Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Slow Down
It’s spring; change is in the air. By this time next year we will have a new president; the economy is in, well—let’s just call it flux. The point is: It is a great moment to re-evaluate. In the little micro-economy that is The Perfect Daughter things have slowed down considerably after a very extended busy time. So I’m trying to see what I can simplify. I’m examining my life to see what areas have gotten bloated while my attention was elsewhere.
The toys could use a good going through. I can catch up on my photo albums. Do we really need to hire someone to clean our house? I can cook more and order in less. Slowing down will give me a chance to focus more on my children. Summer is coming, a great time to have time.
As someone said to me once, if you are in perfect balance all the time you are static—not in motion. So I think it’s natural that when we are busy and engaged in life, careers, relationships, things tend accumulate. By things I mean both stuff and habits that need review. But when we have the opportunity to slow down and look at all this abundance, then it is also an opportunity to weed. Are there things to get rid of? Things you bought in a hurry, or out of guilt (toys for a child you think you’ve been neglecting) or a harried attempt at self-nurturance (something trendy and frivolous that you’ll never wear). What activities or habits have become a part of your life that you could rethink? Can you loose the gym-membership and start taking bike rides with your children?
Instead of getting caught up in fear about the economy, try to do a little simplifying. Look at the areas of your life that feel out of balance. Are you spending a disproportionate amount of time or money on an area that isn’t as important to you as it was six months ago? Think of it as a modern version of spring-cleaning, based less on the seasons than on the rhythm of our life. It’s good, when the pace slows down, to take a breath and look around. You’ll notice not only what needs changing, but also what positive growth has occurred: Your business is doing well even when it is slow; your children are growing and becoming independent. There has been creativity within the pandemonium.
Inhale, exhale, and then go get the shopping bag to fill for the Salvation Army.
Craig’s List:
Having finally successfully gotten rid of some stuff on Craig’s List, here are some tips I wish someone had given me:
- A picture is worth a thousand words. Years ago I had a great dining table but no digital picture. I wasted a lot of time and ended up hauling it onto the street and selling it there.
- Set boundaries. If you need the buyer to come at a certain time, convey that clearly. Remember, you are doing them a favor. Make sure they have all your contact info.
- Go with your gut. If someone seems flakey, they probably are.
- Charge something. Even if you want to give something away, my instinct is that often people are suspicious of things that are “free”.