OverHall IT!
Balance Issue 14
Welcome to OverHall IT! The Balance Issue.
We've had a lot of new subscribers, welcome, and I hope you
enjoy the newsletter. This year in the Balance issue of OverHall IT!
we have been working on * OverHalling * the clutter in the
spiritual area of ones life. (Last year we worked on the health
and financial area, see back issues at
http://www.overhall.com/issues_and_articles.htm
)
In the Computer Corner issue, we are starting to work on
* OverHalling * your computer skills and web site. The
Computer Corner Issue of OverHall IT! will be out shortly.
Please forward this issue to anyone you think might enjoy or
be able to use it.
All administration and publication information is located at the
end of the newsletter.
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Vol. 2, Issue 14
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Table of Contents:
1. Welcome Message
2. OverHalling and Balance
3. Tip of the Month
4. Guest Article
5. Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes
6. Products, Books, and Web Site Reviews
7. Ask the OverHaller
8. Upcoming Events
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1. Welcome Message
To all those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope each and
every one of you had a joyful, blessed, and abundant day. I
sure was tired afterwards and it took two days of loading the
dishwasher to get everything cleaned up! I would have washed by
hand but my legs and feet hurt soooo much!
We continue this month with the fourth emotional reason for
your clutter, pain or sadness, in part four of Sober From Clutter.
If you missed part one thru three please see back
issues at http://www.overhall.com/issues_and_articles.htm
Our guest article deals with recycling but I don't want you to go
crazy and SAVE the items listed. My main goal here is to show
you some unique ways to recycle what you already have NOT
to add to your clutter!
We are still working on meeting our goal of a $1,000 donation
to the NY Firefighters Fund. We are now up to $78.65, and I've
extended the offer below until the end of the year:
As my way of contributing and helping (for the Sept. 11th
disaster), I will donate 20% from ALL Internet sales made
through my web site, 20% from ALL "Organizing By Phone,"
and 20% from ALL commissions from Affiliate Programs until
the end of the year 2001 to the NY Firefighters Fund. All
individuals and organizations that purchase any OverHall
products, organizing by phone, or purchases through my
affiliate links will be acknowledged as a contributor when I
send the donation on Jan. 1, 2002, and will be posted in
OverHall IT!
If you REALLY want to get organized and have been
thinking of getting help, this is a good time, and you'll be
helping others as well. Please help me reach my goal of a
$1,000 donation (or MORE) by checking out some of my
organizing products at http://www.overhall.com/products.htm
getting organized by phone by calling me, or by purchasing
others products through the links in this newsletter.
Together we can all make a difference and a contribution.
We have drastically reduced four of our audio tapes:
http://www.overhall.com/tapes.htm
Check them OUT!
Okay, ready to start "OverHalling?"
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2. Part 4-Sober From Clutter
By Janet L. Hall
(Editors Note: This is a four part article. Parts one, two, and
three can be found at:
http://www.overhall.com/issues_and_articles.htm
)
Sober From Clutter-Part 4
By: Janet L. Hall
" Listening to your heart is not simple. Finding out who you
are is not simple. It takes a lot of hard work and courage to
get to know who you are and what you want."
--Sue Bender, quoted in The Feminine Face of God
Pain or sadness can stem from many factors and sources in
your life, and manifest in just as many ways, one of which
could be your clutter problem.
Do you take a dose of pain or sadness "medicine" by not
letting go of unused stuff or going out and becoming financial
stressed by making purchases you won't use?
What is your coping mechanism for your pain or sadness?
Your stuff? What you hoard? Why you're a pack rat? Why
you might overcompensate, overindulgence, shop 'til you
drop, be a QVC Junkie, an E-Commerce shopper, or an
Auction addict?
Your pain or sadness might stem from you or your family
having to endure great losses. Losses in your life can surely
make you hold tight to the stuff your familiar with, especially
if the loss was a loved one. To leave everything just as it
was, or to hold on to departed loved ones stuff will leave no
room for you to grow or to go forward with your life.
One simple way to keep your loved ones memories alive,
while not keeping all their stuff, is to create an altar that
houses the precious memories and select items. You can
create an altar on your dresser, a mantel, or a shelf.
What about loss from nature or manmade disasters: flood,
fire, earthquake, hurricane, war, and refugee? These types
of losses in your past probably help you appreciate the
things you do have and obtain. BUT it can also lead to
overcompensation, holding on to, pack ratting, just in case,
or a someday mentally. Be very careful when recovering
from a disaster, focusing on keeping balance, and finding
uses for all that you possess.
