Use It Up

I think people my age (60's) were influenced by the Great Depression of the 30's.  The stress of not being able to buy things or have what you needed (food, shelter, clothing) on our impressionable parents was very great.  Our grandparents and parents "made do".  If I needed stretcher bars for canvases, my dad made them for me.  If I needed a bedside table, we looked for one in the attic or visited my grandmother's house to see if she had one in her attic.  We saved our special dresses for special occasions.  And usually outgrew them before we could wear them more than a few times.

The saddest part of sorting my fabric and giving it away, is sorting and giving away the dreams I had for that fabric.  Dreams that never materialized.  Getting rid of the fabric is only part of the equation.  Giving away the dreams is so much more difficult.

I will try, this year to actually use things up.  Empty paint bottles and throw them away.  Wear my crayons down to the nub and then throw those nubs away or melt them down.  Sharpen my colored pencils until I can't hold them in my fingers.  Use the last sheets of paper in my drawing pads.  Run out of thread.  The only item I always use up : glue sticks.

The year of Use It Up.

G just now finished setting up my new Pilates machine.  OMG.  I had the hardest time getting down to even sit on the seat, let alone do anything.  My weight, yes, but mostly my sense of balance and lack of a secure feeling about my muscles.  G did more test exercise than I did (not even 5 minutes but his heart rate was up) and he felt it in his legs walking down the steps (he tried the jogging exercise and the side pull).  I am going back up, with the tiny DVD player, to watch and do the beginner exercise routine.  I need to go through the closet and look for easy fit exercise pants.  My goal is to be able to sit on the seat with my knees bent, and be comfortable.  That should happen in a few months. I hope, when my CORE is tighter.  Right now I don't even have a CORE.  I'll be "Using Up" some of this stored fat.