Organizing Quote of the Month

To every thing there is a season, and

a time to every purpose under the heaven. ...

A time to get, and

a time to lose;

a time to keep, and

a time to cast away.

-- Ecclesiastes (King James version)

Organizing Tip of the Month

Organizing involves honoring where we are right now - and sometimes we are just not ready to get rid of things. For example, after a loss (of a person, a relationship, a pet, a job) we are often not prepared to make good decisions about all the possessions related to that person, or that job, or whatever it is we have lost.

If you're in such a situation and sorting through all the stuff, you'll probably find that sometimes the keep/don't keep decisions will be obvious - but other items might have you shaking your head in bewilderment. That's OK; allow yourself some time to be bewildered. Some decisions can easily be deferred, and choosing to defer them would be wise. At some point you'll know you're ready to move on, and the decision-making will be much easier.

And even then you may find some things you just can't quite give up, even if there's no logical reason for holding onto them. I'm still keeping the dress my mother wore to my brother's wedding. I can't tell you why, exactly - I just know I can't part with it, at least for now. And that's fine.

Organizing Product of the Month

For all of us who just aren't the scrapbooking type, a memory box can be a wonderful alternative.

Reuse/Recycling Idea of the Month

Old fur coats cause some angst for many who don't feel comfortable wearing them, but aren't sure just what to do with them. Well, you might send them along to the Humane Society of the United States' Coats for Cubs program. "All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. "

My Articles on Other Web Sites in November

Over on Clutter Control Freak, I have an article entitled Lists Are Your Friends.

Highlights From My Blog in November

There were 27 entries in my organizing and de-cluttering blog in November. Some of the most popular entries were:

• Tote Those Files!
• Felted Bowls: An Etsy Extravaganza
• The Definitive Guide: 15 Ways to Store the Shoes
• Preserving and Sharing the Memories: Transferring Old Photos to Digital Formats
• Christmas and Other Holidays: A Clutter-Free Guide (the start of a multi-part series)

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