Pain or Sadness Exercise:
>>What pain or sadness are you carrying around on your
back?
>>Is your pain or sadness stemming from something that
occurred a month, year, five or ten years ago? Longer?
>>When are you going to release this pain, this sadness?
>>When was the last time you felt fulfilled, really happy,
without sadness or pain?
>>Can you see it?
>>What did it feel like?
>>What is missing from your life that you don't feel fulfilled
and you are using "stuff" as a substitute or an escape from
your suffering?
>>Is it possible that you mask your pain or sadness with
STUFF, to protect yourself?
>>Haven't you hurt or paid long enough?
>>When are you going to stop hurting and get some help?
All the piles, all the crammed rooms, stuffed closets,
overcrowded attic and basement, all your "stuff" might have
been yesterdays solutions to your pain or sadness but now
have become your problems today!
Eventually you will see that by buying or bringing more
"stuff" into your life or your children's life will only temporarily
solve your problems, or situations. A quick fix. And
eventually, you will have too much "stuff," too many piles.
This overspending and over buying can bring you several
more problems: debt and clutter, less space, and even add
to your pain or sadness. You haven't solved a thing. As a
matter of fact, you've made matters worse for yourself, and
possibly for others around you. One day you will have to
deal with these new problems and situations. Finding new
solutions. Hopefully healthy remedies.
When you begin clearing out your clutter you'll create a
vacuum and nature abhors a vacuum. But don't worry
because something or someone will soon rush in to take the
place of where your clutter use to reside. The form of
replacement wouldn't necessarily be more STUFF. It may
surprise you that someone or something (i.e. opportunities)
might come into your heart, your Spirit, or your life might be
filled with relief or happiness. Now you might have the ability
to pursue and accomplish what you'd really like to do or be,
now that you've made room.
Are you open to the idea of being happy? If you are able to
connect with your pain or sadness, and get it out, you'll be
able to break the chains, the unwanted habits of clutter.
Are you hurting yourself, your Spirit, and the world by
continually bringing things into your life that you don't need
or use? Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea, stated around
A.D. 365:
"When someone steals a man's clothes we call him a thief.
Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe
the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard
belongs to the hungry man; the coat hanging unused in your
closet belongs to the man who needs it; the shoes rotting in
your closet belong to the man who has not shoes."
Look around your home or office. Take a mental inventory
and see what you can donate to those in need or to non-
profit agencies in need.
It's okay if you're not ready to de-clutter. Just as the
alcoholic and drug addict, no one can make them change, or
make them stop their self-abuse. They have to have a deep
desire to stop, to take control of their lives, to overcome and
eliminate their negative behavior and take one day at a time
making positive changes in their life, so must you in dealing
with your clutter.
Get sober from clutter by taking it one day at a time or one
area at a time. If you fall back into your old patterns,
acknowledge the fall and get back on the wagon to being
sober from clutter. Slowly, one day at a time.
Dali Lamas' Tips to Making Changes:
So, how will you accomplish this? What will be your
approach?
In the book, The Art of Happiness, in which Dr. Cutler
interviews the Dali Lama about the process of change, he
indicates that they are six steps you need to do in order to
bring about change: education, conviction, determination,
action, and effort. ".you must exert the effort to establish
new habit patterns. This is the way that inner change and
transformation take place in all things, no matter what you
are trying to accomplish."
The Dali Lama goes on to say, ".start by developing a
strong willingness or wish to do it [what goal or action you
are directing your efforts towards]. .generate great
enthusiasm. And, here, a sense of urgency is a key factor.
.It [sense of urgency] can give us tremendous energy.
.to generate commitment and enthusiasm to overcome
negative behaviors or states of mind.is to be constantly
aware of the destructive effects of the negative behavior.
.by making a steady effort, I think we can overcome any
form of negative conditioning and make positive changes in
our lives."
I know you can be stronger then your fear, your pain, or your
sadness. You can be stronger then your habitual spending,
hoarding, or saving by being determined, by carving out the
time, and by putting some effort into reasonable
expectations of getting organized.
Just like the alcoholic or drug addict, you are healing.
Healing needs to take place in the mind, body, and Spirit to
be effective. A big step towards your healing will depend on
you having the knowledge of what you can do by yourself
and the acceptance of the reality that you might need help.
God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
--Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr
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3. OverHall IT! