers.

It would be about having the courage to keep asking the questions.

💖💖💖

Die Installation von #Linux auf PC älterer Menschen fühlt sich an wie eine Mischung aus #Decluttering & #Exorzismus. Eine Austreibung böser Geister unterschiedlichster Provenienz: All die Naturkatastrophen, der Hass und sonstigen "News", die sich in Browserstartseiten oder News-Applets in die Aufmerksamkeit schieben, all die Gefahrenwarnungen, weil Microsoft beschlossen hat, der Computer sei "nicht mehr sicher", all die Scareware ("Antivirus"), all die "Angebote" und Scams. Zur Hölle mit ihnen!

Die Installation von #Linux auf PC älterer Menschen fühlt sich an wie eine Mischung aus #Decluttering & #Exorzismus. Eine Austreibung böser Geister unterschiedlichster Provenienz: All die Naturkatastrophen, der Hass und sonstigen "News", die sich in Browserstartseiten oder News-Applets in die Aufmerksamkeit schieben, all die Gefahrenwarnungen, weil Microsoft beschlossen hat, der Computer sei "nicht mehr sicher", all die Scareware ("Antivirus"), all die "Angebote" und Scams. Zur Hölle mit ihnen!

Our house is now 3 trash bags of donations lighter 👍🏻

It's not really noticeable but I'm pleased anyway 😄

#decluttering

Our house is now 3 trash bags of donations lighter 👍🏻

It's not really noticeable but I'm pleased anyway 😄

#decluttering

Taking Stock: 26 Little Snapshots of My Life and the Blogging World

‘ Taking Stock‘ is a fun, clever way to capture what’s happening in your life right now, using each letter of the alphabet as a prompt. I’m not sure how long this idea has been around, but when I read Debbie’s post on her blog, Deb’s World, it instantly caught my imagination, and I knew I had to give it a try myself.

In her latest ‘Taking Stock’ post, Debbie says she likes to pause every few months to take stock of the little things in her life, as they are sometimes the best bits. I agree!

To answer the prompts, she likes to give herself a few moments to process the words and avoid overthinking them. She then finds suitable photos to add. Debbie does these posts every 3-4 months.

Here goes – my first ‘Taking Stock’ post.

Admiring: Those bloggers who followed me by changing their blog’s theme to a Block theme. I haven’t come across anyone yet who has reverted to a Classic theme. Well done to the bloggers who have made the switch.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/04/20/youre-not-stuck-the-surprising-power-of-finally-changing-your-blog-theme/

Believing in myself: Because of my dyslexia, I don’t usually accept beta-reading offers. But when Marsha Ingrao told me her book was about blogging, I jumped at the chance to beta-read it. It boosted my confidence big time. Thank you, Marsha.

Curious by: I’ve seen some great cloud formations recently. I love that all my photos and information are stored in the clouds. But what happens when it rains?

Decluttering: I love decluttering and have been doing a lot of it over the last few months. It leaves me feeling calm and positive. And look at all that free space! Wow! Not even my blog has escaped. Do you enjoy decluttering?

Excited by: It’s that time of year again. The Eurovision Song Contest takes place on 16 May in Vienna. I’m not sure about the United Kingdom’s entry this year. It’s different, and different can deliver good results, but how many points would you give it?

https://youtu.be/niMKvJ-Itq8?si=ySzj5mWS4W0S_MNJ&t=7

Flabbergasted: I’ve finally convinced myself I don’t need to keep up with fashion trends after seeing this. How do they sit down in some of those outfits?

https://youtu.be/zXCHO7lpCfQ?si=WN71VgrLLVch3Xzn

Grateful for outdoor space. I’m not green-fingered. Thankfully, I have a partner who is.

Horrified by the recent election results in parts of the UK. What on earth is going on? Some parts of society seem to want to go back to the 1930s.

Ironing: My best ideas for blog posts and flash fiction come to me when I’m standing in front of an ironing board. That’s why I enjoy ironing. Where do you get your best ideas?

Juggling time between blogging and life can be difficult. I see bloggers struggling with it all the time. Finding the perfect balance can be challenging, but it can be done. Step back, and you’ll soon see how to do it.

