Christmas is a great time for cleaning and decluttering the house in my family. As a teacher, I have two weeks vacation during this time of year and, as a result of "no school", my teenagers are also home to help. "Out with the old and in with the new" is an adage that comes to mind as we try to find space not only for the inevitable chaos of clutter created by the Christmas gift-giving tradition but also from our yearly cornucopia of purchases.
We have tried to simplify by buying gifts only for the children in our families as well as reducing the items we purchase for our own family. Volunteering with organizations such as Operation Christmas Child or participating in a food drive make a huge impact on how my children view Christmas. They realize that they already have everything they need whereas some children and families do not even have the basic necessities. Regardless, a certain amount of "stuff" still needs to find a place in our home.
Therefore, this article from Real Simple magazine, is very timely. Not only does Christmas create clutter but the end of the year is also a time when many people try to tie up loose ends, take stock of their lives or make resolutions for improvement in the coming year. New beginnings are always appealing. Here, Erin Rooney Doland sums up 10 of her best ideas for letting go of your "stuff". These include letting go of the guilt, facing the fact that "one day" never comes, and adapting to your surroundings. As I read her suggestions, I chuckled at some of the excuses or justifications I have used in the past for keeping an item. In the grand scheme of things, people are generally alike.
In addition, Erin's blog was a great source of information and she has written a book entitled "Unclutter Your Life in One Week" available at Amazon. David Allen has written the foreword for her book and Peter Walsh of "It's All Too Much" fame (my favourite book so far on decluttering) delivers high praise with the comment "Simple, practical advice that makes one week truly life changing. A great resource!" Finally, my old favourite website, FlyLady, is worth checking out for cleaning and decluttering tips to inspire a revolution of organization and simplicity in your home.
As Erin says in her book "Less stuff means less stress!" Now, time to stop blogging and take action. My basement is in need of some attention.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Dec. 28, 2009 - Getting Things Done by David Allen
"Welcome to a gold mine of insights into strategies for how to have more energy, be more relaxed, and get a lot more accomplished with much less effort." A lofty aspiration that many of us covet, including myself. This past year, I have often felt quite stressed with my life - too many things to do and not enough time to accomplish everything and still have time for myself. The utopia promised in this book is appealing but I wonder if the ideas proposed will work for me.
As we have all learned, nothing happens without considerable effort. Simply reading a book of strategies is not enough to make lasting changes. Discipline and commitment are necessary combined with some inspiration, which is where the book comes in. I am hoping that some advice will strike a chord, provide a new idea or trigger a reminder that will help me achieve a greater balance between work, family and personal commitments.
Recording and then organizing the jobs and commitments constantly swirling around in our minds is the focus of the first section. I have always been a "to-do-list" person so this is not a new idea. However, the categorizing of our "in-box" into different areas is a good suggestion as well as the reminder to review our list at the end of every week. Taking action or deciding on the action required and the timeline necessary is the difficult part. This is something I can easily relate to. Quite often a task that seems overwhelmingly time-consuming has caused me to procrastinate in taking action. When I finally decide what needs to be done and then do it, I find it never takes as long as I had imagined in the first place. Nike's "just do it" motto comes to mind here.
Although nothing earth-shattering or life-changing has been suggested yet, I will continue reading as I am certainly interested in reducing the overwhelming, stressful schedule that has become my life.
As we have all learned, nothing happens without considerable effort. Simply reading a book of strategies is not enough to make lasting changes. Discipline and commitment are necessary combined with some inspiration, which is where the book comes in. I am hoping that some advice will strike a chord, provide a new idea or trigger a reminder that will help me achieve a greater balance between work, family and personal commitments.
Recording and then organizing the jobs and commitments constantly swirling around in our minds is the focus of the first section. I have always been a "to-do-list" person so this is not a new idea. However, the categorizing of our "in-box" into different areas is a good suggestion as well as the reminder to review our list at the end of every week. Taking action or deciding on the action required and the timeline necessary is the difficult part. This is something I can easily relate to. Quite often a task that seems overwhelmingly time-consuming has caused me to procrastinate in taking action. When I finally decide what needs to be done and then do it, I find it never takes as long as I had imagined in the first place. Nike's "just do it" motto comes to mind here.
