TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE & KEEPS MARCHING ON.

Hi Guys,

Just thought I should write something so you know that I have not gone completely AWOL. 

There have been no posts since January, with none in February due to my studies, which have proven to be more difficult than I expected and time consuming with all the research, reading and creating of charts/graphs and so on.  Am at the tail end of this course now and should be able to get some sort of employment as a Trainer & Assessor in one of my fields of expertise.  Clutter not being one of them!  I jest. 

I have found myself constantly juggling and feel it is now timely to look at my list of 'to dos' and see if I need to shift my priorities around.

Being that my time has been devoted much to study in recent months, all else has fallen by the way side as it had to.  I will pick up the baton once more in the next few weeks and have already mapped out what I plan to first achieve.  Bit by bit I am getting to that other end.

The difference this time is I am putting myself at the top of the pile of priority.

This time round, being that nothing has been done has not upset me as much.  Reason being is I know I will do more as I have now created a mindset and habit to do so.  I don't like it, but am dealing with these stop starts far better than before.  I am now more focused on the positive side of this venture.  Far more appealing and helpful.

Now looking back I realise it is more about getting into the habit of doing the decluttering or whatever it is that needs to be done that is important.

I have seen a lot of other clutter sites and facebook pages with helpful hints and guidance.  Whatever works for you if you happen to have the issue of clutter then that is what you should do.  Not one will fit all sizes.  We are all different and ergo so will be the solution.

I have reached a point where my health and energy have become the issue above the clutter now as without it, the energy that is, you cannot do the job at hand, especially when it is massive.  When the time comes and I have completed all my work for this certificate, I will have to work on my health first to regain energy in order to clear what is now left of the clutter.

I have worked on so many demons over the years and conquered them all finally, however, exercise is one of  the last things I have to work on and as yet to have any success with.  I lack the motivation and have lost my drive and spark to get going.  But I must.  I know I must.  I have strategised that after waking my son for his last year in school I will then go for a walk.  Even if it is just to the corner and back and do this each day and do one house further each day after that or every second day till it seeps into my brain and soul that this is now a habit forever.  It really is about habit forming.  I am so out of practise that inertia wins all the time now.  My mind will just have to get stronger than my inertia.

My theory is with more energy the faster I can deal with what clutter is left.  This is the year to do it.  Why this year and not others you may ask.  Simple really, my daughter got engaged to a most wonderful guy.  The date is set for next year. 

There is no way I want wedding photos of me in such a state that will be viewed by future generations where they see my beautiful daughter and then me.  This alone seems to have at least got me thinking about this.  So I have a year.  Not too shabby.  I will keep it simple and have to go to all the medical people to ensure I don't do myself further harm.  After the slip in the kitchen at the course I am finishing I am finding I am having problems with my knees being that I fell on them onto a hard surface.  Such is life and nothing has ever come easy so why expect it to be easy now.

I may sound glum, but I am trying to gear up my mindset toward positivity and a sense of 'can do'.  I just cannot allow myself to fail.  It just is not an option.

You will see, read and hear people say that clutter weighs them down and thwarts life from progressing by holding you back or that it is a blanket covering for other emotional issues.  In my case, it wasn't that plain and simple.  How I got here has been a roller coaster ride and not fun at all, but I had no choice as my priority was to look after my children, one being very ill and my ailing Mum and work with little left in my tank to do anything about anything else.  The road here has been filled with many a pot hole, hazard signs, pitfalls and diversions to nowhere to only get back on that road to find nothing has been repaired.  Daunting to say the least.  I can do little about the road, but I can now focus finally on 'me' regardless of all the other commitments still remain to be done.  I have finally gone up the totem pole of priority. 

This is my year to start on me with next year to be a blast.

I have seen a few places with declutter hints that are helpful or useful with many of us saying similar things as to how to be able to let go.  Such as taking a photo and so on. 

I will share some of these as I go as the more we discuss this word openly the less stigma will be attached to it.  I was chuffed to see that this blog has been recommended as being helpful to 'hoarders'.  This was my aim.  My aim was also to take the shame away that many feel when they find themselves spiralling down by a course of events, usually in quick succession, to find themselves in the 'land of far too much' ill equipped to deal with it and due to the shame it then just gets worse.  If the stigma and judgement was not there, many would seek help way before it became a problem and easier to handle.   But being they feel or perceive to be judged the usual is to bury the problem which then becomes harder to handle and deal with.

We are all people who feel.  Any one can end up this way.  All it takes is for a set of domino events to take place in quick succession and then 'vamo', before you know it you are knee deep in clutter and for some that could even be chin deep. 

You look around, feel overwhelmed and wonder 'how did I get here'!

All is not lost.  Many out there are doing their best to assist.  Once we, ourselves, are ready to address the issue as there can be emotional issues attached as to why it happened in the first place, such as grief from losing a loved one that sends one into what feels like eternal suffering, we do find ourselves one day that we just cannot avoid the living any longer.  Our eyes begin to see.  We notice that we cannot move about within the living space so easily like before.  Once that glimmer of recognition happens the journey begins.  We must allow for the initial grieving process to take place first, otherwise, the problem will only get replayed some time in the future.

One site that I saw with interest was called 'Declutter with Dawn'.  I will share part of her post as it really had that positive spin about clutter.

This was the photo that I liked the most .....

With this following it.....

Declutter my desk so I can create.

Declutter our home so it’s peaceful and functional.

Declutter our schedule so there is more family time.

Declutter our budget so we can reach our financial goals.

Declutter our diet so we can be healthier and more energetic.

Declutter my mind so my thoughts don’t dictate my mood.

Declutter–that’s MY word and I’m sticking to it.

I found this to be a simple way to think about a massive issue to some.  It may be only one area of your life that is affected.  It is easy for clutter to infiltrate from one area over to another, which it did with mine and working through one area at a time. 

What I like most about 'Declutter with Dawn' is that the affirmation states the task and what you will get in return.  Just beautiful in its simplicity. 

You can find DwD on facebook or via the website http://www.declutterwithdawn.com.au/.

This last weekend I have had to rescue my neighbour who took a tumble in her kitchen and has broken both her wrists and at 88 this means months of recovery.  I have taken on the mantle of being her advocate and looking after her place being that she lives across the road.  This is what good neighbours do for one another.  We take care of each other.  Will fill you all in on her recovery next time round.

 In the meantime, not much more to add at this moment until I get qualified.

Ciao for now
ANITA who is still on her quest to refind her hutzpah!