Kindness: This quote struck a chord when I saw it on Bluesky recently. If only all humans were like this. Please be kind to one another.

https://bsky.app/profile/chriswriter.bsky.social/post/3mlazbkfgj223

Listening to music, I used to play when I was a DJ in various pubs and nightclubs in London, where I loved filling dance floors. It was an achievement I loved. Now, some of that music helps me write. Do you have a music playlist?

Mood: I’ve always been a positive person. The glass is always half full. Don’t let others drag you down with their negativity. They aren’t worth your time.

Noticing: The nights. They are getting much shorter in the UK. On June 21st, the sun doesn’t set where I live until 21:37, so we will have over 18 hours of daylight. I still find it strange to go to bed when it’s not pitch dark.

Ordering less online: It’s convenient, but when I do go to the local high street and see how many shops are vacant, it makes me feel that I have been part of the problem. Support your local high street shops.

Puzzled by: I’m still trying to work out why WordPress changed the name of ‘Reusable Blocks’ to ‘Patterns’. It doesn’t make sense. If you’re still using the Classic editor, you won’t have any idea what I’m talking about.

Questioning bloggers: I’m delighted with the response to the questions I asked in my previous post. The main question was ‘How often should you publish blog posts?’ The responses make interesting reading and have many bloggers thinking. Why not join them?

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/05/05/how-often-should-you-publish-blog-posts-real-questions-for-real-bloggers/

Reading: I’m reading my first book of 2026. Dyslexia means I prefer to watch rather than read, but this book has sparked my interest, especially when I spotted myself on the front cover. It’s non-fiction, fascinating, with some humour thrown in. What are you reading?

Still pleased that I started cutting my own hair in 2013. The hair clippers cost me £49.99. When a barber last cut my hair that year, it cost £7.50. Now that’s what I call a satisfying cost saving. Do you cut your own hair?

Thankful to be able to smile again after having two front teeth replaced with implants. The two offending teeth were removed last July. It’s been a long wait for the bone to fill the gaps and grow around the implant sockets. Now I can share smiles with others again.

Understanding that not everyone will agree with me. But please try to disagree in a professional and friendly manner.

Very thankful that bloggers continue to share my blog posts. Whether it’s on social media, by linking to one of my posts, or simply by mentioning me by name, I’m always delighted when people tell me that reading one of my posts has helped.

https://dgkayewriter.com/2026/04/28/april-writers-tips-how-to-avoid-being-book-scammed-pitch-non-fiction-books-how-to-add-a-blogroll-on-wordpress-more-about-a-i-confusion-the-three-act-structure/

Wondering how I won a pair of boxer shorts in a competition I entered to win a year’s supply of teabags. But I guess I should be pleased to have won something. Have you won anything recently?

eXtra special: Yeah, I cheated here, as I couldn’t think of anything that begins with the letter X. As Debbie says in her post, ‘don’t overthink it!’ So here’s a photo of Austin, who is eXtra special to me.

Yearning for you to read my latest story for the Story Chat feature on Marsha’s blog. Honestly, it’s very different from what I usually write and from the other stories I’ve written for Story Chat. It goes live in September.

Zooming in on how good it is to be part of the writing world, given that I have dyslexia. Your support and encouragement have been a big part of the journey. Thank you!

As you can see, this little “Taking Stock” exercise has given me plenty to think about, smile about, and even scratch my head over. I’d love to hear how life is looking from where you are right now. Which of my answers resonated with you most? If you picked just one prompt from this list—Admiring, Believing, Decluttering, Grateful, Wondering, or any of the others, what would your answer be today?

My thanks to Debbie at Deb’s World for the inspiration to write this post.

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress image generator. AI was used to check for grammar and spelling mistakes and to help with the layout of the post.

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
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• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Hahahaha - I was just in the attic with my headphones on (listening to a decluttering YouTube video running on my desk) when I hear Greg yelling for me. I peek around the corner, slide my headphones off, and look down the stairs.

Him: <obviously relieved> Oh THERE you are!

Me: <enthusiastically waving empty bins> We have too much stuff, babe! I’m decluttering!

Him: I thought you’d been raptured or something! Your office was empty but the video is running, the dogs are here, the car is here, you were just POOF! Gone!

#decluttering #minimalism