Happy New Year

 

Wishing you the most Happiest of New Years!

May 2015 be filled with experiences,
connecting with people you love and care about,
and activities you jump into whole heartedly!

Laughing all the way.......

Chose to be light.
Believe that people mean well.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Remember, it really is the thought that counts.
Forgive someone by accepting you can't change the past.

Do you want to be right? Or kind?

Our lives reflect the choices we are willing to make.
Be brave.
Take a risk.
Act with integrity.
Honor your most heartfelt desires.

You are the Light and Gift of the Season.
Be Merry and Bright.

Shoulding on yourself........

This time of year especially it seems that life is full of shoulds.

I should find the perfect presents.
I should bake six kinds of cookies.
I should decorate the house.
I should spend time with family.
I should go to the annual Christmas party.
I should write a Christmas newsletter.
I should___________________.

And just who decided you should do all these things?
Whose voice in your head is it that you are hearing?
And do you really need to pay attention to it?

Maybe some of those shoulds are left over from a different time in your life.
A time when you had different priorities and obligations.
Perhaps they never were things you really enjoyed doing 

but always did to please others or 

to maintain an image or idea of who you thought you needed to be.

Have these activities become the Clutter of Christmas?
Things you no longer need, use, value or love?
Activities that get in the way of you doing what you really love with the people you truly care most about?

There is certainly nothing wrong with presents or cookie baking, decorating your home, or spending time with family.
Unless, of course, you don’t really want to,
or it no longer reflects the life you want to be living.

What’s true is: There is only so much time.
How do you want to spend it?
What choices can you make that support your most heartfelt life?

Your life.
Your choices.
Make them meaningful to you.

Presence! Presents! Presence!

Presence and presents, both are gifts.

Which one will you give more of this Season?

It is true that we can delight and charm recipients
with thoughtful and clever gifts.

But how much more meaningful might it be to offer them your presence?
Your attention?
Your acceptance?
Your empathy for their stressful day?
Your compassion for their challenging situation?
Your listening ear and heart?

Relationships are built over time and shared experiences.
Memories are made when we spend time together laughing,
talking, sharing events, activities, companionable silence and creating our stories of connection.

Give the present of your presence to family, friends, coworkers, even the clerk at the store, 

the barista making your coffee,
and the child asking you the annoying question.

Your presence is the Light of the Season.

Doing not having.

This Holiday season try giving more experiences and less stuff.
Consider gifts that involve spending time together 

and making memories.
Gift giving is about acknowledging our connections to others and a way to thank them for what they mean to us in our lives.

Try to make sure that what you give doesn’t end up as
clutter in someone else’s home and life.
You may think they need another pig for their collection,
or you found the cutest sweater,
or a book you think they’d love.

Chances are, they wish they’d never started collecting pigs,
you aren’t as hip to their fashion sense as you might think,
and they already have enough books they haven’t had time to read.

Pause before you hit the Buy it Now button,
procede to check out, or whip out your credit card-
consider if there might be a way for you to give
the gift of your presence
as the present.

Most of us have plenty of things in our lives:
All of us want deeper connections.

Give gifts that create connections
and make memories.

ps.  If you find yourself giving  to someone out of guilt or obligation,
habit or perceived  pressure, take a deep breath.
Give yourself permission to say no.
(You may be surprised at the relief everyone involved feels) 

Not just Thursday.

Thursday is the traditional day that we take a moment and give thanks.
Blogs, Tweets, emails, media stories, and even conversations this past week are filled
with reminders to be grateful and act from gratitude.

Here's a radical thought.
Be grateful everyday.

Act thankful for your job,
your relationships,
your home,
your friends,
your family of origin and
your family of choice.

Recognizing the abundance that is 

already present in your life can keep you from
over buying,
over spending,
over compensating.

Say Thank You.
(Mean it)

Decluttering, simplified.

Figure out what's important.
Let go of everything else.

Enough is enough.

Anything more than enough is clutter.

I couldn't possibly tell you how many pairs of jeans is enough for you.
Or how many pairs of scissors you need to have.
Or  how many bags of pasta you need in your pantry.

