| If I have to pinpoint the most important | | | | the space your have cultivated in your |
| resolution to make for the New Year,it would | | | | relationship with God/Spirit.) It is also |
| be this--finding ways to de-clutter my life. | | | | important to understand that creation of any |
| Stress as we know it does not only come in | | | | kind affirms our relationship with our |
| the form of mental anguish. Much of it is | | | | Creator. And whatever it is that you wish to |
| experienced through the clutter we have in | | | | create, be it money, fame, achievement or the |
| our daily lives: unnecessary commitments that | | | | one ultimate creative act, your work will be |
| are standing in the way of doing what we | | | | that much more meaningful when you place it |
| really want to do. What we need to learn is | | | | within the grace of the Creator. |
| how to de-clutter our lives so that the road | | | | |
| to what we really want becomes clear. | | | | Now the elimination of clutter becomes easy. |
| | | | What can we identify as clutter? Do you need |
| Most of us have a vague notion of what we | | | | to make another trip to the mall? What about |
| want; but being able to define it clearly is | | | | the nightly hour before the television set? |
| another matter entirely. Do we want money, | | | | Taking on extra hours or extra |
| fame, achievement? Do we want to create | | | | responsibilities to please the boss? The less |
| something that we feel proud of, a legacy | | | | than necessary party invitation? |
| that we can leave behind as the one ultimate | | | | |
| creative act we can strive towards and | | | | There are responsibilities we cannot |
| materialize? | | | | eliminate, however. The children's hockey |
| | | | games and music lessons. But there is a way |
| And even if we have our goal defined, we are | | | | to "renovate" this clutter as well. How about |
| often side-tracked from it by the countless | | | | bringing your project to the hockey rink and |
| details in our lives. A goal or project | | | | creating private space there? Bringing your |
| demands time, uncluttered time and this is | | | | project to the waiting room of doctor's |
| the most significant aspect of creating. You | | | | offices, music lessons and making private |
| need space and time. Private space and | | | | time there? It was the time I had during my |
| private time. If there is a dream or vision | | | | son's weekly music studies in Toronto that |
| you are re-visiting on a regular basis, then | | | | allowed me the private space to complete a |
| it is time to make this dream a reality. This | | | | book. |
| means it is time to de-clutter your life, | | | | |
| give yourself the private time you need to | | | | The most debilitating excuse we can have is |
| make that goal possible. | | | | that we have no time to pursue our dream. We |
| | | | hear that often enough. But if we put our |
| How do we de-clutter our lives? Get rid of | | | | mind to the task, we can find some precious |
| things and activities that do not a) create a | | | | private moments in the clutter. And if we |
| bond between you and your family b) encourage | | | | give thanks for these moments, they will be |
| or enhance your private space( which includes | | | | appear more frequently in our lives. |