LIGHTENING YOUR LIFE--SMALL STEPS FOR BIG CHANGE AND DOUBTING YOURSELF

Lightening your life---when the panic sets in and it will.

Even though I have been thinking about donating the majority of my possessions for quite some time and looking forward to the euphoria when I load my car (still hoping it all fits) with what I have deemed as important and needed in my life---I am now panicked with some anxiety mixed in. 

I have scheduled another pick-up, with the charitable organization I have been donating to, so I can get a better idea of what is left.(I am 1 week out to the final pick-up)  I was also hoping it would let me feel free-er but I am now in panic mode.  My home office is going, this time, (desk, shelves, file cabinet….) and more than half my closet and some furniture pieces I have had all my life or most of it (I lovingly wrapped them in blankets and twine).  

Since most of this has been packed up for at least a few weeks to over a month—I know it is right to donate them but this doubt is a surprise to me.  I just want you to know it is OK to feel this way too and to give you ‘addaboys’ for doing it.   

If it isn’t serving you and it is taking time to care for it and taking up space---you made the right decision to let it go to a place where it can be used and service someone else.

This link offers short stories that you may see yourself in and what to do now: http://www.oprah.com/home/Declutter-Tips-Organizing-Strategies

WHERE TO DONATE AND LIGHTENING YOUR HOME OFFICE(what paperwork to keep)

Perhaps moving is not something to consider for everyone.  You may like where you live; which is great and I am jealous.  So, lightening anyone’s life can start with our material goods.  

Knowing that I am moving has given me the chance to really lighten my load by donating most of my possessions to a charitable effort. (I choose charitable causes that do projects to fund themselves and provide practical programs for those they service) I have already had the first pick-up of collectibles and antiques that can easily provide funding by selling on-line and in their thrift stores. I am really looking forward to the end of the month for so much more to be donated (furniture especially).

Since I am leaving my work of many years - with a great firm that required extensive travel; I am in interview mode and I do not know where I will be.  It’s amazing how few things we need on a daily basis. In saying that, I thought I had been doing well, over the last decade, going from having a large 4 bedroom home for myself and a dog; 4 closets packed with clothing and an attic full of holiday décor enough to decorate a department store, multiple sets of china and much more to now be in a small apartment.  

To get started lightening your life, your home office may be an easier area to get through…..any charitable organization has an office and can use office equipment and materials-so my desk, shelves, file cabinet and various organizational tools and trays will go.  I am down to one and a half boxes for my next home office.    To help, choose to keep items of your favorite color or what costs most to replace; to be rid of a metal bulky file cabinet, I’ll fit all my files into just 2 plastic hand-held carriers. 

The next part has taken me many days but this link lists what paperwork needs to be kept in your files: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Money/Personal-Finance/Managing-Household-Records.shtml  I literally had 6 huge bags of shredded paper in this most recent round of shredding.

LIGHTENING YOUR LIFE THROUGH ORGANIZATION

I should have disclosed from the beginning that I enjoy organizing. (The closet(s) is my favorite)  But moving to a new place with no real connections or job and not knowing, really, what I need to bring in my car---is making this kind of organizing a bit daunting.  I am really lightening my life.

Furniture and big items are easy to know if they are useful; for items with personal connection I am taking photos like the bookshelf my dad built before I was born and the black decorative chest from my aunt.  As the Minimalists (http://www.theminimalists.com/) say, “the item is not the person”.  http://www.theminimalists.com/sentimental/

I know there are many ‘specialists’ out there that have many systems about how to organize and what to organize with and the steps to use.  My process is simple and direct.  

1.            Is the item useful? On a daily basis, weekly, etc.? Making choices on usefulness is at the top   

               of importance to consider.

2.            How much time does it take to care for something?

3.            Is there room available to store the item(s)?

4.            Is the item even something I like? (All our tastes change in time.)

5.            Is there a better version available?

Answering any or all of these questions will move you forward in lightening your life.