Motivation Circle

I have a confession. I haven't organized anything since Sunday. And, I haven't been to the gym since Thursday. And, I'm feeling cranky, depleted and uninterested in doing anything other than crawling into bed. Preferably until next week or so. To be fair, I also haven't had an hour of free/down time since Thursday.

This all makes me realize:

1) I'm glad I built two "free" days a week into my change challenge, which means I haven't failed yet. Way to set myself up for success!
2) Either the gym or the cleaning has actually been feeding my spirit and energy and motivation.
3) It's really good that I keep this blog. Because even if only a few people are following along, I do feel a sense of accountability and an impulse to be able to report back on some actual progress. Also, when people leave comments and get inspired to make changes in their lives, it's really inspiring and motivating to me. So we've got a little motivation circle going on here.

So. I will definitely get back on the de-cluttering train tonight. And, I will attempt to exercise as well. The real question is: am I allowed to indulge in a little nap when I get home from work?

Oooooh. Aaahhhhhh.

Before and after shots...

Motivation is contagious, you know.

I haven't been slacking, you know...just didn't have time to update. Yesterday I got the ENTIRE bathroom de-cluttered, organized, and cleaned. (well, except the floor.) Given that our bathroom is roughly 20 sq. ft., that probably doesn't sound like much of an accomplishment, but you'd be surprised. You know those grocery store plastic bags? Well I filled FOUR of them with old medicine, toiletries, nail polish, and makeup. I've heard rumors that most makeup isn't meant to last more than a year, but I'm pretty sure I found stuff from high school in there. I shouldn't admit this, but there was a 20-color eye shadow kit from CLAIRE'S of all places. (don't judge.)

Anyway, the nice surprise was that this morning, it was actually easier and faster to get ready for work. With less stuff (and only stuff I actually use) I was able to save some minutes off. And I don't usually spend more than 5 minutes!

I had about 7 bottles of body wash in the shower...many that I had scooped up last year because students left nearly full bottles in the dorm at the end of the year and then I just kept keeping them, even though I never used them because I actually had plenty that I had picked out and bought myself. sigh. Will I never learn??

Oooh...here's a random tip that's working for me...I've gotten dishwasher soap that I LOVE the scent of (it's lavender, by Method). Doing the dishes has taken on a new zen quality for me.

I took pictures, but...ironically...they're on my work computer. So maybe I'll add them tomorrow.

Michael took pity on me and did my laundry for me yesterday too. For some reason it doesn't really bother him and it's one of those tasks I can't stand because it takes forever and involves so many steps (both figuratively and literally, since the laundry is three flights down) that I find it paralyzing. Maybe if I did it more frequently... (what? every six weeks isn't enough?!) He doesn't fold though, which is only fair, and that was supposed to be on my to-do list today, along with the kitchen and bathroom floors. But, well, I didn't get done with work until 10 pm, so I gave myself the night off. Which is okay, because, if you scroll back down to the rules, it stipulates that I do something 5 days a week, so I'm still on track! Plus, I deserved it. We had three separate "incidents" in the dorm this weekend, so we are fried.

I haven't been to the gym in 4 days, though, and I don't know if it's more because I've been too busy focusing energies on the de-cluttering or because I've been on duty. Either way, I'm pretty sure I've burned some extra calories anyway, and getting organized is pretty energizing and motivating. Plus, I was smart and made it part of the rules that I would cut myself some slack in other areas. =) I know how to set myself up for success! ;)

In case you're in suspense, I should tell you that, of the stuff I cleared out over the weekend, I put the food in the dorm kitchen and much of it seems to have disappeared. The stuff that other people might like I put in the basement for now. I'll see how much I accumulate over the next couple of weeks of de-cluttering and will either donate it en masse or save it for the yard sale, depending. (Alicia, the cookbooks are down there if you're interested.)

And, I got to try out that new form I made myself for interviews at work today and it worked really well, so this organization kick is paying off already! I'm a little sad I didn't get much de-cluttered today, but it was a seriously hard and long day, on the heels of a seriously long and hard weekend. On the list for tomorrow is floors and folding laundry. After that...it's the hallway...which includes coats, snack closet/hardware closet, and...the first of the bookshelves.

eeks.

til then...go organize something, and tell me all about it! Motivation is contagious, you know.

"Sometimes there is no motivation. You just have to get up and do it anyway."

