I’ve written before about my resolve to not keep pens that don’t work.
And about how that is strangely difficult for me.
But I’m adding another Personal Life Law.
I shall henceforth and forevermore test every pen discovered during a decluttering project immediately, BEFORE placing it in the Pen Drawer.
Really. I’m not sure why this wasn’t obvious to me. When I discovered the pen in the picture above (at the bottom of an obviously dusty pile), I started to take it where it goes. Right then.
And then I thought . . . . “Ummmm, what if it doesn’t even work?”
And then I thought . . . “Well, if it doesn’t, I’ll throw it away like a good girl would.”
And then I thought . . . “HELLO?? What is wrong with you?? Why not test it right this very second and save that moment of frustration down the road??”
And then I thought . . . “Wow. She’s mean. But she’s also right.”
So I tested it. And it worked!
Really, my natural put-it-off-if-it’s-at-all-putoffable tendencies get on my nerves.
(As does that rude girl in my head!)
--Nony
That is a great rule! I think I need to work on letting go of pencils without any eraser left. I never want to use those. Yes, there is life left, but they become clutter when I’m digging through looking for the one with an eraser. I don’t seem to have as much trouble with pens, and at least twice a year I find myself checking all of them to make sure they work.
If it doesn’t work at first I do the swirl and stab test, if it still doesn’t work THEN I throw it away. If it works after the swirl and stab then I keep it, unless I find myself going to use it again the very next time and having to do the swirl and stab AGAIN, then I decide it can go.
Love it! I would have done the exact same thing…. 🙂
Now I will remember to do this because you make me smile!
I have no problem throwing out pens that don’t work. I do, however, have a whole pile of mechanical pencils that are either broken or just need lead. I haven’t taken the time to figure that out- I just move them to the drawer to be dealt with “later”. Hmmmm. maybe today!
and a hoarder of pens, I am 100% in agreement with you. A few years ago, in a major clear & clutter I found …well, too many pens… But I carefully gathered them together, and began the testing phase. I threw away 50 pens that did not write or once they did, they sputtered and were not smooth writing. Then of the ones that worked, I took all those that wrote purple or were colored purple and gave them to my daughter-in-law who loves purple. That was about 25 pens. To my son, I gave about 20 more pens.
I found a shocking number of Sharpie markers also – so those were dispersed to varied people.
When I retired from my job, I gave multiple pens away.
I struggle with this pen ‘addiction’ constantly.
I have come to the ability to throw most of them away if they don’t write or don’t write smoothly.
Sometimes I do comparisons – one against the other and let the ‘best man win’…
Thank you–I feel so much better knowing I am not alone! I also have a habit of just gathering up all the pens and dumping them into a basket without checking to see if they are dead or alive! Since I never seem to go back and check them, it is a law of nature that when I need one in a hurry, the first ones I pick up will either be dry or will skip. Now if I can just remember to keep a piece of paper with me at all times, LOL!
I used a piece of trash!!
I find a pen on the counter or desk, try to use it and find it doesn’t work, so I just lay it back down to search for another one that does work. Guess I *should* toss ’em. I did the same thing with white board markers the year I taught. Hmm a see a pattern forming.
Just wanted to let you know that your post today DID inspire me to get rid of my pencils without erasers. I wrote a blog post about it…with pictures. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Yay!
I love when you post about your “Aha! This-should-be-obvious!” Moments. It’s one of those things that make me feel less alone haha.
I took all the pens that weren’t my favorite kind…everything with words or blue ink or too ugly and pitched them. Life is too short to keep 35 pens until they are used up.
Thank you for the gift that you’ve given my mind. Because of you, I don’t always have to refer to paper or lists first, when my brain has decided not to be cooperative. Always think do Dana K. White first. This is how I use the acronym of your name. Dana: Do the dishes first. K: Kitchen floor. White: What’s left? This alway gets me going to the point that when I do write a list/agenda, I write Dana K. White at the top and the rest of my to do’s underneath. Helps me to get unstuck, when I’m stuck. I’m grateful to the gurus who’ve come before you and for the ones that have come along side you, but you’re the only one that gets my butt off the couch. Now what was I doing? Oh yeah! Dana K. White.
When I was working, my desk was in a place where folks would casually take a pen if they needed one, and then of course never return it. I got in the habit of taking faulty pens and putting them in a pencil cup in the most convenient-to-be-taken spot. And otherwise there were no writing instruments on my desk unless I was actively using one. I had “lost” a few very nice pens before I started doing this.
One day my manager came by and needed to sign something for me. He reached for one of “those” pens and I stopped him. “Those are for the pen-stealers. Here, use this one.” He was not amused. But I certainly was. Still am, when I think about it. Don’t take someone else’s property!
I have a big contain full of pens. Every so often, when I have grandkids or nephews around I give them paper and tell them to test all the pens and markers in the container and toss out the bad ones. They love it. It is like a game. And I don’t feel so bad about throwing out stuff.
I am addicted to very nice writing pens, boxes, and rubber bands. I even changed out a snow globe this week and actually held three dead C batteries in my hand for a second before tossing. 😂😂😂
I invariably smile (at least a smile, sometimes it’s a ROFLM*O-until I have to go to bathroom reaction) when I read your posts. My Mama has the same response, you’re my kinda gal. And you’re encouraging me to be happy with any improvement instead of my preferred ‘all or nothing’ approach of ‘If I can’t decide what would be PERFECT, don’t even start.’ And I’ve even been able to adopt the most of the tips that allow me to stop at any point and still have an improvement instead of leaving chaos. I used to clean my room by throwing EVERYTHING in a pile in the middle of the floor and then I was done, when the pile was gone; needless to say, if got interrupted, it was a disaster! I thank you, and my family thanks you.
Pens, pencils, markers, highlighters…oh, my! I used to work in an office supply store–surrounded by writing instruments. It’s the worst job for someone with a writing instrument obsession…just saying…. :-/ I got so frustrated with pens that didn’t work when I needed one that I started a testing marathon to weed out the ones that wouldn’t write; BUT I felt horrible about throwing ALL THOSE PENS (pen obsession, remember?) in the landfill. Luckily, I found an artist who makes things out of writing instruments, so I set up a box and filled it up. One box shipped, I’m halfway full on Box #2. It’s a win-win!
Does that artist want all of our pens? Or, maybe a school or facility of some kind wants donated pens (ones that work, of course.) I can get rid of things much more easily when I feel I am helping someone out!
This is a FABULOUS rule. I started doing that years ago and it solves tons of frustration and wasted time down the road. Crummy pens do not revive, even on life support. While watching TV, is the perfect time test all your pens, pencils, and markers during commercials. You’ll be left with only the healthy ones. Unfortunately, I have an unintentional habit of bringing home pens that are given to me to sign something… by bankers, waiters, etc. I automatically throw them in my purse without thinking and every few months I have to unload about 10 pens that I have no idea where they came from. Even if I could stop today, I’ll never live long enough to use them all up.