It feels good to sit down because I've been on my feet a lot lately. I'm still walking dogs at the Humane Society with Clara; I've upped my work-out routine; and I've been packing boxes and putting things away from the spare bedroom. The latter two, a result of work I've been doing thanks to my one little word for 2014 - illuminate.
I bought this beautiful ring from Lisa Leonard to help keep my word visible. In the past, I've bought One Little Word necklaces from her, but my word this year was too long, so I poked around her site until I found this ring. In addition to "illuminate," the words "clarify" and "lighten" are also stamped inside. I love it!
And it has definitely kept me on track with my word. I joined a weight loss challenge at my gym, and I've completely changed the way I eat . . . definitely for the better. I've only lost four pounds in the first two weeks, but I feel so much better. My energy level is through the roof; my clothes are fitting a little better; and my hot flashes have disappeared completely. I'm also working out more, and I've got another new piece of jewelry to help me with that - a fit bit! I love the gizmo (which tracks your steps and activity levels), but it definitely needs a better clasp as it keeps falling off. Recently, it went missing four almost two weeks!
Luckily, I found it today while working in the spare bedroom (it had fallen into a suitcase I was packing with Henry's spare clothes). I'm determined to clear the room out and turn it into a room that I can use as my art studio but that will also serve as a guest room and can easily become Henry's room when he's home from University. At a school auction last fall, I bought a package which included a few hours of consulting with a woman who specializes in "home organizing." We had our first meeting last week, and she gave me some good ideas and homework which included clearing the room and figuring out what I want to put in it. I've been very good so far at packing Henry's stuff up and purging books so the room is almost empty. The next step is to organize and purge my art supplies, so I know exactly how much stuff I have to move in. She's coming back in a few weeks to help me figure out the best way to organize the room and then how to decorate it.
If we had a chance to sit and talk over tea, I would tell you that I'm really profiting from the introspection caused by my one little word. I'd tell you that, as I have examined the various parts of my life and my feelings about 2014, I have realized that I want this to be a year of letting go of burdens, of lightening up, of not worrying and not being stressed. I have goals and things I want to do, but I am not setting up unrealistic expectations. I am fine with slowing down and enjoying life, of not constantly feeling like there are things that need to get done. And, ironically, I'm actually getting more things done than ever!
I would admit that I'm watching less television and spending less time on the computer, but mainly I'm being more efficient because I'm not wasting time spinning with worry about things beyond my control. I feel like my path to happiness is becoming clearer and better illuminated.
Just in case this starts to sound too deep, I would show you had I spent my time today - finally finishing up and mailing my Christmas cards! As a bit of an explanation to by friends, I stamped this on the front of the envelopes:
Before you'd leave, I'd ask you advice about one thing that's been puzzling me as I go through my supplies. Do I need to keep the negatives from the photographs I took on film? What about extra photos that I didn't think warranted being scrapped? I'm feeling ready to let them go (and it will free up a lot of space), but want to know whether I'm making a mistake. What do you think?
![LEAP [into lightroom]](http://learn.kimklassen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Kim-Klassen_20151223_6459.jpg)
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23 comments:
Great chat! Maybe we'll get to do it face to face again some day.
You know me - I'm a hoarder, so I'm going to say hold on to the negatives. I have ours stored away in a box. I don't know how long they'll last for though
I chucked all my negatives when I left NZ and haven't once regretted it or wanted to use them. Thanks for the tea and chat, sounds like you are really embracing your word
Very inspiring to hear you chat about how your word is already changing your life, Rinda, and hoping it continues to bring light and change where you need it. I am not a hoarder but I might keep the negatives until I find a way of transferring them into digital files - there must be a way!
Such a beautiful ring, you've got me hunting now!
