Garage sales vs Charity

OK, so today we had a cul-de-sac yard sale.  Our neighbors  decided that it would be a wonderful idea to have a big garage sale.  And with the suggestion,  in the back of my head I hear this little voice saying - almost singing - "Don't do it....You know you don't have time....Don't do it!"  But of course I don't listen and say "That's great idea!"  And actually I did think that it was a great idea, but not necessarily practical for my schedule.  We decided a month ago that the event would be today.  So as time passed, I saw my neighbors diligently stacking and sorting and pricing.  My anxiety about the whole thing started building.  While they put stuff together, my husband and I discussed what we wanted to sell, but never did anything about it.  Fast forward to 5:30 last night.  I'm in my garage surrounded by stuff - boxes unpacked from when we moved in (6 years ago), lawn supplies and bikes and toys.  I'm overwhelmed by the volume but have to start somewhere. So I open the garage door and take a deep breath.  5 hours later, we had made enough progress to actually set up a table with various various items.  

My husband and I called it quits about 10:30pm, and go to bed.  Our GS is from 7am to noon, so we get up at 4 am and pull it together. We get all of our kids clothes laid out, all of the extra bikes, toys and knick-knacks out for the world to ogle over and cross my fingers that they would be so kind to give me a dollar for something worth ten.  Noon is slow coming, but we packed up the left over goods, and pack them BACK in the garage.  And for all of our hard work, sore muscles and lack of sleep, we made a whopping 70 dollars.  Yup that's it. 

Lesson Learned: Next year, I'm just calling the Goodwill truck to take my stuff and take the tax deduction.   And next year when my neighbors are doing it all over again.... I'll be on my lawn chair sipping tea.  From here on out, Charity will win every time.