So yesterday was a red-letter day, organizationally speaking. I was laying on the couch play Bejeweled Blitz when Gina called to see what I was up to.  I was tied to the apartment because Michael and I are on duty and he was driving student to Harvard Square, but I was very nappish, having stayed up until 2 am the night before.  I told her I was waiting for motivation, and she told me, "sometimes there is no motivation."  She advised I just get off the couch and get started someplace.

So I did.

Luckily, Alexis called just a few minutes later and asked what I was doing.  When I told her I was organizing, she started cleaning her house too.  So there we were, me in Boston and my best friend in Phoenix, cleaning our houses while chatting on the phone together.  I love that.  Is that weird?  And when I got to the stove and found I didn't know how to get the drip trays out for cleaning, she told me how hers worked and voila!

You know I did the fridge the other day, but I thought you might like to see a picture of the end result. It is glaringly empty of food, but the condiments sure are well arranged! =)  And, here's a tip for you to take home, courtesy of my friend, Gina: to tame those condiments, use small lazy susans; they take up less room and eliminate the need to rifle through the fridge, since you can just spin, spin, spin.  Now we just need some food to put in there...

I moved on from the fridge to the cabinets, cleaning and reducing as I went.  All those rice and noodle mixes that don't fit our current "healthier" diet? Out. The never-opened peanut butter that got replaced by reduced fat? Gone.  Well, so far, still in a bag in my apartment, but hopefully I 'll find a good home for them soon.  Another little tip for you--I found organizing racks with drawers on Amazon to make much better use of the space in these large cabinets.  Again, these help eliminate the need for rifling--which often results in a mess. (See before & after shots)

 

 Then, I moved on to the pots and pans closet, and the spices.  There wasn't much weeding out to do there because although we have a lot of spices, we do use many of them. But, I did recently purchase this beautiful spinning spice rack with labels.  You put your own spices in (it comes with extra labels) and, if you want, it can be mounted under a cabinet for easy spinning. (I'm a big fan of spinning.)  The best part is that you can take one out at a time, and either shake it out (or use a spoon) from the top or measure it out from the bottom.  Each turn dispenses 1/4 tsp of spice into the waiting dish below.

Then it was time for the cookbooks.  Considering that we cook about once every two weeks currently, we have a surprising amount of cookbooks.  Some are really useful.  Some are leftover from my college (and post-college) days, and show my mom's sense of humor: Help! My Apartment Came With a Kitchen! and Tray Recipes: Cooking in the Cafeteria.  When I went through them all, though, there weren't THAT many I felt good about leaving behind.  What about the Christmas cookie cookbook? Won't I want that when I have kids? Alexis (still on the phone) pointed out that I could likely find just the recipe I want online when the time comes. If the time comes. Given that there are no children in sight, they probably shouldn't drive this decision.  Out it went.










 Oh, and this happened a while ago, but is a useful tip I thought I'd share. We bought a sliding drawer and installed it in the cabinet under the kitchen sink for the trash. Now it slides in and out for ease of use!

I was able to clear a lot of things we don't use often from the counter tops and microwave, and all of the appliances were cleaned. I cleaned out the cabinet over the fridge, and all the stuff from the top of the fridge. The only thing I didn't do was weed out the tea mugs. We probably have more than we need, but we made many of them, and others were meaningful for other reasons, and we do use them often.  Alright, I've just realized while typing this that I'm making excuses, so after this I'm going to go thin those out.  But otherwise, there's nothing extraneous in our kitchen and everything there has a place...The kicthen is done!

It was bothering me that when I de-cluttered the living room, I hadn't dusted and cleaned it at the same time, and Gina offered to help me with that while I was cleaning other stuff.  But then, suddenly, we were moving furniture to really clean underneath it, and considering how rearranging furniture might give the appearance of more room...and, about an hour later, our living room was reimagined in a much more workable (and cozy) configuration.  So now the kitchen AND living room are clutter-free, clean, organized, and more spacious.  I have to tell you that afterward, I just sat there in my little massage chair with a big old grin on my face. Just soaking it all in...the feeling of contentment to be in my own home.  A feeling I haven't had for a good long while.

While I was on the phone with Alexis, she asked me what Michael thought of my little organizing kick, so I asked him.

Me: So Alexis wants to know what you think about all of this.

Michael: I think it's great that it's getting done. And I think it's great that I don't have to do it. (pause) And I think it's good for you, actually.

Me: In what way?

Michael: You're taking control of your enviroment, taking action to make changes you want to see.

Me: See? You really do understand me!