Glad your visit with the 'organizer' went well!....I got rid of all my negatives and 'spare' pics years ago...no regrets at all
Alison xx
Sounds like your year is off to a rocking start! As for negatives, a couple of thoughts - unless you are storing them off-site, in the event of a fire or flood, they would be destroyed anyway. You can send them off to various sites that will digitize them for you and that would make saving them easier. But when it comes right down to it, in trying to decide what to keep, what to let go, I always ask myself: Do I use it (look at it)? With your negatives and extra prints I'd guess the answer is no. Is it beautiful? Does it make my heart sing? Those items get to stay. Does it make me feel bad/sad/obligated in some way? Those items GO. No point in hanging onto stuff that doesn't make you happy! Hope that helps.
I'm the wrong person to ask. I have an old shoe box full of negatives, which I can't get rid of! I love your ring. It's simple, yet beautifully meaningful.
Your ring is brilliant with it's hidden message.... your belated Christmas cards with their stamped message made me laugh!
Sounds like your One Little Word is really working for you Rinda! Well done on the weight loss. When I was going to classes we were told to go home and look at what a pound of butter looked like when we moaned that we had 'only' lost a pound. When you look at four pounds of butter and feel how heavy it is you'll realise that four pounds is brilliant!
Love the sound of the home organizing - I could certainly do with that here!
I'm impressed by your goals for the year and I would get rid of the negatives!
I love Lisa Leonard's jewelry. I would have a better day every day if I could figure out once and for all to let go of those things that are out of my control. I'm glad to see you're able to do it.
Great catch up with your today Rinda. So glad to hear the new exercise & eating routine are making a difference already.
I still have my negatives - they're not organized really, just all together in a box that I can go through if there's something I want a good print of again. As for photos not scrapped - if they are from print days, I say keep them in a "cold storage" box in the closet just in case (we just didn't take as many photos back then anyway). If they were printed from digital images, they can be thrown out.
Oh Rinda that was such a lovely chat. I love Lisa Leonards work and that ring is beautiful. The boy got me a necklace from her for christmas. Congratulations on the weight loss. You sound very bright about this year, such a great mentality to stop spending time worrying. I think it's something I do far too often!
I have my negatives organised in binders by year and all of them have been scanned by me (on an OLD not so great scanner). I also have all my spare/pre digital in boxes organized by year...
BUT I'm currently going through and getting rid of any I know I won't scrap or at least put into an album. There are so many bad photos or duplicates where I took loads to ensure I got the shot... Any I'm not positive about I scan on my new much better scanner ;)
I figure tis better to have some photos looked at then boxes and boxes never seen.
You are making marvelous progress with your OLW. I bought a necklace this year with mine. I've never done that before. When I'm not wearing it, it's on a lovely dish on my dresser so I see it every morning.
I'd hold on to the negatives until they've been digitized. I have boxes of them to deal with as well. Good luck with the studio. I've been working on mine pretty consistently for 12 days now. I've never purged and cleaned like this before, and it's feeling really good!
Good chat and glad your word is working for you so far.
Another one is not the right one to ask as I have loads of negatives and not very good photos and find it impossible to throw them out.
I am having an experience similar to yours, Rinda...worrying less and actually accomplishing more. Isn't it great?! I really like your ring...what a special way to remember your Word for the Year. (As a side note, I seriously considered becoming a professional organizer a couple of years ago. I've never actually had one in my home though....what a neat experience for a room that you want to use for multiple purposes.)
Ah! Your cards put a smile on my face (especially because I never even sent Holiday, New Years OR Valentine's this year...) - It sounds like you are in a really good place right now. It was nice chatting with you ;)
Love the envelopes! Good luck with the room decluttering & repurposing. I'm trying to do the same thing.
Love how you did your "holiday" cards, and it is a great photo of the family!
Now, I need to know how you changed your diet to be rid of hot flashes... there are days I'm okay and days that are a real pain!
I just love your ring, Rinda! And your holiday card envelope made me laugh out loud when I received it. LOVE that you did that!
As far as negatives, I'd probably pitch them. But I would have a harder time with the printed out photos...so I guess I'm not a whole lot of help in the advice area for you. ;o)
Christmas cards in February - excellent! BJ
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