The Joys of Spring Cleaning

Oh the joys of Spring! That lovely season of increased gym memberships in between the jolly holiday season of over-indulgence of food and gifts you didn’t need and the anticipation of the wonderful summer days that lay ahead. In honor of the first official day of Summer tomorrow and today being the last day of Spring, I thought I’d write about what I’ve been doing during the last few days of the season.

Yes! I finally made the time to knuckle down to partake in Spring Cleaning and let me tell you, it felt fabulous! There’s something to be said for cleaning your room, your home, your car and your office that makes you feel like you’re being productive and making your life better. I’m not just talking about the physical cleaning, but of the down-and-dirty act of organization and making decisions.

Starting last week I began to systematically go through my room to get organized. First I began by getting rid of crap that’s been sitting around and threw out old papers, ticket stubs and the like that I’ve been holding on to for no apparent reason. Then I went through my closet and drawers to refold, organize and eliminate.  I made large donation piles of clothing that hadn’t been worn in a long time, had no sentimental value to me and that I was sure that I would never wear again. Then I organized everything that I wanted to keep and continue to use and wear. It felt good to one, get organized and two, do something good by donating wearable clothing to an organization in need.

If you are ever feeling overwhelmed by disorganization or clutter, I highly recommend that you bite the bullet and do yourself a favor. Whether it’s one drawer at a time, or an entire weekend project, just do it! I promise that you will feel refreshed and collected. And if you do take my advice, maybe you’ll stop wasting time when you can’t find what you’re looking for; you’ll know exactly where everything is supposed to be.

Putting out positive vibrations

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

Traditionally, this isn’t a good day for those that are highly superstitious. If you are one of those that believes in the uncontrollable negative forces that happen to be lurking on days like today, beware. Normally I would suggest that you avoid black cats, ladders and sidewalk cracks and don’t forget to carry around your own version of a ‘lucky rabbit’s foot’. However, today you’d probably be better off staying home. Today is even more intense because it is paired with a full moon. In case you haven’t heard yet, this won’t happen again until 2049. Based on my easy morning commute to work today, quite a few people decided to take a ‘sick’ day and wait out the storm in the comfort of their home.

Superstitious thoughts and remedies got me thinking about the topic of Fate, Destiny and one of my favorite friends, Karma. I’m personally not one to be swayed by superstitions of any kind. I’ve walked under open ladders, stepped on more sidewalk cracks than one could count and I happen to love black cats (in fact, black cats are my absolute favorite!). And honestly, I’m not sure if I believe in Fate and whether or not you have the ability to change your Destiny by your actions and choices. It’s an interesting topic that’s up for much debate and both sides could probably provide a solid argument. Although I’m not clear on where I stand in my beliefs on that respect, I am a huge believer in Karma.

“Do unto others what you want done unto you.” -Confucius

Generally, I make my choices and decisions based upon what I want to receive back from the world and the people around me. I suppose you could say it’s a bit of a selfish way to live, but let me explain myself. You do thoughtful and kind things for others in the hopes that they will reciprocate when you need someone to do thoughtful things for you. It’s not so much of a calculating action, but more of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Say your boyfriend/girlfriend broke up with you and you need a shoulder to cry on; you know your best friend will be there for you in a heartbeat. But if you weren’t there for them when they were in a similar situation, they’re likely to tell you that they’re busy, even if they’re not. Basically, if you think about it, no one is going to be nice to you if you’re always walking around with a chip on your shoulder and you don’t make time for the people in your life that matter.

Ultimately, I believe in putting out positive vibrations in the world and living your life with joy. It’s easier to be nice to people than to be a total b*tch all the time and it will make your life more meaningful and happy. There’s no need to be superstitious when you’re a nice person because Karma’s got your back. Don’t want to worry about breaking a mirror and living an unlucky life? Get on Karma’s good side by being a good person. And hey, if you do decide to walk the path of a nasty negative person, be prepared to pay the consequences when Karma starts knocking down your door.