War or peace?
So a long way, 2010 has established to be a completely in my opinion tough year. We have discovered ourselves visiting extra hospitals to see unwell loved ones, attending more funerals and engaging in more court appearances for a circle of relatives matter than we ever thought possible in a 6 month time period! During this very trying time, my own family has sought refuge within the solace of our domestic. We have all determined comfort in distinctive methods but, our residing area is in which we decompress, mourn, pray, bond and get away from the outdoor global.
When existence gets really hard, where to do retreat? Do you are seeking for safe haven in the sanctuary of your property or is your property in such disarray that it simplest compounds your strain? Mother Theresa stated "peace and war start in the domestic" so does your own home bring you peace or does it create struggle? What do I suggest by way of this? Well, if your house is so full of junk, litter and visual fodder which you have no concept even what type of floors you've got anymore or what the finish of your dining room desk is, then you have battle! If you spend a very good part of some time seeking out necessities because they were given lost within the huge amount of 'collectibles', then you definitely have battle! If you can not appropriately open closet doors without having a family member equipped to dial 911 for you as soon as that door has been opened, then you definitely are at war!
Now, it isn't always my purpose to choose, condemn or purpose you to sense inferior. However, in case you can't see your kitchen countertops due to the fact they're so complete of 'stuff', it is time for a few on purpose peace-making. The project can be ominous or seemingly not possible however you can make small efforts to end the warfare and produce peace. The Bible says 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me' so I KNOW you may do it!
Step 1: Take a deep breath and sincerely look around your area.....Open your eyes and SEE what you live in; do not simply glaze over all of it such as you normally might. What drives you crazy to the factor of violence yet, you simply don't ever have the power to cope with? Make a listing of what you make a decision you want to exchange...Huge or small....Simply write it on a piece of paper, make a observe for your iPhone or Blackberry, create a assignment list in Outlook...You get the factor! Once it's far all recorded, you'll now not be able to successfully keep away from those things anymore; you will inherently need to trade them.
Step 2: After celebrating completion of Step 1 with an enormous piece of chocolate cake and numerous scoops if ice cream (I am confident the Lord will remove all fat and calories from this one celebratory snack for you!), now prioritize that list of stuff. Do the simple, easy stuff first so you have immediate results and a track record of successful accomplishments to validate your efforts. For example, if it drives you crazy that your spouse comes home from work and throws everything on the kitchen counter, then just get a basket or container for them! You will no longer have to look at their necessities scattered willy-nilly throught the space and it won't make you want to lash out irrationally at them because you can't stand to see it one more second! Make sense? This de-cluttering and organizing does not have to be a long, drawn out, torturous process. I love The Fly Lady ( @flylady on Twitter)) because she puts organization into very small, manageable pieces. I also personally enjoy the website www.Getorganizedwizard.com . There you will find exceptional tools, tricks and guidance to organizing every aspect of your life. I would suggest these 2 web sites to give you clarity and professional direction. However, don't spend so much time researching and gathering information that you creatively avoid the real task at hand; creating peace in your home by vanquishing the war.
Step 3: Once you've got completed the primary 2 steps, comes the a laugh part...Enjoy what you've got modified and created!!!! You will be aware the pressure stage in your own home has subsided due to the fact absolutely everyone can now locate their phone chargers, keys, socks and all other essentials. Your own family is at peace; now not struggle. They love that they not need to conduct foremost renovations in the lavatory simply to locate the toothpaste or rise up 10 mins early simply to search the kitchen for the cereal. I bet they're also surprised because they'd NO concept you can really consume IN the eating room AT the dining room table! :)
Our homes are to be our sanctuaries and our refuge from the daily grind, the trials, the tribulations...the toughness of living in a fallen world. If your home is simply de-cluttered and organized, you will enjoy your space and find it much easier to relax. You will be at peace with your home and not war; just as God intended the home He gave you to be.
Guest blogger Sherry Norris is an interior designer and sales manager at the largest countertop fabricator in the Southeast, Old Castle Surfaces . She can be found usually on her blog Improving Your Castle and she Tweets as @countertoplady . Thanks Sherry!