Everyone has different reasons and justification 

for why they purchase things,
why they hold on to items,
or what has sentimental value.

Chances are, if your home or life feels cluttered;
you have more than enough.
That realization is where change begins.

Contrary to the messages we hear: More isn't better.
More is just that.
More.
More money spent.
More to keep track of.
More to store.
More to maintain.

Look around your house,
think about your life.
Decide how much is really enough.

Live your life and make your choices from that place.

You won't miss them.

Look around.
What could you grab right now and recycle, donate or toss that you wouldn't even miss?

One ugly item from your closet?
Two of the six wooden spoons in the kitchen crock?
The three month old magazine still in its shrink wrap?
Four dvds that you didn't like the first time you watched them?
Five of the mugs crowding the shelf?
Six of the short, erase-less pencils crammed in the cup on the desk?
Seven of the pens in there with them?
Eight.....

You get the idea.

People think that they have to devote hours to decluttering
in order to make a difference in their situation.
Ha!  Not true.

There are lots of quick "little bites" you can take that
will have an impact.

And get you thinking about How Many is Enough?

Having less clutter is an ongoing process.

Learning to look at what you have and why,
and making choices every day about what is important,
what you want to keep and what you're willing to let go of.

If what you want really is a simpler life-
what choices can you make right now
to support that vision?

Ack! Don't let it in the house!

No, clutter doesn't sneak in while you're sleeping or appear when no one is home and the house is quiet.

You bring in home in your purse, in bags, and with the day's mail.

Having a less cluttered and more organized home 

starts before the front door.
It starts with awareness.
It begins when you pay attention to  

the possessions you already have.

The situation changes when you establish routines and habits that support putting things away in a specific place, buying less, and making conscious choices about who and what is important in your life.

The One In, One Out Rule (for each item that comes into your home, an item needs to go),
helps keep the pantry from becoming stuffed again, 

the jeans drawer from exploding, 

and squeezing the car out of the garage.

Five of something isn't fives times as good as one.
It's one, five times over.

And it is four more to find room for, clean and maintain.

By getting in the habit at the store (or garage sale, or free giveaway) of asking yourself
"Where will this live?"
"What will it replace?"
"How many do I need?"
you will be able to be more mindful of what you're choosing
to let into your house and into your life.

You only have so much time, money and energy:
How do you want to be spending it?

Your choices equal your life.

Habits.

Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life, and a significant element of happiness.If we have habits that work for us, we’re much more likely to be happy,
healthy, productive, and creative. Gretchen Rubin

Put your keys in the same place every day.
Sort your mail before you set it down.
Put your dirty dish into the dishwasher.
Hang up your coat.
Ask for help when you need it.
Say Thank You.

Much of our daily life is habitual actions (and reactions).
Try being a bit more mindful of what you do 

and how you do it.

Consider that even one small change in a routine
could alter the way your life works, looks and feels.

Change is a result of conscious choices.
Pay attention.
Your life is a direct result of your choices.

ps.  Yes, I am a big fan of Gretchen's.
Her ideas inspire, amuse, challenge and
remind me to lead a more thoughtful and happy life.

Those boxes of video tapes, slides and maybe reels of home movies.

Many people I work with have a box, or two, 

or five of VHS tapes 

or maybe boxes of  slides of family birthdays

or events, adventures or travel.
And most often no longer have the equipment to view the media.

They know there are services available 

to transfer the images to a useable format,
they just never quite get around to doing it.

Here's a bit of a financial incentive.
This month Costco is offering a $5 coupon on the service, with a limit of five.
True, you probably have way more than five, 

but as I like to say "Little bites".

Five dvds take up far less room than five tapes 

or boxes of slides or old home movie reels.

If they are important enough for you to save,
then take the time and effort make them accessible.

Not a Costco member?
Walgreens,  Digmypics.com and Scanmyphotos.com
offer the same services.

With the images transferred to dvd you could skip a Netflix
and reconnect with moments from your family's past.

And the new dvds could be a perfect gift.....

What if?

Amazing how such a small word, if, can loom so large for people during the decluttering process.
Usually in the form of "What if I need it again?"

Some people have stories of letting something go, then days or weeks later needing that item again.
(Of course no one has stories about all the things they gave away, recycled or trashed and never thought about again.....) 

