Issue 38: The "boss" level clutter

… one that requires a velvet glove over a hammer.

This is where I do a little predictive analysis. That’s a fancy way of saying I didn’t accomplish my goal; that is to finish decluttering within a year. Further, as the podcast will be coming to a close soon, and I have other matters I want to address before I bid adieu, this will be the last decluttering episode. Thus, I’m going to tell you what I plan to do with this last category, which for many of you will be the hardest to purge.

Although I won’t be giving any additional updates on this podcast, just know that my decluttering journey doesn’t stop here, nor should yours. While I’m not where I want to be, I’m that much closer to a decluttered life. That, my friends, is the light at the end of a very long tunnel that keeps me moving forward.

How’s that for a bow-wrapped punny call back?

-John

Moving Forward 487: Decluttering series: knick knacks and sentimental items

This last category of clutter is one of the most complex and difficult to assess, much less purge. I describe it with the clumsy phrase “knick knacks” or “sentimental items,” which frankly doesn’t do it justice. Marie Kondo calls it “komono,” which while far more elegant, is a bit too sophisticated and high brow for me to adopt. That alone should tell you how much difficulty I’m having with this category. I digress; something which I’ve done so often that maybe I should have called this newsletter “The I Digress Express.”

Regardless, I’m going to stick with “knick knacks” as I’ve nearly exhausted any creative juice from the two cups of coffee I had 30 minutes ago slogging through this introduction. For simplicity’s sake, “knick knacks” encompasses sentimental items, including mementos, keepsakes, which in itself may include items you’ve inherited from loved ones.

Speaking of, I’m an extremely sentimental guy. I’ve often joked that nostalgia is my vice. It’s why I collect stones on beaches, save random plastic bottles, or scraps of paper. Thankfully, smartphone cameras have allowed me to capture memories in a more space-saving way. But as I grew up a kid of the ‘80s, physical keepsakes were part and parcel of my childhood.

Moreover, I’ve kept a number of keepsakes from my late mom. She was an avid collector of figurines and glassware: beautiful, elegant pieces that gave a classic feel to the home I grew up in. When she passed, my dad and I didn’t know how to let go of her things. We kept most of her belongings for years, first untouched in closets and drawers, and eventually packed away in boxes. Last spring, as I was well underway with my decluttering, we finally decided to face the difficult task of saying goodbye to her things. We went through her clothes, piece-by-piece: reminiscing, laughing, crying, and finally saying goodbye as we packed them for donation across various charities and non-profits.

As I move into winter, I’ve successfully purged flimsy plastic, old documents, leftover computers, peripherals, and last week, I covered my strategy for old photos. One thing I didn’t mention is that reviewing old photos means revisiting old memories, including of people that are no longer here. It’s been tough, seeing pictures of my mom, alive and vibrant, the pillar of personality and happiness. Yet, as difficult as it has been to face old memories that I’ve kept locked away safely in albums and boxes, it’s been cathartic as well. Moreover, in doing so, I can preserve them so they remain safe and secure.

Assessing photos has also prepared me for the hardest task in my decluttering journey: going through the many sentimental items I’ve collected over the years, including ones I’ve inherited from my mom. While I can appreciate the beauty and artistry of figurines and glassware, they’re not things I’m really interested in keeping for myself. Further, while it was comfortable to keep them in boxes, I now realize that it’s not a good way to honor them or the memories contained within them. It’s time for me to start the difficult task of saying goodbye, and rehoming them so they will be viewed, cherished, and loved.

My main strategy will be selling. I’ve covered selling on Poshmark for clothes but for knick knacks, including old toys, and collectibles, I’m going to focus on eBay. I’ve only used it sporadically in the past, mostly for business purposes. Years ago, I tried to help my dad launch an ecommerce channel for his store. eBay was the first of several platforms we tried before we discovered Poshmark. Then, around eight years ago, I used eBay to sell a cleanser for a short-lived skincare line. Neither attempts were very successful.

I decided to go back and give it the old college try. Initially, I went to DIY education through YouTube videos, articles and blogs. Normally, this is a great way to learn about a new platform or system but when it came to eBay, I got completely overwhelmed and lost. Maybe I clicked on the wrong videos, but the tutorials I found were confusing, and way too detailed. Even the “simple” ones made the process seem completely inaccessible.

Thankfully, I had an ace in Colorado. My friend Angelo Spenillo is an eBay wunderkind, having been an active seller since our law school days. A few weeks ago, shortly after he came back from a long European trip, he gave me a one hour crash course over Zoom covering the basics on setting up a profile and listing your first items. He cut through the chase and skipped all the cosmetic nonsense that the tutorials veered into and taught it as a simple, step-by-step process.

