Airy Nothings

Last weekend, I attended Christine Kane’s Wide Awake Weekend in Asheville, North Carolina. The event lasted several days and included many amazing people doing powerful, exhausting work. I was there for one day, with one purpose:  the Up Level Your Life Day with Christine and Brooke Castillo.

Oh. I. Loved. It.

It has taken me almost a week and a lot of thinking to process all the lessons I learned there.

One of the best nuggets I picked up was the importance of Decluttering your life. This mesagge reaffirmed for me that to truly focus on your goals, desires and intention, you must eliminate the “stuff” that scatters your energy and depletes your reserves.

That’s what I’ve been doing this week: cleaning house: literally and metaphorically.

I remember after my divorce was final and the dust settled, I purged my house of my old life. I gave away dishes, furniture, books, clothing — all the things you collect while you build a life. Afterward, my house felt “lighter”.  My closets could breathe. I could think.  It was great.

That was many years ago.

When I heard Christine talk to the group about decluttering,  she might as well had been pointing  a wagging finger at me.

So I came back home commited that my first act would be tossing the junk.

I filled bags with clothing and purses I no longer love and hauled them to the Salvation Army. I gave a way a few books; superflous Rubbermaid containers; I tossed half-used make up, lotions, and hair goo  in the trash. And I felt better.

Next I went through my RSS feeds, my Inbox, my FB account. I kept the feeds, emails and FB friends that I love. The rest were gone with a push of a button. Like Christine says, “If it’s not a Hell Yes!,then it’s a Hell No.”

I not only tackled my physical environment, I cleared my mental environment of junk, too. I turned my head sideways and shook out thoughts, ideas and feelings that no longer serve me. This is on-going. Lots of cobwebs and tired old tapes to contend with in there.

I also took some time to consider this blog andwhat it means to me. This is not the first time I’ve taken this blog to tribal council.

In the end, I decided to stay here a while longer. I am not sure I have followers or readers. I really don’t keep up with all that. I don’t know if people stumble on it, read it and find it useful, relevent or entertaining, although I hope some do.

I’m still here because … well …. I write this blog for me. It gives me an outlet: a place to post amateur photographs;  a platform for writing; and most importantly, a vehicle to connect with a community who thinks like I do. I learn so much from other bloggers. I’m not willing to let that go.

I’ve decluttered … again … and I feel ready to focus my energy on what’s next. Can’t wait!