September 9, 2007 by Donna Steinhorn
Yesterday was my birthday. We spent a laughter filled day in Manhattan, window shopping, eating, people watching, eating, watching the Soho Artists Parade (more about that…with photos…at another time), exploring art galleries, hanging out (and eating) in Little Italy, and more. It was a very full day. And the birthday month continues today with Dim Sum with friends and a street festival in Red Bank.
What also continues today is my introspection on the coming year. I’m going to go through the environments of my life and choose how to make them even better. The easiest one is my Physical Environment. We know that our physical environment often reflects what’s going on inside of us, and conversely changing our surroundings can change how we function. Just think about how you feel when you clean a closet, or organize the garage. There’s a sense of pride and freedom, and a freeing up of energy. Several years ago after I moved things around in my office and added some whimsical decorative touches as well, I found that not only did my productivity increase, but my creativity as well.
So, with that in mind, here are the five things I choose to change in my physical environment this year:
- I want more beauty and things that invite the senses to take notice. To that end I am going to have more flowers, scented candles, whimsical objects that make me laugh, and much more music. I already have a good music CD collection, and yesterday I added some wonderful violin music to the collection. I am going to play it more.
- I am going to use my living room more. Even just for me to sit and read in it. It’s called the LIVING ROOM, not the company room.
- I am going to gift, freecycle, ebay or just plain dump half of what I own. Okay, so maybe not actually half, but we have way way too much stuff. And I’m beginning to think that it’s time begin thinking about Rightsizing in a few years. I don’t want to be frantically trying to decide what to get rid of then. So each week I will throw out a minimum of five things so that eventually I am left with only things I love and use. (I am allowing myself to make books the exception to this one…)
- I am going to repurpose my dining room. I have a lovely and traditional dining room complete with antiques and a chandelier. But how often do we actually use it other than holidays? I haven’t quite figured this one out yet, but I will find a way to make the dining room take on new life. Maybe as a reading room? And it needs to have more whimsy.
- Not yet sure about this one…but it may be that this year, I am going to have more fires in the fireplace.
What about you?
Yes yes and definitely yes…
I’m rethinking my Living Room. I hate most of what’s in there so time to sell off and redesign. My office absolutely needs enlarging….that is in thinking stage and I never have enough room for all my books but somehow I think that will always be the case.
I have a ton of whimsey and things that bring back smiles and wonderful memories. Time to change the mural on the wall perhaps but that’s always a winter project when the weather is horrible and I’m stuck in more.
As for fires, there’s always one going, even if it’s just a Java log (always crave coffee when I light one of those things) and even bought a fire pit table so we can sit outside under the huge pines with a fire going to keep us warm.
Thanks for the reminder, Donna. I’ve gotta get going!
Birthdays … September … Spring …. These are my three rethinking, rightsizing, reevaluating landmarks.
Clothes that no longer fit or flatter will go to St. Mary’s or any other organization that will pick them up. Books will go to the library.
Projects are undergoing review. If there’s no next step or no passion, they’re going to be dropped or recycled.
Thanks for the reminder that candles are to be burned, not admired. Thanks for the reminder that there’s a reason all my music is on the computer and in the iPod - I’ll be listening!
Time to rotate photos and memorabilia. Time to reorganize the books while editing the collection.
Your post reminds me that it is possible to balance bustle and peace.
I wish us all peaceful productivity surrounded by beauty.