Although nothing earth-shattering or life-changing has been suggested yet, I will continue reading as I am certainly interested in reducing the overwhelming, stressful schedule that has become my life.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Dec. 27, 2009 - Focal Point by Brian Tracy
Today I picked up a few self-help books from the library. This being the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, improving my life by setting new goals seems appropriate and timely. Many people set New Year's Resolutions. I like to choose a motto for the year instead. This usually takes much thought as the motto must reflect my goals and aspirations for the new year. I am hoping that some reading material may assist me in formulating my 2010 motto.
"A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity and Achieve All Your Goals." As the subtitle suggests, this book proposes straightforward, simple, but key ideas to help people achieve their goals in life. This includes business and career goals, family and personal goals, money and investments, health and fitness, personal growth and development, social and community activities, and spiritual development leading to inner peace.
After a short anecdote, the first chapter begins with the statement that there are only four things you can do to improve the quality of your life. Sounds simple and yet, when you consider the four principles, you realize the profound truth behind them: do more of certain things, do less of certain things, start doing things you are not doing and stop doing other things altogether. Seems reasonable and easy to achieve but deciding what these activities should be requires some consideration. Which activities are beneficial to us and important stepping stones in achieving our goals and which are not?
One thing that is obvious in the anecdotes shared is that one must have the desire and the discipline to make these improvements and changes. As in any job or activity, we must take the initiative to analyze our situation and then follow through with a plan to improve the quality of our lives.
"A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity and Achieve All Your Goals." As the subtitle suggests, this book proposes straightforward, simple, but key ideas to help people achieve their goals in life. This includes business and career goals, family and personal goals, money and investments, health and fitness, personal growth and development, social and community activities, and spiritual development leading to inner peace.
After a short anecdote, the first chapter begins with the statement that there are only four things you can do to improve the quality of your life. Sounds simple and yet, when you consider the four principles, you realize the profound truth behind them: do more of certain things, do less of certain things, start doing things you are not doing and stop doing other things altogether. Seems reasonable and easy to achieve but deciding what these activities should be requires some consideration. Which activities are beneficial to us and important stepping stones in achieving our goals and which are not?
One thing that is obvious in the anecdotes shared is that one must have the desire and the discipline to make these improvements and changes. As in any job or activity, we must take the initiative to analyze our situation and then follow through with a plan to improve the quality of our lives.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Dec. 26, 2009 - New York by Edward Rutherfurd
The theme of freedom continues to dominate the plot of this historical fiction novel. The chapter entitled New York, traces the life of Quash, an African slave who works for the "Boss", Dirk van Dyck, his Dutch master. Quash is treated as a member of the van Dyck family, helping his master through many challenges and tragedies as well as accompanying him on his voyages. Eventually, Quash meets Naomi, a slave girl who comes to work for the van Dycks. As time progresses, they fall in love, live together and have two children, a boy, Hudson and a girl, Martha. Both children are accepted into the family and things are good for everyone. Unfortunately, a terrible fever eventually takes the lives of Naomi and Martha, leaving Quash alone with his son.
At this time, many gentleman are beginning to write English wills and Dirk decides to have one secretly written that grants Quash and his son their freedom upon his death, something that Quash has always dreamed of. Unfortunately, the Master becomes ill suddenly and dies. His widow, will not accept the new will and burns it, promising to think about Quash's freedom. However, the next day she sells Quash to an evil farmer and his son, Hudson, to a sailor. The two are separated, not knowing if they will ever see each other again.
Quash's road to freedom is arduous but by the end of this long chapter, he and his son are reunited as free men once and for all. A great story within a story about the price of freedom topped with a happy ending!
At this time, many gentleman are beginning to write English wills and Dirk decides to have one secretly written that grants Quash and his son their freedom upon his death, something that Quash has always dreamed of. Unfortunately, the Master becomes ill suddenly and dies. His widow, will not accept the new will and burns it, promising to think about Quash's freedom. However, the next day she sells Quash to an evil farmer and his son, Hudson, to a sailor. The two are separated, not knowing if they will ever see each other again.
Quash's road to freedom is arduous but by the end of this long chapter, he and his son are reunited as free men once and for all. A great story within a story about the price of freedom topped with a happy ending!
