Letting go

Talk about time warp! Yes, I'm still here. You possibly wondered if I was ever coming back... thanks to those of you that have taken the time to write me and ask if I'm okay.

I've been in a Renovation Time Warp! If you've ever gone through a home renovation, you KNOW exactly what I've been involved in and coping with. Quite honestly, though I can do without the dust and dirt and noise, I have been very hands-on with various aspects of the project and actually feeling alive with the process!

• For days, I painted walls.
• Next, I refinished the doors, mouldings, other woodwork to "like new."
  
• I de-cluttered throughout the entire loft... and now know EVERY single item that's here... only chosen items stayed.
  
  Broken, cracked or non-working items got thrown out.
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• Goodwill was gifted with much excess... how I LOVE letting go.
  
  Being a furniture refinisher by trade, I even rejuvenated all of our antique pieces of furniture.
• I reupholstered a chair and created new pillows.
• 
  
• Finally, all the old carpets got replaced, as did the bathroom floor. Luscious, new, light and bright, clean open spaces! I am so happy with the transformation.
  
  The other spill-over project that happened as a result of new carpets coming…
  The big photo gallery wall leading to the loft looked tired, so I quickly painted THAT, too. The best part? I took the 50 or so photos down, bought new frames, printed out a bunch of my recent images and have been assembling that project in the evenings. I can hardly wait to enjoy this dazzling, new photo arrangement as we climb the staircase to the loft from now on.

Here are two of my FAVORITE photos now hang in my home office... they SO inspire me...

(C)2007 Photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved

(C)2007 Photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved.

I have been away, but I've been having hands-on fun with my creativity. Renovations are sort of like transformational therapy.

That’s the long and short of my life right now… cleaning, painting, more painting, re-upholstering, refinishing our furniture, getting stuff out of storage, creating and framing photos, more cleaning, fixing dings in the new paint from furniture being moved around, etc. Whew!

I anticipate life will reassume “normality” next week and I'll talk to you much more frequently again.

Warmly, Carolyn

www.life-balance-success.com

Clean Sweep for (Physical and Psychological) Space

Hello again!

Each time I've walked into our dressing room / closet lately I've felt overwhelmed... knowing exactly why... it was time to purge the excess!

Are you like me? Richard and I tend to keep things "because we might use them at some point." The truth is though, the excess sweaters and tights, the unused purses and footwear were crowding me and my closet made me feel claustrophobic lately. I knew it was time to do a clean sweep!

I weeded through EVERY item on the racks, the drawers, on the shelves and my shoe rack and the hour I spent doing so made a huge difference in function and feeling! As a result, I have a rather big bag of un-used items for goodwill that someone else can now get some use out of, because I certainly wasn't.

If you haven't uncluttered for awhile, I HIGHLY recommend it... the result is wonderful! I kept all the clothes, shoes and purses that I use and are dear to my heart, but let go of all the excess that made me want to avoid my closet. I've ALSO created space... AND, you know what THAT means... an invitation for new items to come in. I am smiling.

How's that for wonderful!!??!!

Next, I'll be tackling the big drawer stacked full of photographs that got printed but never found their way into albums. Photos onto CDs... that's the answer for this dilemma.

The truth is... clutter clutters! It drains energy and clogs up space... physical and emotional space. Clutter is the reason there's SO much claustrophobia in this world now! :)

I recommend (from experience) that you give yourself some breathing room, as I did, and clean out a closet for a super difference in your home (or work space).

Let me know how it goes... I bet you'll feel as I do... liberated.

Warmly, Carolyn

Inner Fitnesss(R) Programs

www.innerfitness.ca