Consumption
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Are you ready to tidy up your diet?
Are you ready to tidy up your diet? I certainly was. And yet… Are you ready to give up cheese? She asked. Who me? Give up cheese. You’ve got to be kidding. Doesn’t she realize I’m a born and bred Wisconsin girl, the meat and dairy state? Cheese is like my lifeblood, a way of life; it was in almost everything I ate. Surely she was kidding. Hadn’t I already given up so many other things? I no longer ate gluten, drank milk, or ate ice cream or corn. I even gave up two of my favorite foods – bread and crackers. Two items I thought I’d never give up.…
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It always looks worse before it gets better
Wreak Havoc Wednesday! Why did I name Wednesday “wreak havoc”? Because we genuinely don’t realize when we begin to declutter that it always looks worse before it gets better. I know that can be discouraging, overwhelming, and maybe a show-stopper. It does help to remind yourself before you begin that, in most instances, it does look worse before it gets better. However, it will get better if you keep going! I hope you enjoy my wreak havoc story as I share my husband’s and my journey with wreaking havoc before it got better! You might be entertained by what my husband calls his “hell box.” I share what it is about halfway through the video. Just so you…
- Cherished Items, Consumption, Decluttering, Letting go, Musings, Simplifying, Storage Space, Tidying
Where’s your pile of negativity?
Where’s your pile of negativity? Let’s talk basements and attics. Not that everyone has them. However, for those of you who do, have you considered the tremendous negative energy that smolders below and hangs heavily above? Your basements are full of who knows what, and your attics are full of even more. Most of it you’ve kept for years, if not decades. For those who don’t have a basement or attic, this applies to you too! Aw shucks! Did you think I would only stick to what is under or above you in your home? You’ve got piles of negativity too. Only yours are hidden away in inventive places or…
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Is there a connection between diet, health, & clutter?
Did you know there is a connection between your diet, your health, and your clutter? Most folks think of one thing, and one thing only, when I say the word clutter. They think of their stuff. All their piles, jammed up closets, chock-full garages, unfiled papers, and excess stuff! Their minds and emotions swirl when just the word “clutter” is uttered. Up comes every emotion possible, from guilt, shame, overwhelm, and anger to denial, justification, excuses, and protestation. Sometimes those emotions motivate us to clean it up and clear it out. Most times, it shuts us down, and we avoid it. We tell ourselves we’ll do it another day. Or that it’s not that bad,…
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You can’t take it with you
You can’t take it with you … Then, why do I have so much stuff? You can’t take it with you! Something my dad said and lived by — his voice still clearly resonates in my head to this day. He’s now been gone almost 15 years and his wisdom and practical guidance and still so useful to a world that has forgotten this principle. He was a giving man, one who believed he had plenty in life, even though he was not a high-income earner — at least based on today’s standards. He gave generously, to his family when he saw there was a need or even a desire. He didn’t just say…
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What can you easily live without?
What can you easily live without? Over the years, as I began to minimize the amount of stuff we had in our home, to live a more simple life with less, I would often ask this question of myself … what could I live without? I started to notice what I bought that I no longer needed, used or wanted? I wondered … Was there a reason I continued to buy this stuff? Was it because everyone else had one? Was it advertising and marketing that made me think my life would better with that thing? Did I think it would make me happier, more fulfilled and fit in better? And, what about other obligations in…
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What if you were more intentional in your consumption?
Have you ever considered shifting from consumerism to intentional consumption? A compelling and life altering question I asked of my From Clutter to Tidy group, which you too, may wish to ask yourself. It seemed a straight forward question, one that resonated for me. Simple. Not complicated. Easy to comprehend. Yet, the responses surprised me. Many in the group were confused about the term intentional consumption and were unclear as to what would be considered consumption that is intentional. What did I mean by it, and what would qualify as such. I was glad they asked for clarification since there is a vast distinction between consumerism, as we have been living it since the…