So all day yesterday, I was putting food, cookbooks, etc. in a bag.  And now I'm left wondering how to get rid of them. Sort of an odd and chintzy donation (which, let's be honest, I'm a bit lazy about actually driving out into the world to deliver it somewhere.) And the dorm parents are talking about having a yard sale this summer....but...do I store it in the basement until then, to see if I can make some money? Or do I bite the bullet and find places to donate things? Do I send out an email like I did with the magazines to try to get people to come get it? Or do I just throw it out and get it out of my life as quickly as possible?

What do you think??

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What should I do with the remains of my de-cluttering efforts?

Store it in the basement until the yard sale and make some money! Stop being lazy and take it somewhere to donate it. Send out an email to see if people will come grab it themselves. Trash it and move on.

Wait for it....

Holy crap did I make some huge progress today. HUGE, people. But it's well after midnight so you're going to have to wait until tomorrow to hear about it. And see pictures. But it's worth the wait.

*contented sigh*

Organizational Behavior

In the rare case that someone not intimately familiar with my life is reading this blog (please tell me someone is reading it!), I should tell you that I work in admissions and college counseling at a progressive boarding school (grades 9-12) in Boston.  My husband and I live in a dorm with 25 teenage girls.  It's an interesting lifestyle...no privacy or personal time, but also no bills.  And a lot of rewarding experiences with adolescents. Which is perfect, since I studied educational psychology in college and adolescent identity development in grad school.

So part of my job is interviewing prospective families. First, I meet with the student while their parent(s) go on tour, and then the student goes on tour while I chat with parents.  Then, after they leave, I write an account of the interviews (complete with quotes) and it becomes part of their application if they decide to apply to the school.  I give a lot of interviews, and sometimes don't get to write the evaluation right away, so I have to take REALLY good notes. While I was typing up my notes today, I realized how much extra work I was doing, reorganizing in my head the information I wanted to type, since I don't ask questions (and thus take notes) in the same order I need to record it in the evaluation.

So today I took the time to type up a little note-taking framework to use during my interviews.  Amazingly, it has all the things I need to cover, with both parents and student, organized in the order that I'll need it in to write the evaluation later.  I'm excited to try it.  If it works, it will make typing those evaluations a mere typing job rather than an exercise in intellectual organization.

That's really the only thing I accomplished towards my goal today, because work was really busy.  When I got home, I was exhausted (did I mention I snoozed 5 times this morning??) and tried to sneak in a little nap on the couch.  Sadly, every time I started to drift off, the doorbell or phone rang.  It got to the point where every time I returned to the couch, I had to get right back up again.  So I gave up and made myself the saddest excuse for dinner there ever was: a healthy choice frozen dinner of steak tips and portabello mushrooms.  The "steak" was so gross I didn't eat any of it, so mostly it was a couple of forkfuls of veggies.  Alas, it was time to go take pictures at the open mic, since several of our dorm girls were performing.  Which was good (actually, one of the girls was AMAZING, with some spoken word--and she used to be so shy!) but really sloooooow.  By the time I got home it was after 10 and I was cranky from not eating, so I made some ravioli.  By the time that was done, it was time to do the first round of check-ins (and warnings, as it turned out, for closed doors with visitors behind them), and along the way one of my college counseling advisees gave me her essay to review.

Which I finished at 12:15 am.

So.

The worksheet from work is going to have to count for today.

But I have learned that writing goals down is the first step to achieving them...so....this weekend, I hope to organize my makeup (most of which is probably a decade or so past it's "use by" date...so, only slightly older than the condiments I cleared out!).  Then, I want to pick either the kitchen cabinets or...

the....

bookshelves.

*GASP*

My heart nearly just stopped, thinking about parting with books.  The magazines were sacrifice enough, no?  I might have to let this idea swirl around in my head for a bit to see if I can get behind it. We'll see how it goes.

What did you accomplish today??

What to keep?

To start on a bright note--just days after I put the 4 years of magazines out, they are all gone to good homes.  Some to friends, and some to students making collages.  So now I feel much less guilty and have forgotten the sense of loss.  That was quick.  And--I'm actually reading the CURRENT month of Real Simple. Whoa.

Nothing got organized at work yesterday--it was a busy day.  But after work, even though I was exhausted, I was inspired by my friend, Melissa, to go to pilates.  I haven't done pilates in about six months and I had forgotten how HARD it is, but also how invigorating it is.  It was a herculean feat to get myself motivated to go, and afterward I felt a  bit like I had been in a car accident...but I also felt ready to organize something.  I started running a hot bath, to address the car-accident-feeling bit, and in the time it took to fill, I de-cluttered my toiletries drawer.

