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Room to Breathe Home Organizing & Staging 
 
Get Happy...Get Organized.
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It's Just Stuff!
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Simplicity Seekers Discussion Group

Join the Simplicity Seekers to discuss your organizing dilemmas, learn ways to live more simply, and know that you are NOT alone in your clutter struggles!
 
When:   Monday 8/10/2009
  
Time:    6:30p-7:30p at
Where: Schlow Library Downbrough Room B
Cost:    Zip, Zilch, Nada

Pre-Registration requested in order to attend the discussion. 
 
Please contact:
[email protected] or call 814.360.1063
 
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Testimonial

"You are amazing!"

-Jennifer K. Boalsburg, PA
Quick Links
 
WiNGs- Women's Network Group for Women Entrepreneurs 
  

Motivational Quote

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the wholestaircase, just take the first step." 
 
- Dr. Martin Luther King
Issue: # 29 July 2009
Greetings!
I mentioned last month that we have been busy, busy, busy at Room to Breathe and that was putting it lightly.  And despite the influx of extra projects and things going on we remain to be on top things both at work and at home.  Is it appropriate to provide our own testimonial?  Oh well when have we ever been appropriate anyway..where's the fun in that?  ;)
 
"Living simply and with only the things we need for day to day life allows us to live freely.  Extra work and responsibilities are easily absorbed because of fully functional organizing systems in place.  A little bit of tweaking here or there allows us to still accomplish as much as we wish and live our lives the way we enjoy."
 
We are amazed every day at how much you are living with you just don't need.  Are you tired of storing, moving, maintaining, cleaning, losing or anything else that stresses you out about your stuff? 
 
What if I said, "It's just stuff!"?
 
I'm going to dare you for the next 30 days to try simplifying your life.  I bet you'll end up saying you wished you had done it sooner.  :)
 
If you never try, you never know what can be!

I look forward to working with you soon!
 
Simply Yours,
 
-Jessica, Bringer of Order 
It's Just Stuff!
Simplify
Are you feeling constrained?  Are you moving or downsizing? Do you struggle to find things?  Are you seeking more space in your environment?    Or it could be something as simple as losing an item and you 'Know I have it somewhere in here!'
 
As we move about our busy lives, we gather pieces to remind us of who, what, where, when and how we came to be where we are.  It isn't until we sense discomfort, frustration, annoyance or a general lack of time and space that we question what might not be working efficiently.  We become stuck and unable to move towards our future.  The intentions are there but the difficulty is in stepping forward to make a change.  The wisdom of living consists in the elimination of the non-essentials.  Each of our things flows in and out of our lives on a temporary basis; our outer world is a reflection of our inner world.
 
There is more to decluttering than just being neat and tidy.  The more space we create the more positive energy flows into our immediate surroundings with a more beneficial effect on our lives.  Decluttering appears to be a physical act of getting rid of items.  In getting rid of excess belongings we create an opportunity for new situations and new events to enter our lives on many different levels.  We are often afraid to let go of the past or fear that we won't have enough support or protection in the future.  The more we release the past and unclutter space, the easier it is to move to a new perspective of living and balance.   Once clutter is gone life moves in new directions.
Are you hanging onto piles of stuff for no better reason than guilt? There are good reasons to hang on to stuff, but guilt is definitely not one of them! Join us as we work to let go of our guilt along with our clutter!

1. Don't Throw It Away: Sometimes it's hard to let go of clutter because we feel guilty about throwing things away. Letting go doesn't necessarily mean throwing away. Here are two ideas out of many: Donate to a local charitable organization or place items on Centre Countyu FreeCycle.  You won't fill the landfill with your stuff and may just make someone else very happy with your castoff!

You will never recover full value, but some is better than none. If you donate to a charity, someone else can benefit from your generosity, plus you are able to take a tax deduction for charitable donations. If you elect to have a yard sale, schedule a truck from a charity to pick up what doesn't sell.

2. But It Cost $! Are you held back by guilt because you spent money on something--even if you are getting no value from it? In this case, you are feeling needless guilt. Once the money is spent, it's gone. Unless you are able to return the item for full value-- doubtful at best--the money is gone. The best thing you can do is to let go of the needless guilt along with the unneeded clutter.

3. Helping Others: When you are at the point of letting go of the clutter, try donating items to the following types of organizations: women's shelters, homeless shelters, children's groups at churches, preschools and day cares--even church youth groups, women's ministries and nursing homes.

Items like toiletries, clothing and bedding would be greatly appreciated at shelters. Items like craft supplies would be appreciated by preschools, day cares, nursing homes and church groups. Knowing you are helping others can alleviate a lot of unnecessary guilt.

4. Wishing you had more time to do fun things with the family? One of the things we often fail to take into account is the amount of time our clutter claims. The more stuff we have, the more we have to maintain , clean, take care of, etc. When you get rid of the clutter, you have more free time to enjoy with your family and friends.

5. But it was a gift!! Whatever the gift is--it very likely was given to you without strings. Once given, the recipient gets to decide whether or not to keep it. If it is something you truly don't love and won't use, re-gift it (just be careful not to re-gift it to the original gifter), donate it, sell it, give it away, or toss it. You could also exchange it for something you do love and will use.

6. It Has Sentimental Value! Are you hanging on to Great Aunt Agnes' item just because it was hers? Donating the item does not eliminate the memories you have of the person who gave it to you. Take a picture of the item . You will always have your memories regardless of whether you have the item, and looking at a picture will evoke the memories just as well as looking at the item itself, without the clutter.

7. Simplicity and Serenity: You Deserve Them! When our lives are cluttered and chaotic, serenity often escapes us. But each of us should be living simplified and serene lives. By removing the clutter from your home and your schedule, you are much more likely to reach simplicity and serenity. If we are honest with ourselves, when we have schedules and homes that are packed to the max with stuff, all we feel is frenzied and confused, not serene.

Begin to remove the extraneous stuff and take steps that get you closer to simplified and serene.

8. One Person's Trash: You've heard that one person's trash is another person's treasure. It really is true. When you donate items to thrift stores like Goodwill you are helping in more ways than one. The people who can't afford to buy new are able to afford your gently used items and consider it great when they find nice things in their price ranges. It also benefits disabled workers who are employed by organizations like Goodwill. A wonderful use for our stuff!

9. Less Housework!! How much time does cleaning take you? When you have lots of stuff around, it takes lots longer to clean and dust. Now I don't know about you , but anything that reduces housework is a good thing in my mind!

So start donating that extra stuff and you'll find it much quicker and easier to clean your house--leaving you free to do much more fun stuff!

10. Drop in guests are not a worry! Do you hate to have drop in guests because there is so much stuff you don't want anyone to see it? When you reduce the clutter, you not only aren't worried about clutter, you welcome guests, planned or drop-in! You may even find that you want to entertain more!


So let's all help each other become more organized today.  Sound like a plan? 
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