IF an item does leave your home and you find yourself needing it again what are your options?
  1.  You could find something else you own to use in its place.  Clever repurposing is always a choice.
  2.  You could borrow the item.
  3.  You could perhaps rent the item.
  4.  You could find a used version.
  5.  You could buy a replacement.
      "But, but I already spent good money on the one I gave away."  Yes you did.  And the moment you purchased it that money was gone.  Keeping it wouldn't have gotten your money back.  And the new one you're buying probably cost less and does more than the one you used to have.

What if is Justin Case's way of getting you to store his things in your house.
Do you really have enough room to store things for someone who doesn't even exist?

Remember that your donations of useable items 

frees up space in your life
(physical, mental and emotional),
creates jobs for people in your community,
and allows people who really need and have a used for something right now the chance to acquire it.

If the item is really trash or needs to be recycled, make that decision.
Move things along and out of your house.

Choose to believe that you have a rich and abundant life.
That if you need something, you will be able to get it.
After all; you're smart, creative, resourceful, and have access to cash.

Your home.
Your life.
Your choices.

We all have full lives.
How full, and of what; we get to decide.

Being thoughtful about what we purchase,
what stories we tell in our minds,
who we make time for,
which activities we spend our money 

and energy engaged in,
and how much space (physical, mental and emotional) we devote to our own well being and happiness
directly impacts how full our lives feel.

Choosing to buy fewer things of better quality,
spending moments each day in gratitude,
giving away items we no longer need, use or care about,
and  keeping the mechanics of daily living 

as simple and easy as possible;
allows our lives to be full, but not overwhelming.

Let go of 'stuff' and hold on to those objects, relationships,
routines and rituals that fill your heart and reflect what you
love and value.

Take it back.

Sponsored by the DEA, this Saturday, September 27th, is National Take Back Day.

Designed to provide a safe way for people to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs,
local collection sites can be located through this DEA link.

The page also provides information about proper disposal of other medicines.

As they say, cold and flu season are fast approaching.
This would be the perfect time to go through your medicine cabinet; check expiration dates, collect half full pill bottles, and clear out the unnecessary  and redundant.

Here's to a Happy Healthy Fall for all of us.
And a little more room in the bathroom cabinet!

Get a visual.

You know how I like to go on and on about putting like with like?

This week I'd like to suggest (which is kind of like nagging but nicer)
you have some of that fun in your clothes closet.

We're not talking a giant purge/sort here, I'm merely offering you the opportunity to get a visual of what you have in there.
If you happen to let some items go (cheap hangers, wrong sizes, ugly color, bad gift, worn out, what were you thinking) that will just be a bonus.

What I'd like you to do is move pieces around so that  like items are all hanging together.
All the short sleeve shirts together.
All your long sleeve shirts in one group.
All your long pants side by side.
All the suits lined up as a section.
You get the drift.

What sections you have will depend on the different types of clothing
you have hanging in your closet.

Within the groups hang like colors next to one another.
I know, it seems a bit OCD, but trust me, we're going for a visual here.

The purpose of this little exercise is to show you, literally,
how many of which kinds of clothing you own.
How many pairs of black jeans.
How many white shirts.
How many long sleeve tee shirts.
How many SWAG polo shirts....

Now the options of what you can do with this information.

You could stop right here in the process.
The benefit would be now when you're getting dressed 

you can easily see what you have of each category without digging, rummaging, guessing.

Or you could make some decisions about how many is enough.
Which of the clothes do you really wear?
Or what looks fabulous on you?
Which items are a reflection of the life you live now?
And what clothes does your current job require?

This visual will also give you valuable information about the kind and types of clothes that you frequently buy.
Which colors do you gravitate towards?
What style dominates?
Which are your 'go to' choices?

If you're up to it, do some weeding out, tossing, donating
and saying good by.

That's valuable real estate in there, make the best use of it.

Getting a visual of what you own, how many you have,
and keeping like with like simplifies your life.
Whether it's in your clothes closet, your pantry or
office supplies.

See your way to a less cluttered life.

Don't think about it.