We also discussed categories that are good to sell on eBay. We now live in an era of multiple online platforms. As mentioned, I’ve talked extensively about Poshmark for clothes, and PangoBooks has been my steady go to for purging books for over a year now. Now, I’m ready to dive back into eBay, armed with better knowledge and a great teacher. Below, Angelo revealed what sells well on eBay based on his many years of selling on the platform:

• Vintage toys and games.

• Glassware and figurines.

• Old cell phones (these are coveted).

• Electronics or components.

As I write this, I’m just starting out, having finally set up my profile and listed my first items. While I love reporting back on experiments and endeavors, for now, I’m only able to document and share the beginning of this process rather than the end result. I’m hopeful and ready to dive in.

As for final thoughts on decluttering, I leave you with this. It isn’t as simple as many make it out to be. It’s not a “one and done” that takes place over a weekend or a month. While that makes for good “reality TV,” take away the “TV” and reality by itself is a lot more complex; often requiring many months, sometimes a year or two to assess and say goodbye to the things that it’s time to let go of. That said, it’s worth starting now so you can make more room, literally and figuratively, for the future.

Catch this week’s episode on Spotify.

Moving Forward is also available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart, CastBox, Pocket Casts, Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor), and Audible.

^{*Affiliate disclosure: these are links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.}

Hacks

Purging sentimental items

1. Go through them: This is the hard start to a difficult process. Just unearthing them, opening the boxes, and facing what’s inside can be hard, especially from a lost loved one. Give yourself grace, and take your time. Don’t rush it.

2. Assess: What you want to keep, and what is no longer necessary to hold onto. This is equally tough but do an honest assessment. If you have a lot of items in one category (e.g. figurines, tools, knick knacks) pick a few to keep and commit to purging the rest. This is a great compromise from Margareta Magnusson.

3. Purge strategy: Choose a purge strategy. For knick knacks, this will likely fall into the sell or donate solutions.

4. Purge tactics: Whether you donate or sell, pick a strategy that works best for you. I’ve covered many of these on prior episodes and issues.

5. Learn: Any tactic you choose will have a learning curve. Ideally, find someone who’s done it before you and steal an hour of their time to get a handle on the basics.

6. Prepare: Once you do the basics (e.g. setting up a Poshmark, eBay or other account), make sure you’re prepared.

   1. Say goodbye to the item. Almost every decluttering philosopher and practitioner I’ve studied, from Marie Kondo to Fumio Sasaki, has emphasized the importance of saying goodbye to sentimental items.

   2. Take photos for listing or donation purposes. Also for posterity.

   3. Prepare for donating or shipping. This may entail special prep, cleaning, packaging, etc.

   4. Once sold or donated, let it go.

7. Do it: It’s easy to stall. It took me an extra three weeks after learning the basics on eBay to actually set up my account. Push through it and take the big, bold steps to move forward.

Resources on decluttering

• The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up* by Marie Kondo

• Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism* by Fumio Sasaki

• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter* by Margareta Magnusson

• The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life* by Joshua Becker

• Declutter Your Life and Free Your Home course through Johns Hopkins Osher (Jan. 13th-15th-17th, 2025)

^{*Affiliate disclosure: these are links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.}

Available now at my bookstore on Pangobooks

Speaking of sentimental keepsakes, I recently unearthed this gem from my childhood …

Quirky reads 📚

Speaking of good books, here are some titles I’ve been reading lately.

[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

• Christine by Stephen King (****).

Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations and to see what else I’m reading.

Upcoming (Jan 2025)

Speaking of decluttering, start off 2025 with less clutter and more home.

Resources

Teach a man to fish, you know the rest (if you don’t, check these out).

• Book a coaching call with me on Clarity.

• Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations.

• Check out one of my favorite daily newsletters Morning Brew (affiliate referral link).

Books

I wrote most of these so spruce up your home library and look smart in the process.

• The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Paperback, Kindle, Audible) 

• The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Apple audiobooks)

• The Poshmark Journal for Individuals and Small Businesses

• The Corporate Cliches Adult Coloring Book

• I Am a Professional Metalhead (audiobook) (Audible affiliate link) written by Angelo Spenillo, narrated by John Lim

Support the newsletter and podcast

“What are you selling?!?” -actual quote from a b-school classmate

• Books! Check out my used bookstore on Pangobooks.

• Try out Audible (affiliate paid link).

• Try out Amazon Prime (affiliate paid link)

Affiliate disclosure

Note: Links to Amazon and Audible products are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.