Out with the old...

Have you ever wondered why you hang on to stuff? I mean really old stuff...

For me, the trigger is emotional. I tend to keep things that hold a strong emotional reminder. Sentimental attachments can be paralyzing and over time they can take over your home. Watching a cool series on HGTV called "Neat"http://www.neattv.com/aboutHellen.html, I've learned that I am not the only one who has boxes and boxes of mementos, keepsakes, worn out things,etc....simply because they remind me of someone or something in my past.

Letting go of these things can be emotionally taxing and difficult; however, the release and freedom that one experiences shortly after it's accomplished.....well---it's very fullfilling and quite liberating.

Yesterday, I packed up about 50+ magazines that were gathering dust up on a shelf in my closet. I had Martha Stewart issues, Cooking magazines and Marie Engelbreit magazines dating back to 1998! Ouch! It didn't take long to do the math....10 years!

The problem with magazines is that if I don't make time to look at them right away, they tend to pile up. With all good intentions, I make it a point to "someday" read them...get caught up. I even reorganize them and put them in date order....oldest to newest so I don't miss a thing. HA! That's yet to work.

Helen Buttigieg, professional organizer from the show "Neat"http://www.neattv.com/aboutHellen.html addresses this very issue and advises people to just let go and move on...start fresh.

My attic is full of keepsakes and mementos from all my kids' school projects, toys, clothing....even my mom's suitcase filled with some of her prized clothing outfits. She died almost 10 years ago....and I've yet been able to give those clothes away.
This will be the toughest and most difficult thing to do so the suitcase remains next to the Christmas boxes...

Helen claims that having these things around cause undue stress and rob us of our energy. I sure can see that...because they are always there waiting to be dealt with.

2008 will be the year that I face some of these issues....God willing. After all, why would I want to pass all this stuff on to my kids to deal with?

New Beginnings...indeed.

The year is off to a better start than the end of the year. My dad is doing well and has a follow up appointment in a month to see about a potential bypass procedure. He also had a birthday a few days ago and celebrated 77 years! I am going to be interviewing him about his life and recording his responses so that I can begin writing a book about his life. I am in awe each time he pulls out yet another scrap book filled with pictures, news paper clippings etc. of numerous statues, monuments, films....etc. etc....He even has a statue in the Vatican in Rome!

My dad has always been a quietly modest man and never boasted of his accomplishments. I think it's time that the world sees just all he has done...so stay tuned as this will be my first attempt at writing a biographical book. My dad has always told me that he knew that I was destined to become a writer of books. My schedule is pretty hectic so it will be a feat to make time here and there to even begin this project...

So what's new? My son in Japan has renewed his contract for another year....I was hoping that he would decide to come home after 2 and a half years....but this isn't the case....Hopefully he will come home in May for a short visit. 5,000+ miles is too far and I miss him so much. He calls often but it's not the same.

My daughter is back in her dorm and really enjoying her first year in college. It was nice to have her home...but I feel like I didn't get to spend much time with her since I was with my dad so much...I read her blog daily to see what she's up to. I am so proud of her! She's become quite an accomplished knitter too....

So, with the new year....old resolutions surface:

*establishdaily devotions/Bible study
*lose some weight
*start running again (no more marathons!)
*Spend more time with friends
*complete my degree! (10/08!)
*Clean out my closet
*purge the "closet" <----this closet-in my office-- is the "catch all and needs to be cleaned out!
*Start my dad's Biography
*Blog more regularly
*Read my books
*Play my guitar

I think this is plenty to start off...I may tweak this list later!

Blessings....