Posts tagged Couch
Living a Happy Life
Aug 20th
Leading a happy life is not rocket science. Happiness is not a mysterious magical unicorn; it can be attained fairly easily. The first and most important concept you have to grasp is this: only you can decide whether you are going to be happy or not. Anything that affects your happiness is affecting you because you are letting it. However, following a few simple tips can help you lead the life you’ve always wanted to lead.
Try smiling more. Better yet, try making other people smile. Smiling makes you feel better, reduces your chances of getting sick, and makes everything a lot less stressful. Causing a smile on the face of someone else can make you smile too. Then everybody’s happy.
Some people become sedentary and don’t move around that much. This is a very bad way to be; it’s not healthy and it’s very boring. Get up and take a walk around your neighborhood. This energizes you, switches your day up a little bit, and helps you get in shape. Don’t spend so much time on the couch.
A lot of people don’t like vegetables, but they have been proven to be very good for you. Eating more fruits and vegetables decreases the possibility of getting sick. And it’s hard to be happy when you’re sick, right?
Many people forsake books in favor of the television. At some point in history, people became convinced that book were for nerds or dedicated scholastic types; they decided that books weren’t for them and the only thing that they could do to have fun was watch TV. Books are incredible sources of knowledge, information, and entertainment. They don’t require electricity, so you don’t have to plug it up. That last fact by itself can end up saving you a lot of money, and that’s always good.
Try hanging out with friends. Socializing can make you feel really good; you may not have to be around people to enjoy yourself, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
Spending time with children and senior citizens is another way to increase the quality of your life. Whether it’s your grandfather or someone at an old folks’ home, many things can be learned from talking to older people. And children can make you feel young again.
Being happy takes work, like anything else of value. Leading an active lifestyle and maintaining a positive attitude can go a long way. Live life like every day as your last and you will be sure to have a blast.
Organizing Lessons From Toy Story 3
Aug 14th
As I did around this time last year, I just saw a Disney-Pixar film that offers some great organizing lessons. This year it was Toy Story 3 that lured me from the comfort of my couch. The premise of the story is that Andy, who we met as a young boy in the first movie of the series, is getting ready to go to college and must decide what to do with his toys. This story tugged at my heart not only because I have son named Andy who’s in college, but also because I see many of my clients face the same struggles as Andy while they move towards creating a new, better life for themselves. I’d love to hear your thoughts on my observations.
The oldies but goodies are goodies for a reason. Andy had a large number of toys that he had enjoyed throughout his childhood – he didn’t seem to be constantly bringing in new toys. What oldies but goodies do you own? While they may not give you the thrill of being new or offer the excitement of finding bargain, there’s probably a good reason that you prefer these things. Whether it’s a pair of pants that fit you just right, a paring knife that makes life in the kitchen easier, or a piece of artwork you enjoy pondering, many things in our life are hard to replace – so stop trying. Don’t make impulse purchases, or even conscious purchases, if you already have something that suits your needs – you’ll end up having less clutter.
It may be easier than you think to let go of things you don’t need. Molly, Andy’s sister, had a bedroom filled with things that were no longer meaningful to her. Until her mom prompted her, she hadn’t taken the time to pare them down. Once she got started, however, Molly had an easy time letting go of a lot of things she didn’t want or need. Her mom’s encouragement gave her the motivation she needed to move things to the donate bin or even the trash, so she could surround herself with things that were meaningful to her now. Is there someone who can encourage or help you let go of the things that no longer make your life fulfilling? If you’re a parent, can you help your kids learn to set limits by helping them evaluate their belongings?
Your possessions may not align with where you are in life. Andy (and his mom) recognized that he was entering a new phase of his life and his toys no longer played a part in that life. Like sending kids off to college, there comes a time when we should release our belongings to live the next phase of their lives and move us along to our next phase. Sometimes it’s hard to face the reality that we’re getting older or that our life isn’t what it once was or what we’d dreamed it would be. We might regret that our career is less stellar than we’d hoped, that that we no longer have time for the hobbies we once enjoyed, that our relationships have changed, etc. Are you hanging onto things because you’re afraid that if you let them go you’ll be giving up on your dreams? Consider how letting them go might give you the physical and metal space to create a new life in alignment with the person you are now.
Others can benefit from your castoffs. Andy donated his toys to someone else so they could provide her with the joy they once had given him. Rather than remaining locked away and forgotten in his toy box, they were able to continue being useful once they left Andy’s house. Are you hanging onto things solely because they’re still usable or because they cost you money? Their usefulness or monetary value isn’t going to be recovered simply by you hanging on to them. Consider extending their meaningful life by donating them to someone whose life can be improved by having them.