I should explain. I used to travel for up to 8 weeks at a time for my old job, and along the way I would collect roughly 168 miniature bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.  At the end of each admissions travel season, I'd collect the toiletries from each of our 7 counselors and donate them to a local woman's shelter.  Now that I don't travel as much, it takes longer to collect enough to make donating worthwhile, really.  But I always have a rather deep drawer overflowing with these tiny toiletries.

So I thought it would be an easy task to get rid of them, right...just quickly scoop them out and put them in a bag. Done and done! But, as I start pulling them out, I notice this one is rosemary lavender scented...ooh...I should keep that as a travel pick-me-up one day.  And this one here is from that amazing hotel in Barcelona and the bottle itself is a work of art.  I set it aside to keep it, thinking how one day I will put it in a guest bathroom and my visiting friend will think how thoughtful I am and be grateful for the luxury.

Is this not normal? Seriously, I need to know. I currently don't have a guest bedroom (or a pantry, linen closet, clothes closet, etc).  But it is a nice idea, isn't it?

In any case, I winnowed it down a great deal (and will donate what I didn't keep) but there are still some things in that drawer.  For some reason, I am committed to keeping extra toothbrushes around (for guests that forget their own) even though we use electric ourselves. And a travel-sized toothpaste to save room packing (even though we usually bring our full size with us).  And some conditioners, because some hotels only offer up shampoo, which doesn't do much in the way of wrangling my curls.  And some pretty-scented bath fizzy things.  And everything Crabtree & Evelyn, because I love the way it smells.

Progress, but not as satisfying, as say, the refrigerator.  It did bring a level of awareness about the reasons I keep things though, and I'm starting to question the merit behind some of them.

I might need to find some rules to guide my de-cluttering efforts.  I once read some rules for clearing out closets that suggested in order to keep something it had to fit your current life and body, and you had to have worn it in the last year. Oprah asks herself Do I love this? Is it flattering? Is this the image I want to portray?

So maybe I'll try something like:

• Is it currently useful/does it currently fit? Have I used it in the past 6 months or will I use it in the coming 6 months?
  
• If I had to move next week, would it be worth packing and unpacking and finding a place for in my new home?

If the answer to either of these is no, it has to go.  What do you think? Any other suggested guidelines?

A tricky thing, I've come to realize, is that I keep a lot of "souvenirs" from my past trips, relationships, etc etc and I haven't found a way to let go of that stuff yet. It's not that I'm likely to forget these events and people.  I'll have to attack that in the coming month in some way. Please send along any tips you have.

Does anyone else have any weird reasons for keeping things???

Healing Properties of Neatly Arranged Rows of Mustard

Honestly, I didn't get much de-cluttered yesterday, as I had a late meeting and not much time before dinner.  Then, Michael had the brilliant idea of not cooking dinner and going, instead, to The Elephant Walk, just 5 minutes away, for dinner. Which was AMAZING. I had forgotten how good their food was.  We started off with these fancy scallops served with crab ravioli thingies, and then Michael had a tuna dish (of course) and I got adventurous with shrimp sautéed in a lightly sweet Cambodian satay sauce with coriander, cumin, cardamom, galangal, cinnamon, ginger, peanuts, star anise and lemongrass; with button mushrooms, red bell peppers, onions and scallions. It was sweet and spicy and so good that I even ate the peppers and onions!

But I digress. The point is, by the time we got home I was tired and full and lacking motivation.  I sat down to start our thank-you cards for our holiday gifts (my mother always insisted on them and I haven't outgrown the guilt that comes from blowing them off.)  I'm writing my first card when the following exchange happens:

Michael: Where are my headphones?
Me: In the cube with the rest of your computer stuff.
Michael (with an exasperated sigh): I always put them on the side table right here. (pause, then pointedly) On purpose.
Me (with the calm perspective of the organized): Headphones don't go on side tables, honey.
Michael: (stomps--good-naturedly--over to cube, 3 feet away, grabs headphones, gives me a look that says How long are we going to play this ridiculous organizing game?)
Me: (in my head) At least until the end of January, my friend.

By the time thank-yous were done, I just really didn't have the energy to go farther down the de-cluttering road.  I tried to justify it by saying the idea of having to write the thank you cards had been cluttering my mind and to-do list, but Michael wasn't buying it.

