Thinking about clutter from the viewpoint of the end of your life puts a different twist on things. Just before xmas I came up with a concept for a presentation I’ll be doing in February for and old school friend Lisa Adderson who is putting together a seminar for women called “It’s All About You” . Lisa asked me to speak about Clutter and Organizing and I wanted to find a way to make what I already had more interesting.

The idea was to ask people to imagine that they were lying ‘on there deathbed’ – cheery stuff I know – and to ask themselves what would be the things they remember the most about their life. (Please comment below about what you’ll remember). My guess is that answers will predominantly be about events and experiences like, births, accidents, celebrations, adventures, happy times, das times etc etc. My bet is that it won’t be about THINGS, you know – designer toilet brushes, collections of matching crystal glasses, little plastic objects the shape of the latest movie character etc etc, am I right?

Well the whole concept of talking about ones impending doom took on a different twist when last Sunday I noticed a small lump in my left breast (is that body clutter do you think?), now I’m yet to have it scanned (haven’t figured out how to close the lid on the scanner over a 3D object yet but I’ll get there) yes I am booked in for an ultrasound next week – I went to the Doc the very next day – aren’t I a good girl? So lots of things run through ones mind with something like this and it’s hard not to think fatalistically. So I did, I indulged to see what happened and this is what I thought.

Shit! not much time and lots to do, wow life is awesome and I need to stop pigging around, heck I’m gonna have to get Mark (my partner) on track financially so he can cope when I’m gone, I can’t keep wasting my skills and talent people need me because I can help them.

Well for anyone who knows me well they’ll recognise the enormity of those statements. I can tell you right now that it’s not what I would have said a year or two ago and that change has come about due solely to my use of the holosync program which, I increasingly am a evangelist of as my internal life changes for the better, which will undoubtedly lead to great changes externally.(I had intended to blog more about this program this year so I shall endeavor to do that)

The fact that my focus was not really on myself was revelation number one and then to say I have talent I must share was equally extraordinary. So anyway back to the issue of experiences versus stuff. Even in my uncluttered house I can think of heaps of stuff that will be meaningless and also valueless to anyone but me, what should one do with these kinds of things when planning or preparing for either an impending death or just in case of a accidental one? Now I”m talking here about stuff that has meaning to me now not extra stuff as in the case of folks with a bit too much stuff or lots too much stuff.

If you’re answers to my earlier question was mostly events and experiences and you also have lots of extra stuff in your life then perhaps now is a good time to reconsider it’s importance in your life particularly if you tend to get a bit attached to things and those around you ‘cop it’ if they don’t deal with those things it ‘the right way’ according to you – how important is it really if you’re not even going to remember it at the end of your life.

In the end it’ll be all too much for someone else to deal with.

Tweet This Post

I new it! and now here’s the proof. A woman in the UK died due solely to her clutter!  Read the story here.And if you think that it’s an extreme case you may be right but harm from lots of stuff in your home does come in far more subtle forms. The lack of air flow that generally accompanies even mildly cluttered homes (windows not being opened cause you can’t easliy get ot them) can be the cause of skin problems, breathing problems to name just a couple.

In this case of course the piles of stuff became unstable and fell – not a nice way to expire!

What do you think about this story and what can be learned from it? Make a comment below. “I think it just gave her pleasure to buy things” is at the core of this issue. What’s going on for people who buys things they don’t need and don’t really have the space for? It’s filling a void they feel but only temporarily otherwise one shopping session would do the trick!

So my advice – really think twice about your purchases and ask yourself do you really need what it is you wish to buy.

Tweet This Post

As I write this it’s about 40 minutes away from the airing  of the first episode in a series about how to ‘kick the clutter’ and be organised that I’m doing for the radio station 101.1 FM in Logan city Queensland Australia. I’ve recorded 12 episodes so far – they air every Monday Wednesday and Friday at around 2:30PM AEST (which is GMT+10hr) that’s 9:30PT and half past midnight ET! The stationbroadcasts 24/7 worldwide hence the reasonI mentioned the ohter timezones! You can listen in live online at www.101fm.asn.au

I’m not one for making a fuss about this kind of thing but friends that know about it seem to think it’s a big deal. I see it as a great opportunity in lots of ways and it’s going to be alot of fun to se where it all goes and if listeners find the information useful and valuable. I certain think it is but of course like so many things it’s only useful if you put it into action! Let me know what you think of them by commenting here!

Tweet This Post