goals – When I'm Not at Work….

If you’re resolving to lose weight, save money or pay off debt, there are other blog posts to read. If you’re thinking you need more achievable goals, here’s a couple for you…..

Torn, Ripped, Stained, Chipped? It’s Outta Here!

Several decades ago, I promised myself that I would not keep anything – no matter how dear — that was torn, ripped, stained or chipped. Even if it meant that I had one plate, one fork, and one shirt, I wanted everything I owned to be something I loved, and in perfect condition.

Turns out that was not only a good psychological move, but a good financial one as well. As I look around my home now, I’m a woman who has everything and needs nothing. Why? Every single thing I own is in perfect condition. I love every item. Nothing is a tattered placeholder until I could afford something better. Nothing is in storage or “saved for nice.” I use and enjoy every single nice thing I own. Nice is now.

I use and enjoy every single thing I own. Nice is now.

We all hesitate to toss things. We have a thrifty inner voice that says “But, I paid so much for this, it’s not so bad,” or “I love this <item>, it’s only a few stains…..” Worse: “I can <fix> this , and then I could make a lot of money….” We end up surrounded by junk, that keeps us stuck both physically and mentally.

Things wear out. Glasses break. Tee Shirts rip. Get rid of them when they do. Don’t surround yourself with old, broken, or stained items. If it’s worth keeping, housing, and air-conditioning, it should be in perfect condition. If it’s not, throw it out.

If It Doesn’t Fit (You MUST Git’Rit!)

Conventional advice says that if you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. This advice is outdated. Why? My clothing is more than just a couple pairs of shorts, it’s an investment. While I don’t wear a suit everyday, I still need one or two. I don’t have occasion to wear an evening gown or cocktail dress every year, but I’m not going to throw out my elegant black dress because I haven’t worn it in a year. Another example: I don’t go hiking every weekend, I still want (and need), the appropriate footwear and gear.

Occasion and investment clothing notwithstanding: If your closet is stuffed with clothing in a variety of sizes, do yourself a favor and get rid of everything that doesn’t fit you perfectly, and then get rid of everything that you don’t feel fabulous in. And, I mean everything. If you’ve lost weight, get rid of your fat clothes. If you’ve gained weight, get rid of those clothes you’re “going to fit into” when you (finally) lose weight. PS: When you do lose weight, your body isn’t going back to what it was, it will be different. Buy clothes that fit your new body.

“It doesn’t matter how rich you are, how accomplished you are, or how many people love you. None of that matters if you get up in the morning and none of your clothes fit!”

Nothing will make your life easier and your day happier than knowing that every, single thing in your closet fits you – perfectly. If it doesn’t, give it to a friend, sell it on Ebay or donate. In that order…

Hit Unsubscribe

We’re all inundated with newsletters, coupons, and on-line sale notifications. Worse: If you’re looking for a job, or car, or anything that asks for an email, your address is immediately sold to some on-line newsletter organization who will hit you with hundreds of emails a week.

While many of these go to Spam, take the time to cull the notifications you want to see from those you could do without. Yes, I did buy some jewelry from QVC, but no, I don’t want an email from them everyday.

I know what QVC is and what they sell. If I’m shopping, I’ll hit them up then. I don’t need an email every day.

Instead of hitting delete, take three seconds more and hit unsubscribe. Very quickly you’ll see that those three seconds add up to saving real time when you cull through your mailbox, and time is the most valuable thing we have (except for health!).

Out with the old, in with the new! Happy New Year!

+++

This time of year we set goals. I have goals – but, just like everyone – they change. They get bigger, smaller, or their priority shifts. But, like the Buddha, I have returned from the holiday forest and my mantra for this year is not about goals – it’s about Effort.

Goals are important, but they are secondary – the real value is not in achieving the goal, but in the effort.

Too many dismiss effort. That’s easy to do when there’s money or beauty or natural talent, but these are false idols. What we really admire is the effort. A good job, good home, good relationships, good health, good food, good body, good sex…they aren’t a finish-line goal. They require effort.

Too often we ignore making the effort, especially when it’s small, because we are blinded by getting or having that big goal.

Too often we excuse ourselves, “I know I should make more of an effort….” Or worse, if our satisfaction is not immediate, or our effort isn’t recognized and lauded, we lament, “I’m tired of making the effort.”

We all have goals unaccomplished because of effort. That crowded storage space. Relationships you can’t get out of (or into). The stagnant career. Those extra 20 lbs., that are leaning into 30 now. Effort.

Sometimes it’s easy; sometimes it’s hard, but easy or hard, effort is about time management and consistency. This is where we need to embrace the notion that effort is both a means and an end. Like honor or integrity…it’s a gift you give to yourself.

Effort, like love, is not a zero-sum game. Effort is never about reciprocity because we never run out of effort, and, like love, we can easily manifest more of it whenever we desire.

So, for 2024, my focus is less on achieving, having, or getting, and more on consistently making an effort.

Happy New Year!

Tag: goals

Three (Easy) New Year’s Resolutions

Torn, Ripped, Stained, Chipped? It’s Outta Here!

If It Doesn’t Fit (You MUST Git’Rit!)

Hit Unsubscribe

An Ode to Effort