Spring Cleaning

Imagine a house someone has lived for his entire life. People keep piles of things that add up year after year. Containers full of old paper, broken toys, and outgrown clothes are left somewhere. The majority of us shove things into boxes but do not know what’s inside.

Knowing me, Knowing you

The same thing goes with values, emotions, and priorities. These aren’t worth keeping unless we use them well. If they make us feel better, stronger and happier then, then it is worth saving. Otherwise, no.

Reviewing my priorities, selecting the memories to keep, and the ones to trash have been a frequent learning process, almost like a rebirth.

Many years in my life have been haunted with non-sense fears, unsettled expectations, and irrelevant past mistakes. Well, none of these do me any good.

Isn’t it interesting how we get attached to things that are not healthy? For example, my professional goals and priorities, which made a lot of sense before, are over-rated now. I am a different person who has been learning to appreciate new things in life. Why not leave the old ambitions in the past?

My New Wardrobe

In the past couple of years, there has been a trend to move to a ‘capsule wardrobe’. Smaller spaces forced people to live simpler and go back to basics. So, if it’s healthy to be smarter in regards to what to buy and what to keep, why not do the same with our emotions?

One of the most challenging exercises I have done was refocus my attention to my beloved ones and my health.

Letting go of ‘the nice girl’ who seeks to please everyone has been a great stretch to my psyche, besides testing my self-esteem. ‘What if they don’t like me anymore, because I said no?’ I repeatedly think.

Never underestimate real friendships. We need to sow love and care to be able to harvest trust and affection. And if people don’t understand, you may want to look for new friends

La Vie En Rose

I started thinking on the following items when simplifying my soul closet:

• What are my worries and fears? Do I have control over them? If not, why keep them?
• Who are the people around me? Do they make me feel happy and care about me? If not, why hang out with them?
• How do I use my free time? Do they make me healthier, wiser or happier? If not, why don’t I drop it?

My suggestion this week (and a constant reminder for me), is to be smart with the gift of time. A good day has to be labeled as a great day! Happy memories are vitamins for your being, and should be taken daily!

Don’t wait until you don’t have enough space inside your life to start reorganizing. Be kind to yourself, and go for your self-spring cleaning.

Yours truly,

Hope

“The really happy man is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.” Anonymous