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January 2007
There
is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to hold on and a
time to let go.
--Eccl. 3:1, 6
The
National Association of Professional Organizers has enlisted January as
the official “Get Organized Month.” It is no surprise considering for
many of us, January is a new beginning. A time to break old habits and
correct mistakes made in times past. Many families start to realize their
clutter problems or lack of organization as they start to put away all the
new presents received at Christmas or as they try to pack away the
decorations. Ecclesiastes 3:1-6 is always a good scripture reference for
me during this time of year, “There is a time for everything and a season
for every activity under heaven: A time to search and a time to give up
as lost; a time to hold on and a time to let go.” Those last five words
tend to resonate the most with me…”a time to let go.” Oh, how I need to
let go of some things. Having a plethora of Christmas decorations that I
inherited from my mother-in-law and those I have accumulated with 12 years
of marriage, I easily can understand why the season of “letting go” has
been thrusted upon me. The irony of it all is that I am a professional
organizer and yet I still struggle with the same emotional ties to objects
just like the clients I try to liberate. What I have learned though this
year, is that it is possible to have “too much of a good thing” and
that many of those objects don’t draw me closer to the Lord. I also
learned that there is great relief in passing on useful items to charities
like Goodwill, The Salvation Army and my local woman’s shelter. Another
benefit is the life long lessons I am teaching my children. They are
learning that the things most important are the things that are sometimes
intangible; i.e. the love of a family, memories of cookies in the oven,
mountain trips with our best friends and snuggling on the couch. So, this
year is a new beginning for me too and the year I’m taking another step
closer to God. His love is boundless, plentiful, and everlasting. His
arms are open wide for us to crawl up in when hardship comes. And, He is
all we ever need to find true joy and a fulfilled life. So, if you like
millions of other families are ready to tackle the clutter in the garage,
attic or kitchen cabinets, I applaud you! This is the season to
start new!
Here are a few tips to get you started…
1 –
Get in the right state of mind. Take a moment to pray about the task
ahead and that you would have a discerning eye and heart.
2 –
Enlist some help! Even the smallest family members can be a blessing.
Play some uplifting music and be happy!
3 –
Grab some trash bags and a few extra boxes/containers. Label the
following: KEEP, TOSS, DONATE.
4 –
It’s time to start! Tackle one area at a time and place objects in their
respective boxes. Don’t place to much thought on one item. Make a quick
decision and move on to the next task. Remember, if an item was that
important it would not be buried in the cabinet or found at the bottom of
the shelf.
5 –
Once you have sorted all items, remember to take a rag and/or broom and
clean out the new space. This is a great time to make necessary repairs
or add a fresh coat of paint.
6 –
Carefully place those KEEP items back in their respective homes. Take the
DONATE items to your local charity and TOSS those broken or unusable items
in the trash.
7 –
Whew! You’re all done! Take a moment to relish in a job well done!
**Remember this tip going forward…if you bring something in, take
something out! |
