Spring Cleaning

Ok, it is officially Spring. I know some of us have been waiting for this longer than others-us in the midwest and those of you in the northeast. And with the new beginning for Mother nature comes a chance for all of us to have a new beginning.

So I have decided to clean out my life. I am decluttering and simplifying my existence. I have been exercising a great deal of mental and physical discipline for the past few months (I have lost 20 pounds), so I am doing well there.

Then there is fiscal discipline, which seems way harder to me than losing weight. I actually like eating healthy and exercising, but not buying a grande nonfat latte with an extra shot of espresso from Starbucks once or twice is a week is extremely difficult. However, I have been able to save money since I stopped mindlessly spending it.

The hardest thing ever, though, is having material discipline. And by that, I mean getting rid of 95% of the things you own. I am taking a good, hard look at my possessions. I am shredding on an almost daily basis, I am recycling tons of old papers and magazines, I am throwing things away without mercy. If it was in a box in my closet, then I no longer need it. If it was something that I had forgotten I had, I obviously no longer need it. If it once held sentimental value but no longer does, I do not need it. If it is a piece of clothing that I have not worn in months or even years, I do not need it. If it is a CD or movie that I have not listened to or watched in ages, I do not need it. Books are read only once (for the most part), so they can go too. Of course, I am going to sell and give away most of these things to do my part for the environment.

I feel lighter, freer, more positive about life because I feel more in control of myself and my environment. Use your new beginning wisely.