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BACK HOME...THEN ON THE ROAD AGAIN! (OR, BEFORE YOU TRAVEL, LET GO!)
Dear Friends and Family, Old and New, Near and Far:
My late summer and early fall was a time of re-connecting and re-grouping in both Indiana where I am from and in Pennsylvania where I lived for many years. I've been more or less on the move (should we say "peripatetic?" as one of my friends suggested?) for about 15 months. When asked, I describe myself as a 'Contemporary Nomad," though fortunately my mode of transportation is not a camel. I did however, "inherit" a Honda Accord with far less cargo space than my Chrysler van, so another "de-accessioning" was in order.
Yes, evaluating and discarding possessions is a recurring theme, and again, one I urge you to address. Having cleaned out my cousin's house in Indianapolis in August (the 3rd in 2 years, after mine and my parents') I can attest that we ALL keep too much STUFF. I'm convinced that storing and maintaining this stuff is a weight on our psyche and prevents us from transitioning into a freer lifestyle, if not from following our dreams or moving to a new location.
Though it's potentially a huge embarrassment to me, here's a horrifying site: it's the contents of several travel  cases of
cosmetics and grooming products spread out so I could evaluate and discard them.
To avoid this type of chaos, my suggestions are:
1. Examine your storage areas, if stuff is crammed in or falls out when you open the door, evaluating and reducing is imperative. What's in those boxes in the attic or garage, anyway? Why are you keeping them?
2. Refuse to buy or bring anything new into your house unless you discard something else.
3. Have a garage sale, sell stuff on ebay or on consignment. It's a lotta work, let me tell you; yet if you need money, start organizing. Or trade clothing, toys, jewelry with your friends.
3. Give, give, give it away if it's remotely useful and you haven't touched it for weeks/months/a year. Many people now need good lightly used clothing, accessories, housewares.
4. Restrain yourself! Before you buy anything, ask yourself if your REALLY need it or if you're buying it to satiate some hidden desire. Will that expensive skin cream really make you look younger? Or that dress attract a sweetheart? Or that equipment truly add to your efficiency??? Will the economy fail if you don't buy that flat screen TV??
5. Pay attention to paperwork. Most of us have piles of files, old tax papers, magazines, and old photos... sometimes all jumbled together. Puh-lease get that stuff in order before something happens to you and an unfortunate relative or friend has to do it.
6. Check your bathroom! If the contents could make a pile like that above, start there! Especially discard old medications.
I'm not a professional organizer, though I recently reconnected with Sylvia Jesse McClintick, who is. Go to her website, www.TameTheChaos.com, for more tips or to schedule a consultation. She gave me valuable advice when I still had my house and studio.
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ON CREATIVITY AND SHARING YOUR GIFTS
I just discovered this quote by renowned dancer Martha Graham which inspired me and I hope will do the same for you.
'There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other  expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.'"
As we approach the holidays and this New Year of 2012, let us evaluate what we are doing in the world. In our own particular way, we have the potential to be Light-Givers, sometimes igniting a spark in someone we will never see.
As I remember both the beauty and the poverty I have witnessed in my travels this year, I bow in gratitude for the good fortune I experience, to the friends and family who have welcomed and sheltered me in several cities, and to the creators and preservers of culture who continue to inspire our daily living.
I wish you peace and joy wherever this finds you. As always, take care of your special selves, live creatively, cherish those near and dear, and make your dreams a reality.
Abrazos!
Elena
Elena Hiatt Houlihan
Moving Images
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MUSE BRIEFS:
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At the moment, The Wandering Muse is pausing in Los Angeles, en route to Hawaii to have Christmas with my son and brother's family. Yes, those airline points I saved for years are finally being put to good use. After New Year's, I'll be returning to Puerto Vallarta to reconnect with friends there, and revel in ocean sunsets.
Here I am in Santa Monica, surrounded by the lush philodendrons in a photo taken by Warren Levinson, son of my friend Rhoda.
And if you, too, want to maxi- mize your air miles to fly to distant climes, check out the blog of Chris Gillebeau, who has written a "manifesto" on getting there faster.
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ANOTHER
UNREALISTIC LIFE:
For the past few days, I've been the guest of Rhoda Lurie, Importer Extraordinaire, in Santa Monica. Rhoda has been having one of her annual sales and to be in her home/gallery is to be surrounded by outstanding art and artifacts from around the globe.
Silver neckpieces from China, intricate puppets from Indonesia, gold and wine silks from Thailand, beaded  sculptures from Mexico tantalize her visitors. She has followed her dream of traveling to over 60 countries, and discovering the most unique items to delight our senses. Her indefatigable energy, artistic flair, and business acumen make her an inspirational example of people who do what they love.
See more exotic wares at:
http://www.rhodesigns.com/
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NOTE: You may be a close friend or relative, someone who's genuinely interested in the continuing saga of my book or my meanderings, a teacher or student I've worked with, an editor I'm trying to impress, a perfect stranger I met briefly on the night bus to Palenque, or had an intense conversation with on the beach at Playa del Carmen, even a temporary tango partner. Perhaps you've forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you! Since I'm NOT making any promises to make you RICH, BRILLIANT or FAMOUS in 5 easy steps (not yet anyway), if my stories and observations don't enliven your day, then hit UNSUBSCRIBE. If you've been forwarded this newsletter, please click below to subscribe. Merci mille fois! Y muchas gracias!
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