I've been housecleaning...on my laptop

[MoodyBlues]

After months of not checking most of my e-mail, I found myself with tens of thousands of unread messages. (I sort my mail automatically as they come in, so I know when there's something important vs something that can wait. I had read most of the important stuff.) So over the last two or three days I've been housecleaning, and so far I've deleted about 10,000 unread messages! I sorted them based on various things, like sender or recipient or subject, then eyeballed them to find any that might actually be relevant at this point, then deleted away. It feels great!

Now if I could only do the same thing in real life: I have BAGS filled with mail no one opened last year (again, because they weren't important), but now they're stuffed into my closet and I'd really like to see them gone. I could probably safely just toss them all out, but the worrier in me won't allow that. So...one day...I shall tackle those, too!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Yeesh. Too bad there's no one who can assist you with that.

Good on you for following up with it, though!
Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year, Moody!

Thanks, root.
My live-in helper would help me with it if I asked her, but so far I'm just not ready. But one of these days!

 

[DonB]

You know what, when you're ready you'll get to it. You're just getting back on your feet and enjoy the fact that you're getting better, the rest will work itself out. '
Happy New Year and the best to you and most of all your HEALTH.

I can attest to life being short, I have not discussed this other then my AF Staffer family in private, I too dealt with a major health issue that took me 2 years to deal with, I'm still dealing with it, but I don't sweat the little things anymore. I take one day at a time and appreciate each and everyday.

 

[MoodyBlues]

You know what, when you're ready you'll get to it. You're just getting back on your feet and enjoy the fact that you're getting better, the rest will work itself out. '
Happy New Year and the best to you and most of all your HEALTH.

This is so true, and a good reminder. Each baby step I accomplish feels like a giant leap. A year ago I was in diapers...gasp! Then a bedside commode, and now the toilet. I look back on that and realize just how far I've come.

I can attest to life being short, I have not discussed this other then my AF Staffer family in private, I too dealt with a major health issue that took me 2 years to deal with, I'm still dealing with it, but I don't sweat the little things anymore. I take one day at a time and appreciate each and everyday.

I hope you're doing much, much better. I agree about not sweating the little things any more. In fact, I posted something to that effect in the 'grinds your gears' thread, i.e., that since my illness NOTHING bothers me any more, and I really mean that. The bags...and bags...of unread mail will still be there when I'm ready to tackle them. No need to beat myself up for not doing it RIGHT NOW!

 

[olbriar]

Moody.. you be fine, girl. I have no excuses. This weekend I purchased an industrial paper shredder I have no reason to house 40 years of my financial history. Tax records, canceled checks, bank statements... you name it have been neatly stored in multiple file cabinets and plastic tubs. It's ridiculous the amount of history that I've compiled. I've at least started to dispose of the mess. It doesn't all have to be done at once.. no way. But a little at a time I will grind up my unnecessary records. I don't want my children to deal with the mess I've accumulated. But, I don't have plans to check out soon. A little at a time. At my leisure. I will rid myself of unnecessary garbage.

Pictures.. OMG I've got pictures. I have tubs and tubs of pre digital photos. Some are of family and will not be tossed. Many are pictures of a beautiful sunset or a interesting skyline etc. They do induce some memories to me for I took the pictures. To pass those along to the children to sort seems a crime. Heave ho I say... but all in good time.

The point here is that I have started. No different than you and your lap top. There is no emergency but steady wins the race. When I feel like it.. I'll donate some time to it. At least I've started... AND, I have no excuse for letting this much accumulation to be dealt with. At least you were tending to much more important matters... Your health.

Hat's off to you girl. You'll get caught up... when the time is right.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Olbriar, you'd be surprised at how much those seemingly unwanted photos might mean to your family one day. In the, "oh look at this!, what a beautiful sunset he captured that day" sort of way. They may very well stir fond memories. Personally, I wouldn't put those in the shredder! But that's just my $0.02 worth.

I love that you're starting on your cleaning project but doing it in a reasonable way. Why rush? Do it as you feel like it and it'll eventually be done.

 

[olbriar]

Olbriar, you'd be surprised at how much those seemingly unwanted photos might mean to your family one day. In the, "oh look at this!, what a beautiful sunset he captured that day" sort of way.

I hear what you are saying. I'll keep the best shots and someone else can toss them at some point. The deal is, I have a printed photo of every shot I've taken though the years. Trust me on this one... I have plenty to toss. The blessing is I was a very early adopter of digital photography or my mess would be much worse.

How about camcorder media.... I have tons of tapes captured with a piano sized recorder sitting on my shoulder lol. Without editing tools... they will survive the clean up.