"Habits allow us to put a behavior on automatic, 

so we don’t have to think about it or 

make decisions related to it anymore. 
In this way, habits can free us from the things we don’t want to think about." Gretchen Rubin

Always put your keys in the same place.
Deal with the mail every day.
Pay your bills on Monday evening.
Don't put things down, put them away.
Fold the laundry when it comes out of the dryer.
Hang up your clothes, don't toss them on the chair.
Ask for what you need.
Be grateful for what you have.

Small simple actions become routine
and the routine becomes a habit.

Let the habits of decluttering
give you less to think about.

Decide what's important.

And ditch the rest.

Decide which clothes you really wear and you feel fabulous wearing.
Give the rest away.

Decide which hobbies you love.
Let go of the supplies and equipment for all the others.

Decide which letters, artwork, gifts and 

memorabilia truly are sentimental.
Be willing to say good bye to the items that aren't.

Decide which relationships are good for 

your head and heart.
Spend your time nurturing those.

Letting go can be a challenge.
Don't let 'I should' and 'what if' keep you 

stuck in clutter and disorganization.

You're the adult.
Make conscious choices that support 

the life you really want to be living.

Thinking vs reality.

You think you wear all the clothes in your closet,
but what's true is you wear about 50% of them.

You think you know what's in all the piles on your desk;
but what's true is you've missed paying bills, lost checks,
and misplaced important papers.

You think you're going to rewatch all those dvds on the shelf;
but what's true is there are always new movies available,
and you didn't even enjoy some of them the first time around.

You think you have the time to finish all those projects you have the materials for;
but what's true is that hobby no longer interests you or you no longer need or want
the object you were planning to create.

Clutter can be the result of the difference in 

what we think we do,
and how we really live our lives.

Take a serious look at what's hanging in your closet.
Let go of what you don't wear.

Sort through the paper piles.
Switch to a vertical system of folders, 

keeping like items together.

Cull your dvd collection.
Consider switching to renting or streaming movies.

Let go of the supplies and projects that no longer interest you.
Make some space in your closet, on your shelves, in the garage.

Create the clutter free reality that supports the life
you want to be living now.

Proof

Photo proof of my excuse for not posting last week.

One reason I choose a simple, uncluttered life is to be able to have time and space for relationships.

Last week at a State Park in Eastern Washington my siblings and their kids (and their kids kids)
met for our  biennial Family Reunion. 

Months in the planning and organizing, with lists and crossing out;
making it all happen was fun as well as challenging.

We ate, laughed, swam, played games, did arts and crafts, played water balloon volleyball,
talked until the wee hours, and ate some more!

But mostly what we did was had experiences, made memories, connected with each other and
left on Sunday a tiny bit richer in our hearts than when we arrived on Wednesday. 

I will admit families can be challenging.
There were moments when I had to bite my tongue.
But, when I'm old (not there yet!)
and I look back on my life,
I believe it will be the experiences I'll treasure and not the stuff.

That was then.

This is now.

Now is where we live.

One cause of clutter, one challenge of letting go of things,
is that we often forget the difference between then and now.

Many of our belongings and habits are left from a time when we had other interests, priorities, relationships, jobs and hobbies.
Sometimes we miss those activities and the people,
or we imagine that somehow we will find the time to resume that lifestyle again.

We think that holding onto the stuff somehow keeps then a part of our now.
Mostly it just clutters up our lives and homes, and can keep us looking back; when we really need to be looking forward. 

Pausing to consider this life now; where you spend your energy, time, money and commitments will help you let go of things from then.

Letting go of reminders, evidence, supplies and equipment from our then self can be challenging.
Yet, choosing to live in the now, surrounded by the items and people that best support our current lives and dreams, frees up space; literally, mentally and emotionally.

That was then.
This is now.
Choose to be present.

Small space, big impact.

Unstuff your wallet.

It's amazing how much stuff people are able to cram into such a small space.
Money, receipts, coupons, ID, loyalty cards, cookie fortunes, photographs, notes, business cards, etc. etc. etc.