Dec. 25, 2009 - And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer
It's official - I've finally abandoned reading this book which is quite rare for me to do. An overabundance of description as well as nonsensical language overwhelms the plot, if one even exists. Past the halfway point, it's still difficult to say where the characters are or what they are actually doing or even what their final purpose is. The only thing that has happened or will happen (not sure about the time period right now), is that the Earth has been or will be shortly destroyed. Alternating constantly between characters and their different settings adds to the confusion as there seems to be no relation between the circumstances or events they are experiencing.
Just what are Arthur, Ford, Trillian and Zaphod hoping to achieve? The only thing I can gather is that they are looking for another planet to live on now that Earth is gone. And Arthur is obsessed with finding Fenchurch while Ford, Trillian and Zaphod worry about Random Dent.
I did have a quick look at the ending which only confirmed my suspicions. Nothing was clarified or resolved - I felt more confused than ever. My former loyalty to this series has made it difficult to give up on it but reading any further won't help my understanding anyways.
And another thing...
Just what are Arthur, Ford, Trillian and Zaphod hoping to achieve? The only thing I can gather is that they are looking for another planet to live on now that Earth is gone. And Arthur is obsessed with finding Fenchurch while Ford, Trillian and Zaphod worry about Random Dent.
I did have a quick look at the ending which only confirmed my suspicions. Nothing was clarified or resolved - I felt more confused than ever. My former loyalty to this series has made it difficult to give up on it but reading any further won't help my understanding anyways.
And another thing...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Dec. 24, 2009 - The Templar by Paul Doherty
The title alone attracts me to this novel, as I really enjoy reading about the crusades, the holy wars and the secret organization of The Templars. At the outset of the book, a list of main characters includes Pope Urban II who launched the first crusade at Clermont in 1095. The Franks, Byzantines and Armenians all take part in the adventure which takes place during the years 1097 to 1099 in the ancient cities of Antioch and Jerusalem. The author's note at the back of the novel reveals the historical basis for the plot. Pope Urban's electrifying speech that launched the crusades is recreated here based on actual historical accounts. I always love books that combine history with fiction - it's a much more enjoyable way to learn than reading from a textbook.
This is the second book loaned to me by my friend. However, both books are on hold until I finish "And Another Thing" and "New York" which I am in the process of reading at the moment. I should have named my blog "So many good books...so little time!" Too bad reading can't be a full-time job.
This is the second book loaned to me by my friend. However, both books are on hold until I finish "And Another Thing" and "New York" which I am in the process of reading at the moment. I should have named my blog "So many good books...so little time!" Too bad reading can't be a full-time job.
Dec. 23, 2009 - The Last Gospel by David Gibbins
A family friend, with the same reading interests, has loaned me this novel by David Gibbins, the author of the bestseller "Atlantis", who is also a professional archaelogist specializing in underwater excavations, ancient shipwrecks and sunken cities. This background knowledge provides an interesting backdrop upon which to build a fascinating historical adventure.
As I begin reading, the book alternates between events in the present and events in the year 79 AD before the destruction of the ancient civilisation on Pompeii. A fast skim reveals that the reader will journey through historical sites in Rome and Jerusalem on a search to discover the origins of Christianity by finding The Last Gospel.
Already, the fast-paced action combined with historical facts and settings is reminiscent of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code series. Reviews found on the back cover suggest "a cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown" and an adventure in which "every ounce of energy is spent propelling the plot." With praise such as this I am anxious to start reading with the hope that I will indeed experience the same suspense, intrigue and propelling action promised here.
As I begin reading, the book alternates between events in the present and events in the year 79 AD before the destruction of the ancient civilisation on Pompeii. A fast skim reveals that the reader will journey through historical sites in Rome and Jerusalem on a search to discover the origins of Christianity by finding The Last Gospel.
Already, the fast-paced action combined with historical facts and settings is reminiscent of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code series. Reviews found on the back cover suggest "a cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown" and an adventure in which "every ounce of energy is spent propelling the plot." With praise such as this I am anxious to start reading with the hope that I will indeed experience the same suspense, intrigue and propelling action promised here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)