Gratitude

Gratitude List

/

This is the time of year where we get so caught up in the holidays that we sometimes forget the little and not so little things in our lives that really matter. The Decluttering/Organizing Tip in this week’s newsletter is to take 5-10 minutes and write down the things we are truly grateful for.

Decluttering/Organizing Tip – Gratitude

A quick way to catch your breath, put a smile on your face, and relax is to write out a Gratitude List.

  • Gather a pen or pencil, a piece of paper or notebook and a timer (optional). Sit down some place quiet where you can write. If necessary you can go to a bathroom, or even a lighted closet to get away from the hustle and bustle around you.
  • Set the timer for 5-10 minutes. Write down as many things as you can that you are truly grateful for. Your health, your family’s health, the roof over your head, food on the table, your children’s smiles and kisses, etc.
  • When you are done writing this list read it over a couple of times. You should be breathing slower now. You should be more relaxed and not sweating about all the little things that aren’t really that important. You should have a smile on your face.
  • Now go enjoy your family and friends and the holidays. Anytime you start feeling overwhelmed or frazzled, go read the list again. You could even put the list on your fridge or bathroom mirror to constantly remind you of what really counts.

Happy Holidays

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Gratitude List Read More »

Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #6

/

Do you get caught up in spending too much for gifts? We have been conditioned to think that the price of a gift shows the person how much we love them. It’s time to rethink the idea of “expensive” gifts equals more love.

The easiest way to change this kind of thinking is to have a family meeting and set a limit on how much anyone should spend on one another. This idea can apply to friends or co-workers as well. This will help you plan out your budget and stay within it.

Setting limits on how much is spent per gift/person will eliminate the competition for who loves someone more. You won’t get stressed out and go broke trying to show your love.

Time is more precious than gold. Giving the gift of your time shows more love than any material gift can.

If you have any tips to share please leave them in the comment section.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Simplify Your Holidays – Tip #6 Read More »

How to Simplify the Holiday Season

/

The holiday season is suppose to bring joy, peace, and gratitude for our family, our homes, and our friends. This is the ideal situation.

But for most people the reality is far from the ideal. With the economy the way it is many are struggling just to keep a roof over their head. Others are living in a chaotic mess both figuratively and literally.

So how do we find joy, peace, and gratitude in our lives? One way is to step back and take a good look at our surroundings and learn to simplify. There are areas of your life you can’t change at the moment but there are plenty that you can change. Many are small changes you can do that will help you move closer to the true meaning of this holiday season.

Here are some suggestions.

Holiday Decorations:

Do you look forward to unpacking boxes and boxes and boxes of decorations or are you feeling overwhelmed and dreading it? If you love it, then go for it! But if you are dreading all the work and time then take a few moments to think about why you do something you don’t enjoy.

Maybe this is the year to only take out a few favorite decorations and leave the rest packed up. Would the lack of massive decorations kill the spirit of the holiday for you? Probably not. Fewer decorations (and work) just may help your home look and feel more peaceful.

Presents: clip_image001

When it comes to the economy some are feeling it worse than others. However, we all want the most for our money. But this time of year we sometimes forget that it is the thought that counts and not how much we spend or how many gifts we give or receive.

You can reduce the stress (and clutter) by cutting back on your gift giving to family and friends. At the same time you may want to give more to those less fortunate.

Many local charities have a list of items that some of the neediest families in your home town need. Some charities have you pick a family (anonymously) and purchase some or all the things on their list. This could be the groceries needed for a holiday dinner or clothes such as a robe or slippers or even a winter coat. Get your children involved in the shopping and help them realize how important it is to help others. This helps you and your family put gratitude back into the season.

Holiday Meals:

We all have special foods we expect each year. It’s also fun to try new recipes. If you do all the planning, preparing, and cooking for the big family celebrations it may be time to let others help out.

Have different family members or friends who come to your home also bring a part of the meal. Don’t be afraid to ask. Most people would be honored if asked to bring a special dish. When everyone contributes to the meal they each get a chance to be complimented on their dish. They are no longer just a guest but part of the inner circle.

When everyone helps out it takes a lot of work and stress off of the main hostess. This helps put joy back in the season for everyone, not just the guests.

Small changes can add up. Don’t try to do it all, buy it all, or cook it all. This is the time where less really can be more – more joy, more peace, more gratitude.

Please share any ideas you may have in the comment section. Thanks.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

How to Simplify the Holiday Season Read More »

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

/

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I feel very strongly about helping other women learn more about early detection. It’s a scary subject and no one wants to feel vulnerable. But knowledge is power.

We can’t control everything that happens to us but we can do everything within our power to reduce our risks factors as much as possible. We can do self-screening tests and a mammogram when needed. If found early, survival rates are so much greater.

Hopefully, someday soon a cure will be found. More importantly hopefully someday there will be a way to prevent breast cancer so no woman has to go through what I and hundreds of thousands of other survivors and non-survivors have gone through. Knowledge is power and together we can create a brighter future.

So check out these links to get you started on learning all you can. Forward these links to all the women you know so they can gain the knowledge.

http://www.nbcam.org/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month.asp

http://komen.org/

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Read More »

Remembering 9/11

/

We go about our days getting irritated by the little things such as someone else’s car accident causing heavy traffic making us late for work. Or we’re behind someone in the grocery store line who doesn’t have enough money and has to decide what to put back, slowing everything down. Now we have to rush to get home so dinner can be served on time.

It’s when we remember tragedies like 9/11 that we put the human factor back into our thinking. Instead of being irritated about being late for work, be grateful you weren’t the one in the accident. Have empathy for the people who were. Their lives will be forever changed, whether it’s only a bad memory of a minor accident or a life changing event due to major injuries or even death of a loved one or friend.

That person in the line at the grocery store may just be unorganized. Or they may be struggling to put food on the table for their children after a job loss or other financial struggles.

We never know what is going to happen to us nor do we know what other people are going through. In the days, weeks, and months following September 11, 2001 most people in this country showed more empathy towards their fellow man/woman. The little irritating things became unimportant. Family, health, friends, a sense of community, caring about others, pride for our country, became the important things.

Unfortunately we seem to have forgotten these things. Since that time we have become a country of people divided on both sides of the fence with a them vs. us attitude. Whether it is the war, health care, the economy, or any other area we are affected by or have an opinion on, maybe it’s time to at least try to see what the other side is seeing. Step into their shoes for just a moment.

We don’t need another 9/11 to remind us of what is important. Just remembering, truly remembering, the feelings we felt that day and beyond can help us get back to recognizing what makes this country great – it’s people caring about each other in spite of their differences.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Remembering 9/11 Read More »