Clear a space on your desk or table and take everything out of your wallet.
Yes, the process is the same whether we're sorting and organizing an entire room or this container.
As you remove things, throw away or recycle the obvious:     Unreadable scraps of paper, unnecessary receipts, business   cards of people you have no interest in, expired cards,
outdated coupons, etc.
Sort and group like with like.  Money, credit cards, membership ID, business cards, contact information, loyalty cards, love notes and photos.
Lift all the flaps, check all the pockets, and make certain you've cleaned out each section.

Now think about what really needs to live in your wallet.
How much cash are you comfortable carrying?
Which of these cards do you use on a regular basis?

Is it really necessary to have certain cards or ID with you all the time?
Might you be less tempted to shop if you only carried your debit card?
Could you use the Key Ring app and not have to carry all those loyalty cards?
Would entering the information from a business card into your phone's Contacts list be helpful?

How could you simplify what you're carrying around?

As you start to refill the wallet, consider which things you pull out on a regular basis.
Make it fast and easy to access the items you use frequently.
Group like kinds of items together.
(Perhaps even leave some slots empty)

With your wallet, as with your home, try to maintain the One In, One Out rule.
If you're going to add something to what you're carrying around, decide which thing you're willing to eliminate.

Organizing your stuff, no matter where you have it, makes life easier.

Start with a small space.
Make a difference you can take advantage of on a regular basis.

Choose less to have more.

Just say Thank You.

That's it.
Be grateful.

Whether someone has just paid you a compliment, 

held the door for you,
given you change from your purchase, 

or let you merge into traffic.
Consciously acknowledge the kindnesses you receive.

The little acts do matter.

Saying Thank You over and over throughout the day 

opens our hearts to all that is rich about our lives 

on a daily basis.

There is much is the world that breaks our hearts, 

tries our patience,
scares us, angers us 

and sometimes overwhelmed us.

But, there are moments and events every day that 

should give us pause
and remind us how rich and easy 

and hopeful our lives are.

Thank You.
That's it.
Two words.
You don't need to elaborate, explain, qualify.

Aloud or silently, express your thanks and gratitude.

More money $

There are two ways to have more money:
  Earn more.
  Spend less.

You could work more hours, ask for a raise or find a better paying position.

or
Decrease your expenses.  (I heard the groan, heavy sigh, eye rolling)

Everyone thinks having more money would improve their lives.
And it might.  

Or not.

How you come by that additional money may be as important as the cash itself.

An increase in hours, meeting with the boss or starting a job search are all
options you may want to pursue.

Until you're ready or willing to move in those directions 

may I suggest paying closer attention in your daily life and routines to see where the money you currently earn is spent?
I'm not suggesting tracking every penny you spend, or  you vowing to only spend cash,
or planning some elaborate monthly budget-complete with a spread sheet.
(Although your certainly welcome to do those things if you'd like...)

Just note if you're throwing food away because you buy it then never take the time to prepare it.
Or you're buying food you think you 'should' eat, but in reality never do.
Or do you buy take out, eat part of it and leave the rest in the fridge until it grows a furry green winter coat?

Do you buy things On Sale that seem like a good deal but
once you bring them home they don't fit,
aren't as easy to use as you'd hoped, or the bag never gets opened?

What about the money you spend buying duplicates of items you know you already own but are unable to locate?
Or you didn't realize you already had six white shirts so you bought yet another, or shoes that look almost exactly like the pair in the back of the closet you forgot you owned?

Do you end up paying late fees or interest on bills when you have the money in your account you just misplaced the bill
or didn't open the mail or failed to cancel the subscription even though you never read/watch/use the service?

This week try paying a little closer attention to what you are buying with your money.
Is it the life you really want to be living?
Make conscious choices.  

Break down.

Some times even just clearing off the dining room table seems a daunting task.
Or trying to bring some order to a book case or closet.
Much less deciding to clear out and organize the garage.

May I suggest  a break down?
No.
No.
Not one involving tears or hiding under the bed or sobbing in a corner.

Break down; as in divide and conquer.
As in just do one shelf, or work for ten minutes,
or five songs on your play list.

Just taking a few little bites of the problem,
not having to swallow the entire thing at one sitting.

People often under estimate:  Oh, I can whip through this room in an hour.
Or over estimate:  This will take three days and I'll still never be finished.
(Insert heavy sigh.....)

