Chapters of Life

The last couple of days my schedule has changed a lot.  I've had clients cancel at the last minute.......I've had some unpleasant details to attack..........I've had to manage my time a little differently than I normally would.  

The last couple of weeks my life has changed a lot.  My last child went to college..........I had to put my precious 13 year old dog down..........I've run into a small medical hiccup.........my first grandchild has been born. 

All this to say, I have had to close  some chapters in my life and begin new chapters.  

So, what is it I am supposed to do when things are changing so much?  I am learning.  I am learning to do some of the things that I have put off.  I am learning to have a plan "B" when life is so fluid.  I am learning to breathe.  

                                        (photo courtesy of pixbox77/freedigitalphotos.net)

The last several years have allowed little to no opportunity for me to stop and take a breath.  I have been on the treadmill of life and so now I feel like I have been given a gift to learn more about who I am and what I am about.  I have been given some white space or margin in my life. I have been given time pay attention to what God is trying to teach me and maybe be still and quiet for a minute so He can get a word in edgewise.  I still have some large hurdles to get over and some steep mountains to climb but taking the time to embrace this new chapter and not fighting it will allow me to climb away! 

So what does this have to do with de-cluttering?  More than you'd first think.  De-cluttering has as much to do with your emotional state and mind as it does the physical items surrounding you.  Physical clutter can be the manifestation of a cluttered mind and life.   So, while I've been given this "white space" I am de-cluttering some of my own stuff and de-cluttering my soul. 

So, take a moment.......look at your life.  Where can you give yourself the gift of some margin or white space?  Where can you say no instead of yes?  Where can you put yourself first instead of depleting all of you for everyone else?  Where can you steal some quite moments to sit still and really listen?  

Believe it or not, when you have a de-cluttered mind, it is easier to de-clutter your whole life. Trust me......I know!