Losing weight is not the only way to feel lighter!

I've got to shout out to FlyLady.net for her amazing system!

I've been decluttering my office this month, 15 mins at a time. I was really shut down about this task because the office, though small, is where a LOT of paper clutter gathers. Since 2005 when I became ill, I have NOT been practicing good filing practices. As I go through my two 3 foot long drawers that are CRAMMED full of stuff - I'm amazed and what I'm finding. Old utility bills from as far back as 1998 when I moved into this house. Cell phone booklets from phones I had in the last millennia, a neighborhood directory from 14 yrs ago... Heck, half those people don't even live here any more!

So I've been sorting, shredding and recycling. It's a process - that's for sure. But with each paper that leaves my house, I'm lighter. Lighter in spirit - freed from this enormous albatross of STUFF that was deemed important but really is...well...NOT.

Cleaning out my file cabinet also gives me peace of mind that I know where my truly important documents are - my living will, my medical directives, my health records and the like. I know that if something should happen to me (and it could - I've had 3 close calls already) - I will NOT be leaving a legacy of junk and clutter for my friends and family to go through at a stressful time.

So THANK YOU to Flylady. Thank you for continuing to send out testimonials on people who've had to deal with the death of a loved one and all their possessions and clutter. My goal is to live lightly on this earth and leave as lightly as possible as well.

Next up - getting serious about end of life stuff - you know - fun stuff like what to do with my body, end of life celebrations, music, readings... It's one of those things no one likes to think about - but it's freeing to me to think I can have this set up so that it's as painless as possible for those I love.

Lest you think it's all morbidity over here - it's SO NOT. This experience is really freeing! It's brought my family closer together. It's pretty darn cool.

Peace out, Sparkies! I'm going to see if my shredder is up to tackling old paid bills from when I had a pager. A PAGER! That's such ancient technology!