| An Ex-Collector Comes Clean | | | | people that I love - and I have less clutter. A win-win |
| I once loved collecting anything that had to do with | | | | situation! |
| dolphins. My house was full of figurines, posters, | | | | The Moral |
| spoons, pens or T-shirts that were all adorned with | | | | It's OK to stop collecting things even if your identity is |
| dolphins. My friends and family always knew what to | | | | wrapped up in your memorabilia. Your family and |
| get me for my birthday, and my love for dolphins | | | | friends aren't going to think you're a weirdo because |
| played out every time I reached for something to | | | | you've outgrown a collection - they'll probably like |
| wear or glanced at my wall! | | | | spending more time with you in lieu of gifts - or |
| Hitting the Wall | | | | shopping for a different, unique gift for you. Most of all, |
| But then a weird thing happened: I realized that my | | | | you'll be thankful for more breathing space. |
| love for dolphins wasn't tied to a bunch of stuff that I | | | | Most of us have everything we want. We have lots |
| didn't really use. I'd graduated to a level where I could | | | | of things. But, perhaps what we really need is less |
| appreciate the little critters without accumulating clutter | | | | things. |
| (I am a professional organizer, after all). | | | | I believe we need to make space for what matters |
| Dolphin Intervention | | | | most. |
| But while I was over my addiction to dolphins, my | | | | I believe clutter is stuck energy. Many people have |
| family and friends weren't. The dolphin gifts kept | | | | clutter in their lives and don't realize that it affects them |
| pouring in and my shelves kept filling up. I realized that | | | | both physically and emotionally. We all need breathing |
| I'd have to inform my loved ones that I'd ended my | | | | space. |
| collection phase - and that I'd "left the pod" behind me. | | | | My mission is to create a home environment free of |
| The problem was that I felt bad telling my friends not | | | | the stress caused by clutter and chaos. |
| to give me gifts. | | | | In addition to providing practical solutions for busy |
| Taking Charge of the Process | | | | individuals and families to create harmony in their lives, I |
| In the end I didn't have to worry. I approached my | | | | also de-clutter and design using principles of Feng Shui, |
| family and friends and told them that I really wasn't | | | | which creates constructive energy in your space, and, |
| interested in collecting "themed" items anymore. I | | | | in turn, your body. |
| informed them that I really just wanted to spend time | | | | An organized home will save you time, energy and |
| with them, instead of receiving gifts. The news went | | | | money. Let it go, let it flow. |
| over well and now I have more quality time with the | | | | |