But then--my truly thoughtful friend, Alexis, sent me an article called 26 Organizing Tips That Actually Work and I was saved! Because that counts as research! And, indeed, I found several items I was proud to say I already do, and several good ideas to move me forward. In fact, by the time I was done reading, I felt inspired to organize something.  But by then it was after midnight, so I was forced to call it a day.

As I went to steal some healthy berries from the fridge I asked Michael if he was enjoying our newly expansive and clean fridge.  To which he replied, "actually, it kind of freaks me out." Perhaps I should have stopped to clarify which part freaked him out.  Like--was the emptiness mocking his lack of real food? Does the idea of the army of condiments overpowering the small collection of fresh produce bother him?

Or is it the fact that his wife is crazy enough to really, really enjoy (and be inspired by) all of this cleaning and organizing?  Or perhaps that his wife literally feels better (and is far nicer) with all that open space and the neatly arranged rows of mustard and preserves?



Does anyone else have any inspiring articles/research to share??

Serious War on Spam

Yesterday was harder.  I waged a serious war on spam in my gmail account, where it's worst.  Instead of merely deleting, I spent a good 45 minutes unsubscribing from email lists.  It's a time consuming process, but each time I clicked that button, a little weight lifted, knowing I'd get fewer and fewer each day. Now, when I get new junk mail, I immediately scroll to the bottom in search of that unsubscribe link. I have to admit though, some made me pause and wonder what good deals I might miss out on by unsubscribing. But then...I'll probably only miss out on being tempted, distracted, and even more scattered!  Chances are, if I want to buy something, I can always search then for a coupon code, and luckily there are people with a generous spirit and extra time who are always submitting coupon codes online.

I attacked the board games, but there were actually only three I could part with.  Michael played along and went through his magazines, so the living room is officially de-cluttered. That might have been a good time to also dust, so maybe I'll go back and do that tonight. Then the living room will be the first newly cleared, expansive space in our apartment!

I caught on with the fridge and freezer (which was much more satisfying) and cleaned as I went.  I was shocked to find many, many condiments years past their "use by" dates, and suspicious of those with no dates printed on them.  I actually took a picture afterward, I was so proud of my efforts, but I couldn't post it...there's absolutely no real food in it! In fact, the freezer is nearly empty and the fridge is mostly condiments.  At least we now have room for real groceries--for when I take on cooking in the coming months!

I have to say, I started the fridge before a 10 pm meeting and by the time I got back to the apartment after 11, I was tired and discouraged but rallied with Michael's never-ending support.  And by the time I was done, I was so invigorated that I couldn't sleep!  I sat there re-writing the admissions acceptance letter in my head, wishing I had a pen and paper because I was on a roll...but too lazy to get up and get it.

So a few lessons learned today: 1) If you're taking the time to de-clutter, you might as well clean at the same time.  2) If you can just get started, despite your fatigue, you'll soon inspire and energize yourself! 3) As with exercising at night, you shouldn't clean before sleep--it's too invigorating.

There's a very messy in-and-out (by which I mean, in-and-in for longer) box on my desk calling my name for my office task today.  Tonight, dusting in the living room and something else in the kitchen area...

What could you take on in 15 minutes tonight?

Progress Report

So the first day of the challenge went better than I expected. I organized half of my desk at work, and got through cleaning out half of my 42 email folders.  I started taking the time to unsubscribe from junk emails rather than just deleting them.  I made one spreadsheet for all of my contacts, so now I've got an electronic address book and don't have to go searching for emails people have sent about changing contact information.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment in the war against clutter was attacking my ever-growing magazine collection.  I've kept every magazine I've never had time to read because I actually love these particular magazines, and I know I'd enjoy reading them if I ever found the time. And I've already spent the money on them...

The stack was nearly as tall as I am.  It was so hard to go through them, though.  I kept only about 10 that looked too interesting to miss out on, and I took time to read the one article I was waiting for in some of the others, then moved on.  I know that part of the reason I don't take time to read the magazines as they arrive is because I know I've got a 4-year backlog and that "big picture/type A" part of me sees reading them as one big project, that should be tackled in order.

It was liberating to clear them out, but it was a lot harder than I expected.  Even after asking Michael to help me carry them downstairs, I kept thinking about them.  There was a sense of loss...all those good and potentially helpful stories I would never get to read now.  And all that money wasted! It must be hundreds of dollars worth of magazines.  I almost crept back down to retrieve a few.

