Matt Paxton - Crazy Decluttering Stories

Comments · 529

• JU

  @justifiedlife1595 · 2 years ago

  I got bored easily as a kid, so taught myself to draw and paint, took guitar lessons and started writing songs at 12, and spent 2 hours a day practicing singing. I became a studio vocalist, and an illustrator. If I had internet during those years, I wouldn't have developed those 2 talents.

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• LA

  @lauriedupont507 · 2 years ago

  I have one adult daughter and I had kept a lot of her stuff after she graduated from high school and went off to college. I continued to keep it in bins or boxes until she married and bought a house. Then because I knew she had room to store it I began to ask her if she wanted it. This is what I love about texting. I would go through her box and lay the stuff out on my living room floor, take pictures and text it to her with the message, do you want any of this stuff? If not I’m going to give it away. She said no to probably 90% of it. I donated what she didn’t want and drove what she did want to her house. I wasn’t about to wait for her to pick it up from me or it would get buried in my house again. I’ve run across more of her stuff so once I get to that room in the house for my decluttering project I’ll text her again. This gives me peace to let her make the decision to keep it or give it away and me the power to actually take it out of my house. 😀 I’m not saying this is the best way but it worked for me.

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• SA

  @sarahwood3888 · 2 years ago

  I could listen to you two all night!  I’m an 80 year old widow. Since my husband died, I have given his things to my kids and grandson. Not, all at once, just at special times. Like at Christmas time this year I gave my grandson my husbands watches, because he had mentioned he wanted to start a watch collection. While he ( he’s 29 ) and his dad, my son were going thru the boxes, my son also found a large ring that looked a bit like a bracelet. We all had a good laugh relating the story that my husband had rung a heifer instead of a bull one year, and, he kept the ring as a reminder. Things like this give me joy, I’d rather give them now so I can see them enjoy them. By the way, no one wants my china either!  It will go to Good Will soon!  I’m purging now, so my daughter will not have to deal with the junk when I’m gone.

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• AW

  @aworobetz1 · 3 years ago

  Content and all else aside - you’re a great interviewer because you allow the guest to speak! It’s distracting when the guest is cut off all the time. You’re so kind and respectful.

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• WH

  @whiskeyandwildflowers9153 · 3 years ago

  A couple months ago I asked my parents what was the most cherished thing they had. My dad pulled out his pocket knife and said this so I asked him to tell me the story of why it’s so special. He went on to tell me story after story of adventures he had involving this pocket knife including hitchhiking from the southern east coast to Alaska just after high school in the 70s. I know now what my father’s most cherished possession is but also why. He let me know to keep that and feel no guilt about getting rid of anything else of his. My mom however….. lol

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• MR

  @MrsPink64 · 3 years ago

  My son got a job at Goodwill after he worked through his diagnosis of epilepsy and the anxiety and depression that go with it. He moved on from there, and has a job he loves, as well as the knowledge that he is important.

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• CI

  @cindycox9496 · 3 years ago

  I saved my stepmoms earrings because they still smell of her perfume. I loved her so.

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• EL

  @ellenherman9543 · 2 years ago

  I put stuff on the curb and i get so happy when people come to pick it up❤

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• CH

  @charq52 · 2 years ago

  My 2024 resolution is to get rid of at least one thing from my house every day.  So far this year I’ve given away and thrown away 140 things…big and small.

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• MO

  @Mommanoodle · 2 years ago

  Been going through my moms home after helping her move into assisted living. Each time we do a pivotal process, we have a long conversation with her stories and memories and it’s been really good.

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• KA

  @kathleenkaufmann2084 · 2 years ago

  I'm a 63 yo retired RN.  People don't listen to their elderly.  I took care of a lady that all the staff just referred to as a "Karen" patient, elderly in her 80's about 15 years ago.  Well, she was tired, sick, unhappy.... and the first graduate of any architect school in the entire state of Arkansas, and had been a top architect in the state for 45 years.  When you got her to talk about that? We lost the Karen and had a vibrant lady who was loving and great.  She was just so sad and lonely.

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• MA

  @marymcnay7335 · 2 years ago (edited)

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHbW6KrmwLU&amp;t=2992">49:52</a> Hoo boy! &nbsp;I&apos;m nearly 80. &nbsp;I have my grandmother&apos;s cedar chest STILL STORING HER STUFF! &nbsp; I inherited it when I was 10! &nbsp;I&apos;ve probably moved with it 10 times. &nbsp;Just ordered the book. &nbsp; I hope it gives me the strength to deal with it and all the other items I inherited from my great grandmother!<br>And thank you for the information regarding the good that Goodwill does.

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