Ten Minute Tackle – So many T-shirts

The problem is clutter

Christine Satterfield lists ten steps on her blog entry 10 Foolproof Ways to Reduce Clutter. This is the list, read the article for details.

• Don’t keep it just because it’s sentimental.
• Donate on a regular basis.
• Sell things you don’t need and make some extra cash in the process.
• Don’t go shopping.
• Use what you have.
• Implement a trial period mentality.
• Keep a gift list.
• One thing in, One thing out.
• See your “valuables” through someone else’s eyes.
• Get a new perspective.

Solving the problem in small increments

My sister came up with the Ten Minute Tackle as a strategy for eliminating clutter. The concept is simple, namely to spend at least ten minutes a day organizing and cleaning out clutter. I share a penchant with my father and two sisters of collecting things. My mother is a minimalist who abhors clutter. This family dynamic shaped my entire life.

The T-shirt history

I am wearing a shirt emblazoned with the name Eddie Bauer. I did not purchase this shirt, it was a hand-me-down from my children. I have quite a large collection of their clothes. My inventory of clothing has grown over the years as they tire of trends. My years in the computer industry yielded a huge cache of T-shirts from trade shows which were added to my wardrobe. The idea of printed T-shirts began in the 1950s when companies started printing names of resorts in Florida. It didn’t take long for the Disney company to cash in. I was on the cutting edge of this trend, wearing my Davy Crockett T-shirt.

Vintage Wear

Most of my T’s can be described as “vintage” especially my Tomb Raider shirt that my son gave me when he worked at Taco Bell. He gave me two shirts. Within the last year one of the shirts tore as I put it on. This is how I judge when to discard clothing, when it disintegrates in my hands. It was good that i had a backup.

Politics & Protest

Politicians are always handing out T-shirts and I have a good collection of those. You can express whatever you believe on a T.

The Strange

The Purge

I actually “tackled” my pile of T-shirts more than ten minutes. I ended up with a bag of stained and substandard shirts that I will give to my nephew to use in his garage. They still will have some use. The rest will be worn in succession every day. I should be good for another 20 years.