But there is now space where there was stuff before, and that feels....good.  There is a little more breathing room in our apartment.  And this morning I sent an email to the school community telling them the magazines were up for grabs, and several people have joyfully claimed some already.  So that helps.  And any that are left over by the weekend can be recycled or used for art classes.

Today, I'm hoping to have time to clean out my gmail account and start unsubscribing from the spam that fills it daily, obscuring the emails I actually want to respond to.  Tonight, hopefully I will attack the board games we don't turn to often enough to warrant the space they take up (want some?) and the refrigerator (where I regularly find condiments I'm scared to use because they are several years past the 'best by' date).  The games will be hard: we love games, and it's reassuring to see all our options. And why get rid of a game we might very well enjoy some time from now?

Here's why: because there is not enough room in our apartment or our life for all of this crap.  It's time to take control.  If we haven't played the game in the past three years, we'll probably survive without it for the next three.

The fridge and freezer should be easy.  If it's lasted that long, we don't need it.  And it will make room for the actual food I hope to start stocking in there.  And, I'll finally be able to clean up that unidentifiable, sticky spill that's been lingering there for two years.

Don't tell my mother that I haven't cleaned my fridge in two years, okay?

My question for you today is: what do you keep (*ahem* collect) that you could let go of? Why are you holding on?

The Change Challenge

Rest seems like a nice contrast to overwhelment, but enthusiasm is always chosen over rest. The only thing that ever makes you tired or bogs you down is resistance.

- Abraham

There's a certain amount of energy that I spend trying to control and perfect my world, from trying to stay on top of cleaning and laundry to remembering dozens of birthdays, anniversaries, and appointments to making list after list after list and fitting in all of the things I "should".  The idea that one day I will conquer it all keeps me in a perpetual state of overwhelment and certain failure--and leaves me with very little time and energy  to invest in the things and people that are most important to me. I find myself lingering in the past and longing for the future, while maintaining a miserable state of chaos and stress in the present.  I remember a time when I accomplished more, slept less, and never felt tired.  When I was engaged on a deeply satisfying level with the world around me.  The new year seems like an opportunity to stop grasping so tightly the illusion of control and perfection, and to move instead towards a level of engagement that feeds my spirit and energy levels.

There are a lot of changes I'd like to make in my life, towards a more peaceful, present, joyful version of myself.  Which, I suspect, would naturally lead to a more 'together' version of myself.  And potentially a far kinder version.  Thinking about all of these possible positive changes all at once is as daunting as thinking about catching up on 6 weeks worth of laundry (or 2 years worth of exercising) at once.  I've decided I need practice taking things one step at a time, and since they say it takes 30 days to change a habit, I'm issuing myself a Change Challenge for 2010.  I plan to focus on ONE thing each month that I think might bring some positive change to my life, and will track the experience over the course of the year.

The rules are simple:
1) Focus on just one experience or goal for a single month (and cut myself slack in all other areas)
2) Make sure to do something towards that focus a minimum of 5 days/week.
3) Track my progress--publicly--on this blog.
4) At the end of each month, move on.

Here are the things I've decided to focus on in the coming year, in no particular order. Each month, I'll decide what I feel like taking on in the coming month. (It'll be interesting to see what's left for the end of the year!)

1) Writing
2) De-cluttering & organizing
3) Cooking, eating healthy & cleaning
4) Volunteering & helping
5) Being low-tech (especially outside of work hours)
6) Creating/Art/Glasswork
7) Money: Saving, Budgeting and Investing 101
8) Being joyful and "me" time
9) Meditation and exercise
10) Learning Danish
11) Intimacy and connections
12) Boundaries and Balance

Also, as an extra-credit challenge, I plan to explore something new in Boston at least once per month!

January seems an ideal month for de-cluttering and organizing, so I think I'll start there. And, I'm curious--if you were inspired to take the Change Challenge, what one thing would you devote a month to??

Tying Knots...

"When you reach the end of your rope,
tie a knot in it and hang on."
~Thomas Jefferson

Although this has long been one of my favorite quotes, it seems worth pointing out that the more knots you tie in a particular rope, the shorter the rope gets. In particularly trying times, your rope might be so short that you must grasp it white-knuckled with both hands while furtively scouting out the safest place to land without drowning or being eaten alive.

Of course, there is also a certain art to UNtying knots. To lengthening the rope until you're no longer hanging on for dear life because you find yourself picking up some momentum and suddenly you find yourself swinging with such envy-inducing wild abandon, and you remember that you can swim, after all, so what does it matter if you let go, really?