I think I'm ready. And I'm not just talking about writing here. I'm talking about the wholeness of your life. This is the perfect time of year to donate, have a garage sale, or trash the stuff that's adding stress to your life.
Stress isn't worth it, people. The medical community has proven the point time and time again. Many, many years ago, I learned that if I can't change the outcome of something then why worry about it. Why worry about the outcome when agent/editor who has your manuscript? If you've done your job, then it's the best it can be. If it gets rejected then it simply wasn't for them at this time. What's done is done. Don't dwell on the past, all it does is give you ulcers and wrinkles (and I have enough of these, thank you very much!).
If you tend to gather 'stuff' over the years, then declutter. And yes, I'm as guilty as the next person of storing 'stuff' in closets and not getting rid of it! If you're thinking about moving because you don't have enough space in your house, then get rid of stuff!
If you have kids and their 'stuff' breeds more stuff. Have a day(s) to thin out their closets, drawers, toys, and games. Donate or trash. Does your kid really need all those McDonalds toys? I don't think so--Okay, she can keep the cute little animals (I have a few bunnies stashed in my desk drawer, too!)
Go through your own closets and drawers. Yes, I know you want to get into that pair of pants, shirt, or dress that you wore when you were 20 pounds lighter, but REALLY?? Styles change. It's time to let go. I know, I know, I'm as guilty as the next person, but you can get rid of some of the junk. Trust me, it's easier once you get started.
If you--like so many others in this economy--are having financial issues, don't just worry about it, ACTIVELY TRY TO ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION. Do you really need cable? Granted, you might need it for the Internet connectivity for job searches, eBay, etc.--you can go to the nearest McDonalds for that if you have a laptop--but do you really need all the premium channels? I doubt it. I don't remember the last time I actually watched a movie on HBO. Cut the extraneous.
--take all the stuff you've decluttered and sell it in a garage sale.---use the extra cash to pay for the next week's groceries, or bills. DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY MORE STUFF!
--don't plan to 're-gift' Christmas presents. It adds to the clutter you're trying to get rid of! Send the giver a nice thank you note and then sell the item. If it's a family 'heirloom', find a nice, safe spot up on the attic.
If you want to write a story, a book, or simply keep a log of your family recipes, then QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAKE SOME TIME TO DO IT! (sorry, Nike!)
Do you realize that buying healthy is ACTUALLY cheaper than buying processed and prepackaged food? Buy more fruits and veggies. There's a reason to buy the food that's in season. One, it's cheaper AND two, it isn't imported. Yes, I know you have that craving for cherries in the middle of winter, but they're grown in Chile and imported, adding to the cost. An apple is just as good. Your body will thank you along with your bank account.
I'm sure I could come up with more 'gems of wisdom', but it's time to let the dog back in.
Later, Peeps!
Oh boy, have you been reading my mail. My daughter and I were just talking about this very same thing. We've decided in the Spring, we'll have the biggest garage sale ever.
ReplyDeleteI love the advice - don't worry about things you have no control over. Better yet - don't sweat the small stuff...there is no big stuff!!
Hopefully, you'll encourage me again, come Spring. Thanks for the wake-up call, Margaret, and Happy New Year.
As much as I'd love to have a garage sale, I simply don't want to invest the time and energy to sorting, tagging, and manning the sale. So I take everything to my church thrift store. Easier for me. Maybe helpful for someone else.
ReplyDeleteI have a closet full of clothes that need to go. Most of them are winter clothes and since I never seem to be around to take them to the thrift store at the right time, they just hand there.
Cable - living in a larger town as you do, you can't imagine there being no way to get a tv signal with an antenna. Without cable (or for us...direcTv), we'd basically have no television at all...not that I'm saying that's a bad thing. We did dump HBO, STARZ, SHO, etc. We found we didn't really watch it that much, plus for less money, we could see almost anything we wanted movie-wise on NetFlix.
But in seriousness, Hubs and I have been simplifying our lives for years. Downsizing our homes. Getting rid of stuff we don't need or use. What I have learned is if you don't have something, you'll figure a way to do without it.
I don't like spring cleaning in the spring, because I'm outside taking care of the yard--spring cleaning out there!
ReplyDeleteI like cleaning up after Christmas, Liz, because once we get all the Christmas stuff packed away we have to do something with the kidlet's crap--her birthday is in November and then the tons of Christmas stuff. I still have to tackle her bookselves, the rest of my clothes, hubby's clothes, and the 'electronic' closet (hubby's turf).
We still have many more closets and the attic to go through, Cyndi. My MIL gave us tons of stuff over the years that I don't use: dehydrator, bread maker, ice cream maker (well, we use that one every now and then). I firmly believe in this age of techonology it's best to simplify or go crazy!
ReplyDeleteIf I ever make it down your way--I'll help you clear your closet! :-) since I don't have any attachment to your clothes, it will be easier for me to get rid of them for you.!
Margaret, why do you have to make so much sense? I find I can't work in clutter? Drives me nuts, I lose focus. Still, it happens. I admire those people who have everything in its place. I want to be them when I grow up! Great post.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Virgo, Donnell--that should explain A LOT! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have an office to write in, BUT I know I'd let the clutter grow. Since my desk is in the kitchen, the hubster gives me hell if I have too many TBR books in a pile or too many dragons, gnomes or 'stuff'. So I keep it contained.
Living in a single room is sort of a self-correcting answer to clutter as well. It's NOT easy to keep it clean, as the slight accumulation of stuff or pile of things out of place makes it look messy. It's an amazingly well designed small space and has room for more 'stuff' than one might imagine....but frequent purging is necessary so that I continue to have room for ME!
ReplyDeleteI could see that happening, Jody! You could turn into a 'hoarder' simply by not emptying your grocery bags! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Margaret! I don't work in my office because of the mess. I agree with the declutter and will attack a room at a time--started before Christmas! I also believe in donating. Just gotta get the stuff to the thrift store!
ReplyDeleteQuestions about working in the kitchen. Does it leave you with a tendency to eat? I know I'd be constantly getting up to investigate the refrigerator. Also, what about people coming and going. I need silence, hence the Austin Powers poster over my desk which reads. Zip it!!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Meg! I think half the battle with mess is starting. Once you get one drawer/closet/room clean then you want to do another!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the office. I have one small 8-inch area that I keep my folders (query folders, mainly)but it's slowly being taken over by my kidlet's homework that the teacher wants her to keep. I've trashed workshop handouts, contest entries, research notes, etc. because I don't have any use for them. If I haven't looked at it in a year--I never will. And into the trash it goes.
Donnell,
ReplyDeleteI need quiet, too, so I write M-F during the day when hubster and kidlet are gone. I don't write on the weekend--that's family time. Which is why I don't work over holidays either.
Summer is a crapshoot for me. If the kidlet has daycamps then I might write or edit or run errands. When I make my weekly, monthly and yearly goals, I take everything into account.
I do have to constantly deal with the 'grazing' issue. If I'm drinking coffee, tea or just hot water, then I'm okay. But if I want to troll for food then I take myself out of the house for a walk, or a quick errand, etc.
I know when I sign a contract I'll be well aware of my limitations and will take into account what I can and cannot do.