Simplifying
-
Spring is here! Does that mean it’s time to declutter?
Spring is here! Does that mean it’s time to declutter? And, ready or not, along with the spring season, comes the expectation and tradition to spring clean. Many of us are more than ready after the long months of winter. Our homes have been closed up for far too long and now feel stagnant and airless. The long-awaited time has arrived when we can open the windows and doors of our homes, let in the fresh air and sunshine of springtime, and sweep out the dustiness of winter. The outside world is alive with the richness of spring. The flowers and trees are in blossom, and the warming tendrils of…
-
Are you getting sucked in?
Where are you getting sucked in? I want pizza. Two minutes ago, I wasn’t even thinking about pizza, yet now I want it. I desperately must have it. I can taste it—my mouth waters. The deliciousness of it is so real. The thick crust, oozy melting cheese, and the chewy juicy meat on top. Oh, especially pepperoni! Is it too late to have pizza? What time is it? Can I still get pizza? Where will I get it? Do I have the makings of it in my kitchen? I must have it now! But wait, my reasonable, rational side of me argues back! You don’t eat pizza anymore. Remember, you…
-
It takes courage – and big deep breaths!
It takes courage … and a big deep breath! The mountain seemed massive and steep. The summit, the peak I wished to reach, was far off in the distance. There were no switchbacks to make the climb easier. It appeared to be an endless uphill climb. I hadn’t prepared or trained for this climb, let alone be able to reach the ultimate peak—the peak I truly wanted to reach. It made me sweaty, gasping for breath with my heart pounding a mile a minute. I almost gave up before I began. Who was I kidding? But then I reminded myself I’ve done this before and made it to the top.…
-
Is it time to come out of hiding?
Come out of hiding Tuesday! What did I do over the weekend? I let go of and donated my old life. Say what? Yes! The old Joan who hasn’t lived that life for years, decades even. Where was she hidden? In the back of a closet, a deep closet, hidden in the dark, out of the way. An old life that no longer existed. The life I lived well. In the dark, hidden were business suits, the outfit I wore to my daughter’s wedding, my college graduation gown from 1985, and a fancy cocktail dress. Three suits I couldn’t bear to part with … Expensive, beautifully tailored suits. Classic. Oh, they were…
- Cherished Items, Decluttering, Journey, Letting go, Musings, Simplifying, Storage Space, Tidying, Triggers
Are you frozen in overwhelm?
Are you frozen in overwhelm? Oh no! You’ve got to be kidding. Another box? How is it possible there’s yet another box? I thought I’d handled all of them, yet there it was on the shelf. A shelf that usually doesn’t store this sort of thing. How did it end up there? It must have gotten shoved in whatever open space was available just to get it out of the way – not to mention out of mind. In this case, it had been out of my mind for two years! What box is this for which I refer? A “hidden” box that went unnoticed and forgotten since my Mom…
-
Are you still clinging to the old?
Is it time to unclench those fists and let go? Aren’t your hands tired by now? Isn’t it exhausting to hold on so tightly? Maintaining and holding onto stuff or a way of life that no longer serves you is exhausting. So is keeping up the façade and pretending you still need that thing, relationship, or the piles of memories you’ve accumulated. I’ve noticed how much stuff I had hung onto and no longer needed or wanted. So, slowly over the last few years, I have let go of things that no longer fit my lifestyle or were past their usefulness. Things I never thought I would release from my life. It got me thinking back…
-
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…
-
Never say never because you never know!
Never say never! Because maybe, just maybe, you’ll let it go after all. (Short video for this day, TIDY UP TUESDAY – 2:30min) Do you want to see the dresser I’m referring to in this video? (Click here and read on — Is your clutter hidden?)
- Change, Cherished Items, Decluttering, Journey, Letting go, Musings, Self-Care, Simplifying, Tidying, Triggers
Do you display or use your keepsakes?
Do you display or use your keepsakes? I have a beautiful keepsake that I cherish and have kept. It is one of the few meaningful things I intentionally have hung onto. Having curated and let go of so many other keepsake items over the years. This cherished keepsake is a voicemail message from my Mom singing Happy Birthday to You. Less than a month later, in October 2020, she passed away. Her voice was rough and scratchy as she sang, yet it was music to my ears, especially now that she’s gone. I listened to that beautiful message on my birthday in 2021 and will do so again this year.…
-
Why do we insist on making life complicated?
Ever wonder why we prefer complicated to simple? Crazy, isn’t it that given the option of simple or complex, we pick the more complicated option. If it’s too simple, we believe it’ll never work, and we end up favoring the complex. We give undue credence to complex concepts versus simple ones. I have seen this in action over the years in my money counseling practice as I’ve counseled individuals, couples, and business owners in simple ways to tidy up and manage their money. I have helped thousands of people unpack and make simple how they manage their funds. Yet, as soon as it becomes simpler, never fail; they find a…