New Year's... and a new year.

I think that resolutions should be made on some random Tuesday in May. It seems like they are more viable than those that are made in the midst of holiday overeating, charged up credit cards and snowed-out exercise plans. Thinking about retooling my life each year stirs up feelings of failure, not dreams of relief.

So what do I do?

I make a promise to be gentle to myself. My natural tendency is the work myself to death. I guess that comes from my Pennsylvania Dutch (German) background. It is actually a true exercise of all my skills to do nothing.

So what does it mean to be gentle to myself?
Finding a pace that keeps me happy, engaged, and moving forward in my life.

Most of what we resolve has to do with "problems" in our pace of living . So why not do what all good doctors do - treat the root issue and NOT simply mask the symptoms.

How will you change your pace this year? What would it mean to be gentle to yourself?
Why not try it today.

Making Good Choices

The new PC ways we talk to kids really get under my skin sometimes. I am guilty of it - I know but some are way more out of control that I am.

I am known to call after McKenzie to "be a good friend" as she is heading onto the crowded bus in the morning. ... the the one that really gets me is "make good choices". When parents and teachers say that I want to scccreeeaaaaaammmm.

The truth remains. We all need to be reminded to make good choices. Most of our clutter desks, dirty dishes, unpaid bills and lapsed commitments are a direct result of NOT making good choices. The very nature of choice-making means that something is a "yes" and another thing is a "no". This is not easy for most of us. What you say "yes" or "no" to this week that will make a difference is your living? Start now - make that good choice today.

Putting it where it is used the most

I should really follow my own advice. If I had a penny for each of the times I have said "put this where you are really going to use it", I would be typing this from a remote location off the coast of somewhere lovely, sunny and tropical.

This morning was my day to follow my own advice. Normally I keep the vitamins in the hall closet to store them out of view. ...But guess what happens?! I never take them because I forget. This is also true of my prayer life. All my "tools" are out of sight it in my home office. Guess what also happens?! My prayer life has been almost nonexistent. (UGH!)

This was the day for change.
I have placed a basket on top of the upstairs toilet with all my vitamins and a few morning devotional books placed inside. Now it will be in view and used.

It is good to follow the advice you offer to others. It keeps you honest.

Good advice for us all...

I am sitting at my computer... well, I am actually sitting at the computer in my local library since my wireless is "less-than-wireless" at the current moment. The task at hand is to finish an action plan for a client needing to recapture her living spaces. As I outline the steps of what she should do, I remember the tears shed during the in-home consultation.

The opening advice I offered before the actual steps were listed is this:

Honor the fact that this is hard work to let go of things.
Be generous with yourself.
*Remember that it is possible to honor feelings and memories without keeping the stuff.*

I hope this is a helpful starting place for you too.
What is stored away in your space that can really be let go of today?

My favorite things...

Have you ever heard anything that made you laugh out loud without being able to catch yourself? The backseat of my minivan is either filled with kids or filled with client donation drop offs. The other day a neighborhood child was sitting in the back talking about her favorite things.

Raindrops on roses?
and whiskers on kittens?
Those might be Maria's favorite things from the Sound of Music
but for this little girl, her favorite things were -

Unicorns
Cocker Spaniels
...and pickles.

Something about that grouping made me laugh and laugh. Then it started me thinking... what random collection of things do I love? How about you... what do you love?

Consult the Magic Eight Ball

I have been working a lot these past few weeks. It is apparent in the way my calendar is a sea of scribbles. It is apparent in the fact that I am going to do seven loads of laundry today... but it is most apparent in the face of my eight-year old daughter McKenzie.

Last night I worked into the evening with a woman who was expecting a short notice visit from her mother. I didn't get into the achieveorder mobile until after 7pm and then I headed home to my family. I wasn't out of the car before I heard the voices of my girls shouting "Mama, mama, MAMA!" It is a very good thing that I have a great husband who can do the "Mr.Mom" thing quite well. (Without him I would be much less than I am.)

This morning McKenzie consulted the advice of her friend Eva's Magic Eight Ball. I overheard them talking at the front door waiting for the bus .... " Will my mom stop working soon and just stay home with me?" (UGH! My heart.) Much to McKenzie's delight, the ball advised "most certainly true". There is truth in wisdom of Eva's Eight Ball. The challenge for me is to do what I enjoy (organizing) without it taking over and bumping out what I REALLY love (my family).

I am sure some of you have been there.

Circle of Ladies

I had the delightful opportunity to be in a circle of ladies the other night for a discussion group. I was asked to be there to talk about Spring organizing but I wanted to try something new. They were invited to bring their junk drawers along as an interactive story sharing experience. The talking point - what is in your junk drawer... and tell a story about it.

You never know that will happen when you open the time to free-flow sharing. The chemistry of some groups allow of deep sharing while others... don't...

What an honor it was to be with a group who could share... on many levels. Stories of people, places and events peppered the conversation. The junk made us laugh and even made us sit silently in the presence of tears.

What is in your junk drawer... who/what/when comes to mind...?