Remember this clutter didn't just appear in one hour,
the disorganization didn't happen while you were sleeping, and
the fairies didn't pile things up when you were running errands.

Setting aside a few minutes at a time, staying on task during that time,
and continuing to work in the area on a consistent basis will produce results.

Commit to fifteen minutes a day and deal with one area that's bugging you.
You will see a difference.
Spend a little bit of time now to create a difference that you will benefit from
every day.

Simple and inexpensive solutions.

There are several common organizing problems 

that can easily be solved for under $15.
Display kid's art work with an Easy Change Artwork Frame.
Get the piles off your desk, but still keep folders handy and accessible with a vertical file holder.
Use ice cube trays (yes, you're old enough to remember them) to hold jewelry.
Repurpose an abandoned cd rack to hold the lids for your plastic containers.

You know what a fan I am of clear over the door shoe organizers.
Take advantage of the unused vertical space on the back of doors throughout your home.
  Use them to hold craft supplies, cleaning products, small boxes/cans/packets in the pantry,
    office supplies, kids toys, garden tools and seed packets, first aid supplies, make one into your
    vertical junk drawer, and of course, use it to store shoes!

Organization doesn't have to be expensive.
Simple, easy to use solutions usually work the best.
Small changes can make a big difference is how your home looks, feels and functions.
Make choices that create solutions.

Act now. Space is limited.

There's a limited amount of room in your closet,
under the bathroom sink,
in the kitchen cabinets,
on the pantry shelves,
in the file drawer.

Act now.
Choose an area that's bugging you.
  Remove everything from the space.
  Set aside the things that belong somewhere else in your home.
  Donate, recycle or toss the obvious.
  Sort like with like.

Then step away from the space for a moment or two.
Take a breath.

Decide which items deserve the prime real estate.
 What do you need access to most frequently?
 Put those items front and center.
Arrange the rest of the keepers in a way that makes sense to you.

Leave some breathing room.
  An empty shelf.  Space in the drawer.  A gap on the closet rod.

Space in your house really is limited.
Make sure that what you're keeping fits, has value to you,
and helps support the life you really want to live.

Choose less to have more.....

What you value.

Secret of Adulthood:
Focus Not on Doing Less, or Doing More, but on Doing What You Value.   Gretchen Rubin

How we spend our time and our money reflects who and what we value in our lives.

Look at your house, your schedule, your commitments, and how you feel at the end of a day.
Your results reflect your priorities.

By making conscious choices in what we purchase,
what hobbies and activities we engage in,
and who gets our love and attention;
our lives will be less cluttered (physically, mentally and emotionally)
and more heartfelt.

You get to choose.

Identify the problem.

Crammed closet.
Piles on the desk.
Cluttered kitchen counters.
Chaos under the bathroom sink.

Those aren't the real problems, those are the results of  problems.

The problem with the closet is too many clothes that don't fit,
are out of season or out of style, and a lack of organization.

The problem with the messy desk is no system for dealing with the mail,
piling instead of filing and random office items taking up valuable space.

The problem in the kitchen is no room in the pantry so things get left out,
dirty dishes that didn't make it into the dishwasher, papers, books and household items
that were never properly put away.

The problem under the sink is it's a wide deep cabinet,
too many multipacks and back up supplies, forgotten or never used
products or grooming aids.

Most problems are the result of:
Items not having a proper home.
No system or routine for dealing with things.
Trying to put too many things in too small of a space.

Once you see past the mess and understand what's causing the problem
solutions will become obvious and easy to implement.

Sort the closet.
  Purge what you don't wear, don't like, doesn't fit.
  Arrange like with like.

Deal with the mail on a regular basis.

Set up the pantry so you can see what you have;
  eat what's in there and buy supplies on an as needed basis.
Don't just set dirty dishes on the counter.
  Put them into the dishwasher.

Buy a small stacking shelf or drawer unit for bathroom cabinet
  and take advantage of the vertical space.
Store one back up product down there, not a multi pack's worth.
Let go of the hair dryer, curling iron, pedicure set you don't use.

Most solutions aren't complicated.