Pithy

Unusual for a Saturday, I awoke determined to tackle something BIG. Refusing to witter away the day on things that I would not remembering doing nor find any value in, I decided to tackle the room known as the 'study'. This is the room that J. and I spend the majority of our time in - tip-tapping across from each other surfing the web, reading/writing blogs, handling our finances, etc.

Because we spend so much time in this room, this is also the room that undoubtedly has the most 'hot spots'. The surfaces of this room get full of 'stuff' far more quickly than any other room - and we fail to tackle it very often because it just grows exponentially until we just can't fathom where to start.

But start we did. There are now surfaces showing where previously was stuff. We identified things that don't belong in here and moved them to where they do belong. A lot of the clutter was paper that needed to be filed - and that required culling out the file cabinets. It's always like that, isn't it? One thing leads to another and to another. Usually, once I realize that I can't really file anything 'cuz the files drawers are full of other stuff and THAT requires culling also, I give up. But not yesterday. We culled and culled - filled recycle bins, shred bins, trash bags. And finally feel like some sense of order has been restored, at least for the time being. We still have a ways to go today but we are making progress.

While culling, I've found all kinds of things....walking down memory lane looking at pics of the kids when they were little, etc. And among the treasures uncovered was a 5x8 envelope full of things I used to have on my first corporate world job - yes, I know what you're thinking - wow, that stuff is OLD. Yes, it is. And I will be taking some of the items found to work with me on Tuesday to put up on my bulletin board border along my desk. Some of these things are good reminders.

I'm always looking for words that describe a feeling....a series of reminders to me of things that I want to ingrain and embrace. I especially did a lot of that in my 20's - a decade fraught with insecurity and fear of the unknown. Out of college and 'on my own', living the dream....but it was a tough decade for me...and I had all sorts of 'touchstones' that I used to help me remember some things that I felt so deeply important back then. Thankfully, as I read them again this morning, they are still true...possibly more so as I struggle with raising two teen boys and wrestle with the recent events in our economy.

Here are some of the 'signs' I used to have on my desk. I can't give credit to the authors because I typed the sayings out and printed them and cut them out and posted them...so not intending to take credit. If I know the author, I'll show it - but for some, I don't. These are not MY words...they are just things that touched me way back when...that reminded me of what I wanted for myself:

'It's not the event that causes stress - it's your interpretation of the event that causes stress.'

'Happiness is the exercise of your vital abilities along lines of excellence in the life that affords their scope. You are happy if you are doing your thing - not necessarily achieving it - in a life that affords you the chance.'

'This is the true joy of life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.'

'Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.' Kobi Yamada

'If you really want to be happy, nobody can stop you.' Sister Mary Tricky

'If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.' Lou Whitaker

'You can't make footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt. And who wants to make buttprints in the sands of time?' Bob Moawad


I still enjoy reading these and they still apply to my current, 20-years forward life as they did back then.

And on that last note, I will get off my butt and get back to work!