Comments on: DO YOU OWN YOUR STUFF - OR DOES IT OWN YOU? http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/ FROM THE EVERYDAY . . . TO THE SLIGHTLY OUTRAGEOUS . . . TO THE EVERLASTING . . . WE COVER IT HERE! Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:17:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Regina Leeds http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-123 Regina Leeds Sat, 01 Sep 2007 22:57:43 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-123 Wayne Dyer is right about the 80/20 observation. I would add something from my 20 years as an organizer. A lot of stuff, especially a lot of clothing, represents what I call 'fake prosperity.' One peers into the closet and sees all that stuff and unconsciously observes: "Wow! I must be doing great! Look at all that's here!" Our piles, no matter of paper or cloth, are simply unmade decisions. Want to experience more power and control? Start making decisions! It never fails to build one's self esteem. Blessings, Regina The Zen Organizer Wayne Dyer is right about the 80/20 observation. I would add something from my 20 years as an organizer. A lot of stuff, especially a lot of clothing, represents what I call ‘fake prosperity.’ One peers into the closet and sees all that stuff and unconsciously observes: “Wow! I must be doing great! Look at all that’s here!” Our piles, no matter of paper or cloth, are simply unmade decisions.

Want to experience more power and control? Start making decisions! It never fails to build one’s self esteem.

Blessings,
Regina
The Zen Organizer

]]> By: Regina Leeds http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-122 Regina Leeds Sat, 01 Sep 2007 22:52:58 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-122 To avoid getting overwhelmed, remember this: the whole of anything is overwhelming. To achieve success, you have to narrow your focus and work in small increments. Set aside some time to get organized and decide what you are going to tackle. Forget the rest of the house exists! Rome was not built in a day, neither was any home organized in one! Enjoy the process...it's part and parcel of this great journey called life! Blessings, Regina The Zen Organizer To avoid getting overwhelmed, remember this: the whole of anything is overwhelming. To achieve success, you have to narrow your focus and work in small increments. Set aside some time to get organized and decide what you are going to tackle. Forget the rest of the house exists! Rome was not built in a day, neither was any home organized in one!

Enjoy the process…it’s part and parcel of this great journey called life!

Blessings,
Regina
The Zen Organizer

]]> By: Joni http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-119 Joni Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:26:58 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-119 Its so true that there is an energy shift when you clean out and get organized. My problem is that I start in one place but quickly realize that the whole house is a mess, then I get overwhelmed and nothing gets done. Any suggestions to overcoming this problem? Its so true that there is an energy shift when you clean out and get organized. My problem is that I start in one place but quickly realize that the whole house is a mess, then I get overwhelmed and nothing gets done. Any suggestions to overcoming this problem?

]]> By: Peggy http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-116 Peggy Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:17:59 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-116 I am a thrower-outer par excellence at my office but at home - not so good. I am addicted to black turtle necks and in the past 15 years have not thrown out even one!! Wayne Dyer recently said it's the 80/20 theory. We just wear 20% of the clothes we have and the rest just hang there collecting dust. Feng shui says that when you clean out a drawer, there is an energy shift and that something in your emotional/spiritual world get uncluttered. Try it - it works. Start small or you might find yourself divorced. And this Fall I am going to go thru my turtle necks and take some of them to a place where I am sure they will find a happy home. The ratty ones, I'm tossing!!!! I am a thrower-outer par excellence at my office but at home - not so good. I am addicted to black turtle necks and in the past 15 years have not thrown out even one!! Wayne Dyer recently said it’s the 80/20 theory. We just wear 20% of the clothes we have and the rest just hang there collecting dust.
Feng shui says that when you clean out a drawer, there is an energy shift and that something in your emotional/spiritual world get uncluttered. Try it - it works. Start small or you might find yourself divorced. And this Fall I am going to go thru my turtle necks and take some of them to a place where I am sure they will find a happy home. The ratty ones, I’m tossing!!!!

]]> By: Personal Growth with Corinne Edwards » DO YOU OWN YOUR STUFF - OR DOES IT OWN YOU? - Comment by Regina Leeds http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-114 Personal Growth with Corinne Edwards » DO YOU OWN YOUR STUFF - OR DOES IT OWN YOU? - Comment by Regina Leeds Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:03:39 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-114 [...] see this article in full without digging through my archives click on http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/   Please read it and then come back [...] [...] see this article in full without digging through my archives click on http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/   Please read it and then come back [...]

