Hoarding Emails (and Letting Go)

Simplify

I was getting tired of seeing 5,600+ unread mail in my mailbox.  What’s funny is I am also being bombarded with emails that say I should simplify my life.

So I did.

But it is harder than I thought.

As of press time, I still have 3,089 unread emails.  And it is growing by 50 a day.

I am confounded as to why my unread emails became that much.  I am usually overly zealous at reading what’s up in my world and everyone else’s.  Looking at my 2008 emails (Gmail has allowed me to keep them), I saw that I had read each and every one.  I do not know what happened between then and now.

Maybe it’s just that I am a sucker for enlisting for products and services.  In early 2009, I was so big on personal finance and internet marketing that I had signed up for those websites and people my mentors recommended – Schefren, Daily Wealth, Daily Crux, Morningstar, Napoleon Hill, Bob Proctor, League of Extraordinary Minds, Carl Ocab and many more other websites.  I seriously think this is the time when my emails ballooned to unimaginable and my life went from simple to crazy-exciting.

But now I think I may have overfilled my cup and they all have to go.  I deleted and unsubscribed or reported as spam (sorry) all except Problogger, Copyblogger, Money Tips Network, Zen Habits and Bo Sanchez (well, I like the tips and their style of writing).

It was painful.  But what can I do with what I have not read?  What makes me think that someday I am going to have the time to read them all?

I think it got worse too when I had all of my emails from my several accounts (about 7) forwarded to my Gmail, thanks to Yugatech and his post on One Gmail to Rule Them All.  I am finding out that there is a price tag to this convenience and it is confusion.  50% used-up space of my Gmail-provided 7445 MB space is a testament to that.

So I deleted and deleted and deleted. (it got quite fun towards the middle, kind of like a cleansing ritual, almost hypnotic)

Friendster, or its notifications, was one big culprit.  I can bet Facebook is too, except that it is harder to filter, other emails get thrown in the mix so I cannot just delete all like what I like to zombie-do.  Those internet marketers, they send me at least 2 emails a day, sometimes of the same content.  And most of those solicited (okay) mails have no unsubscribe button, or they would ask you to punch in your username and password before they let you go.

Deleting, deleting, deleting.  Seriously.

And really…What will I do with unread emails from 2008 or 2009?  If I have not read it and do not know about it and have survived despite the ignorance, then I am sure I am okay with forever erasing it from my life.

Dealing with the guilt that sometimes comes when forced to let go of something he (she) compulsively (lovingly) hoarded.

Cleaning, cleansing (wincing).

And so, I have deleted 2,000 unread emails in 3 hours. (whew) And here’s to deleting (or reading, uhrm) 3,000 more.

To simplification.

Be rich,

Issa

Article by Issa. Art by D. Copyright 2010.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com

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