Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Year 2, Day 236: Decluttering

This has been a year of stopping and starting over....and the year is only half over!

The stopping is always discouraging, but the part to focus on is the starting over. Really, that is what the old proverb, "fall down 7 times, get up 8" means....starting over.

I see stopping as failure. I see failure as a bad thing. But maybe it is time to change that perspective.

I've been reading/working through a wonderful book by Peter Walsh, "Lighten Up". I thought it was going to be a strictly "how to clean up your house" book. It is not. Now, Peter Walsh has books out there like that, but he also has books like "Lighten Up" that puts the whole idea of declutter on its head.

"Lighten Up" is about decluttering your finances, which ends up decluttering some of your emotional clutter and your house clutter.

Who knew it was all connected?

Future posts may be less about exercise and more about decluttering because what I have learned is that until I get other aspects of my life under control, I am never going to get my health under control. For me, the stacks of papers I have ignored for years, the piles of pictures and cards that I have left in boxes for years is a symptom of excuses that I have made to myself.

I have learned that when I feel overwhelmed in the slightest I become inactive and when I am inactive nothing gets done so than I feel overwhelmed. Yup, I pretty ugly circle.

Happily, my finances are not cluttered. The majority of my house is clutter free (I can't stand a cluttered and messy kitchen, bathroom or utility room). The children and I have decided to make scrapbooking our art project for the rest of the year (they are so excited!).

And I have decided to tackle my two biggest stressors (my spirituality and my health) with baby steps.

I like that new beginnings can happen any time of the year.

I like that new beginnings can happen multiple times!!!

Happy Walking!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Year 2, Day 232: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 53

1. That our latest house hiccup (pack rats) was discovered while both my husband and father-in-law were here at the house. They discovered the pack rats. They took care of the pack rats. Me? I googled pack rats, read about them and saw how cute they are...yep, pack rats are little bit cute. They just don't get to live in my yard.

2. My husband is continuing to ensure the pack rat problem does not come back by having landscapers clean up the bushes around the yard - every bush will have the lower 2 feet cut away. Pack rats do not like sunlight and they don't like to climb trees (to hard to carry their "treasures"). I am so excited. The landscapers will be here on Tuesday!!!

3. For discovering Peter Walsh. For those who watched Oprah or Rachel Ray, you probably know all about Peter Walsh the decluttering guru. I ran across one of his Facebook posts recently and fell in love. I love to clean, declutter and organize! Too many moves recently has made my home the exact opposite of what I prefer, but I am gobbling up Peter Walsh's decluttering challenges (which you can read here) and reading his books. He has one for decluttering your house, your hips, your head and your finances. Loving them!!!! Love that my home and head are getting decluttered! (Finances are golden and the hips will come next!)

4. K having the opportunity to be in charge of our homeschool groups art activity. She did a great job of coming up with an idea (make caterpillars out of cardboard egg cartons) and executing it. She had one caterpillar to show off and then took the children through each step. The other teenagers jumped right in with setting up, preparing the egg cartons and helping the other children. It was great! The woman in charge of art day has asked K to do it again!

5. For so many things. A husband who loves and supports me. For children who are willing to work hard and jump into activities. For friends who love and support me. For lots of rain and lots of sunshine. I am feeling really blessed today.

Happy Walking!