On this summer solstice, I am celebrating SO many wonderful things! My home feels light and comfortable. Our material things are not perfect, but I am grateful for the joy they bring. Yesterday, I completed (yet another) re-organization of our kitchen utilizing part of the garage and a buffet hutch as pantries. I imagine living with a professional organizer is both challenging and cool, as I seem to always have a project in process. On the family front, Noella is freshly weaned from breastfeeding and Annie is awesome. Brad and I have embraced garden season with a full appreciation of plants. I also realized this is my 26th article- halfway through the year already! With all this happening for me personally, I think it is perfect timing to talk about celebration in relation to home organizing.
I believe celebrating is the KEY to lightening the heavy load of things. Carrying a lighter load does not always mean you have less stuff, but it does mean you have less guilt caused burden. Ideally, material objects add joy to life (see more about this in “Holding on to The Good Stuff”). And the things weighing us down are easy to let go of (See “Letting Go of Stuff- How to Develop Habits of Release"). The idea is to boot guilt out by appreciating even the things we give away. I frequently acknowledge my gratitude for both the items I release, and the open space created in their absence.
I absolutely LOVE to CELEBRATE BEAUTIFUL SPACES by thanking the environment we LIVE in. I also love to create “TA-DA moments”, which are mini tours where I share newly completed projects with others. Brad has participated in most of my “TA-DA moments” and his positive feedback always makes me feel fantastic! Even if nothing has been done lately, sometimes we simply take a tour of the house or yard to observe abundance.
Another indispensable part of celebrating is involving community. Friends and family help me overcome guilt by supporting me through vulnerabilities and participating in their own tidying missions. Throwing a party is a fun “TA-DA moment” where people share light together! Giving things away, not just to thrift stores, but also to members of my community feels awesome. There is power in knowing someone else will get joy out of long unused items. People often feel the same way about objects, and voicing guilts can allow the silliness to shine. How funny to be attached to some object that has sat in a box for an undetermined amount of time!
Finally, freshening environmental energy is a fun outlet for celebration. Feng Shui suggests going beyond a simple house cleaning and embracing new energy in many ways across the senses (see “Meg-Sense Hippy Cleaning”). When clearing out energy, it is important to open windows and doors. Essential oils can also be used to brighten things up. And salt is a powerful tool for absorbing negative energy. Because sound cleans energy most effectively, I like to ring bells or chimes, play music, or even clap all around my home. I also say affirmations out loud like, “this place is full of light and love.” It may sound funny (pun intended), but this process genuinely works. I always feel like boosting the energy of my environment is a party!
Love Always,
Meg
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