Repurposing our inheritance

What’s sentimental and sacred differs from person to person.

We know our possessions hold only the meaning that we assign them.

Inherited items present their own challenges. 

How best to honor the person, keep their memories alive and yet not be overwhelmed by what they’ve left you?

Even when we decide what things to keep, figuring out how to incorporate them into our homes can be tricky.

Maybe the piece of furniture fits neatly into your living room, or the picture looks nice in the hall way.

Other items might be more difficult, especially if they aren’t particularly useful or attractive.

If it is important enough to have saved, then don’t just pack it up and stack the box in your garage.

One option is repurposing the items or displaying them in a more creative way.

I only chose a few things from my mother’s estate.

Although I knew I’d never use her china tea cups, nor would I display them neatly on a shelf, I knew that she had, and that they had been special to her.  Enter my hammer, glue and box of grout. 

Now I have a mirror that I display in  my home that is a wonderful reminder and visual presence of her and  the cups.

(I had enough pieces to make one for each of my sisters, who chose not to take

any of the cups)

I have a friend who took her grandmother’s antique beaded purses and put them in a shadow box that hangs in a grouping with old photographs.

And a client who took her Dad’s collection of marbles out of their cloth bags, poured them into tall, clear vases, and is now using them as book ends.

It’s the memories and connections to the people that matter, not their stuff.

Choose things of theirs that resonate in your heart and bring to mind funny, touching moments you shared.

Add those pieces to your home with care and thoughtfulness.

Karen 

If you need some ideas or inspiration for how and what you could repurpose, or if you just want to see some clever and imaginative projects, check out these web sites:

Recyclart

Craft Gawker

Four simple sentences

Relationships are challenging.

Dealing with co workers, living with people, dealing with family, and maintaining friendships all require time, patience and a willingness to be present.

Our lives and emotions, thoughts and reactions are complicated.

As Gold Medal Conclusion Jumpers, it is easy for many of us to misjudge another’s reaction or behaviors.

In an effort to declutter our relationships, I invite you do get familiar with and practice these four sentences. 

I’m sorry.

I was wrong.

I need help.

I don’t know.*

As opposed to making us seem weak or vulnerable, these offer the chance to connect in more meaningful ways, resolve problems, diffuse tension and  move communications to a place where there is greater understanding and a true exchange of ideas and solutions.

Choosing to honestly communicate is a powerful tool in an authentic life.

(Even if it’s scary…….)

You get to choose.

Karen

*Louise Penny

Fewer. Less. Smaller.

Keep it simple.

The fewer steps,

the less you have to think,

the smaller the area you have to clean and maintain,

the more limited your choices,

all make your life easier.

Avoid making your systems too complicated.

Every additional step in a process makes it exponentially less likely that you’ll follow through to completion.

Make the habits of daily living routine and no brainers.

Use hooks instead of hangers.

Don’t put something down, put it away.

Take advantage of on line bill paying.

Put your dirty dish into the dishwasher; don’t just set it on the counter.

Own fewer things of higher quality-which means less shopping and less maintenance.

Organize like items together.

Store things where you use them.

Practice saying ‘No’.

Choose to simplify the tasks you can control and make your life easier.

And  then choose something fun to do this week!

Karen 

Irritating.....

Bugs me lots.

Clutter is irritating.

If you choose one space in your house that’s cluttered, you’ll come up with a ‘Bugs Me Lots’ associated with it.

For example: Piles of shoes in the bottom of your closet.  The Bugs Me Lots would be that it takes you extra time every morning while you dig through the clutter to find the shoes you want to wear.  Or it bugs you when during the search you find shoes you forgot you had.

Or

Paper clutter on your desk.  It Bugs you Lots that things get put down, more papers get put on top of them and you lose or misplace things that are time sensitive and important.

Sometimes it’s such a small thing or you’ve become so used to the situation you’re not even aware of the constant irritation.

Pay attention.  Listen to your own internal talk.  Hear the dialogue in your head concerning spaces in your home that don’t feel or look right to you.

Change will happen when you decide you’ve had enough being Bugged.

Make some other choices.

Decide how you really want to use that space.

Spend the time to sort, prioritize and organize an area that is irritating you.

Remove everything from that space that doesn’t support that use.

Spend time organizing the area in a way that makes sense to you.

Arrange easy access to what you want, need and frequently use.

Choose one place in your house that gives you that Bugs Me Lots feeling.

Spend some time this week decluttering and organizing it.

You’ll be relieved, I promise.

Here’s to less Bugs and more calmness.

Karen