Merry Christmas and don’t be surprised if I am not back for a while. I am enjoying my family.

All I want for Christmas are my chickadees back in their nest and that is what I got today.

I am grateful and blessed for I have much to be thankful for.

When I was young, I used to love to spend hours outdoors, especially with my cat Misty, in the shade under a tree right under one of my bedroom windows. I loved to look out of my windows; one by my twin bed of two and the other above my favorite of two desks. I loved to watch the seasons change. My preferred location was this painted wooden tableau overlooking our backyard and beyond. To the right was a wooded lot where I spent many a day having acorn fights. I climbed the limbs of the oaks with finesse and familiarity.

Sometimes, I walked home from school through ‘down Polly’s’ which was the name of a forested field you could cut through. Most days, I used the residential streets which was the main route and walked in groups. As each child came to their house, the number of our group would drop, till everyone was home.

I remember my room as a sanctuary.

Laughter – Humor – Comedy

What I think is funny might not be to others. Some amusing situations are universal. But hilarity can be personal too.

There is dry humor, black or dark humor, physical/accident prone humor like Chevy Chase, Lucy Ball and the 3 stooges, wry humor, sarcastic humor, intelligent humor, potty humor, puns and language humor, self-deprecating humor, observational humor…and the list goes on…

What is your favorite? What makes you slap your knees? What gives you the giggles?

We all could use a lightness through the holidays (and during remodels).

Here’s a good plan to do over and over:

1. Declutter/ReEvaluate/Re-Group
2. Dream – Gather Information. Expand.
3. Clarify/Renew – How can this become something more? See the big picture. Can it help others?
4. Focus with Laser intensity. Goals and Intentions.
5. Do/Become/Organize
6. Celebrate Successes

What I have found from investigating, radically sifting through, organizing and throwing stuff out is that I feel lighter, more creative and happier. Now I know I can live with less or just enough. Now I know I am worthy to live with only what brings me joy, beauty or practical usage. I have let go of guilt, shame and baggage, all from decluttering.

I have a pile of things for kids to choose from or toss. I boxed and put away special, sentimental items that no longer fit but I still cannot give up.

Clutter was taking up my energy. It was overwhelming. I thought I needed to stop acquiring and start discarding, but that wasn’t enough. I realized after seriously scrutinizing and questioning my issue that I was healing as I let go.  I breathed in the phenomenon of knowing I was enough and then, I exhaled in gratitude.

Sometimes in life, suffering a little is better than not because it moves you forward, deepens your commitment and elevates your desire.

Rarely is suffering not attached with a gift.

On the other hand, when the road is too easy, paved with lots of advantages, praise, encouragement and/or money, it can keep you unfulfilled, unsure and weak.

To self empower ourselves we need to develop strength and earn another vertebrae in our spine.