]]> By: Regina Leeds http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-113 Regina Leeds Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:49:48 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-113 It was so wonderful to read this entry, Corinne, and learn of your hard work! I remember that visit to Chicago as if it were yesterday. I wanted to make a few comments, if that's OK. 1. Old sheets and towels are always appreciated by your local vet or animal hospital. If you're an animal person like I am, this will make you feel really good! I drop off all of my clients old linens at my vet's office. When your dog or cat as to stay overnight, by the way, be sure and bring something with your scent on it...and maybe a favorite towel to line their cage. 2.I wasn't sure which shoe boxes you purchased, Corinne, so I wanted to say my favorite is the acrylic shoe box with a pull out drawer. You can stack your shoes (in color order of course!) and see what you have. I get the large size intended for men's shoes because it can handle ladies high heels oh so well! If space is an issue, you can use a canvas, over the door, shoe hanging holder for your athletic shoes and store your evening shoes up on a shelf (in an acrylic shoe box of course!). 3. I do prefer to do the entire closet at once, however, I understand if one can't whether the consideration is financial, emotional or time. It's important to work one garment at a time. When I read a piece and see the suggestion is to first take everything out, I cringe ... whatever you decide to keep is going to end up wrinkled! 4. I like my clients to confer with their own tax person about how long to keep records. I can, however, share what my tax lady advises me. To wit: keep the actual returns forever; keep the back up material for 3 years if you are an individual and for 7 if you are a corportaion. Each state has specific guidelines....for example, here in California we have to keep such material for 4 years. The IRS will go back to 1988 ONLY if they suspect you of fraud. I think you can start shredding, Corinne! "One Year to an Organized Life" will be out in Janaury. Perseus is the publisher. It's really a work of love on my part. I've wanted to write this book for over 5 years! The year is broken into 12 months of projects. And every month begins with a search into the past to find out how today's space challenges were created. Next we craft a plan. Then we get up on our feet and start organzing! "The Idiot's Guide to Decluttering" that just came out this past May is designed to be a reference guide. You decide, for example, that today you want to organize your DVD's and voila! you find the instructions. My blessings to all of your readers...especially those willing to embark on the great adventure of creating an organized life. Regina It was so wonderful to read this entry, Corinne, and learn of your hard work! I remember that visit to Chicago as if it were yesterday.

I wanted to make a few comments, if that’s OK.

1. Old sheets and towels are always appreciated by your local vet or animal hospital. If you’re an animal person like I am, this will make you feel really good! I drop off all of my clients old linens at my vet’s office.

When your dog or cat as to stay overnight, by the way, be sure and bring something with your scent on it…and maybe a favorite towel to line their cage.

2.I wasn’t sure which shoe boxes you purchased, Corinne, so I wanted to say my favorite is the acrylic shoe box with a pull out drawer. You can stack your shoes (in color order of course!) and see what you have. I get the large size intended for men’s shoes because it can handle ladies high heels oh so well!

If space is an issue, you can use a canvas, over the door, shoe hanging holder for your athletic shoes and store your evening shoes up on a shelf (in an acrylic shoe box of course!).

3. I do prefer to do the entire closet at once, however, I understand if one can’t whether the consideration is financial, emotional or time. It’s important to work one garment at a time.

When I read a piece and see the suggestion is to first take everything out, I cringe … whatever you decide to keep is going to end up wrinkled!

4. I like my clients to confer with their own tax person about how long to keep records. I can, however, share what my tax lady advises me. To wit: keep the actual returns forever; keep the back up material for 3 years if you are an individual and for 7 if you are a corportaion. Each state has specific guidelines….for example, here in California we have to keep such material for 4 years.

The IRS will go back to 1988 ONLY if they suspect you of fraud. I think you can start shredding, Corinne!

“One Year to an Organized Life” will be out in Janaury. Perseus is the publisher. It’s really a work of love on my part. I’ve wanted to write this book for over 5 years! The year is broken into 12 months of projects. And every month begins with a search into the past to find out how today’s space challenges were created. Next we craft a plan. Then we get up on our feet and start organzing!

“The Idiot’s Guide to Decluttering” that just came out this past May is designed to be a reference guide. You decide, for example, that today you want to organize your DVD’s and voila! you find the instructions.

My blessings to all of your readers…especially those willing to embark on the great adventure of creating an organized life.

Regina

]]> By: Corinne http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-112 Corinne Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:06:14 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-112 Thanks for responding, Joanna. I met Regina because she was a guest on my TV show. Great interview, by the way. She is a dynamo! She is my mentor. If I could only get it together - all at once! She has an additional book coming out at the end of the year, by the way. Check Amazon.com for more information! Checked out your interesting site! Love it. Thanks for responding, Joanna. I met Regina because she was a guest on my TV show. Great interview, by the way. She is a dynamo!

She is my mentor. If I could only get it together - all at once!

She has an additional book coming out at the end of the year, by the way. Check Amazon.com for more information!

Checked out your interesting site! Love it.

]]> By: Joanna Campbell Slan http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-111 Joanna Campbell Slan Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:48:54 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-111 Regina Leeds is also a real sweetie. She suggested someone interested in scrapbooking check out my website www.scrapbookstorytelling.com and sign up for my ezine. I love her book! She's fantastic--and I didn't know she had a new one. Thanks for sharing! Regina Leeds is also a real sweetie. She suggested someone interested in scrapbooking check out my website http://www.scrapbookstorytelling.com and sign up for my ezine. I love her book! She’s fantastic–and I didn’t know she had a new one. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Louise http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/do-you-own-your-stuff-or-does-it-own-you/#comment-17 Louise Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:42:58 +0000 http://www.personal-growth-with-corinne-edwards.com/?p=12#comment-17 Very sage advice, and I hate to admit I already have color coded my closet but I am STILL a pack rat! Very sage advice, and I hate to admit I already have color coded my closet but I am STILL a pack rat!

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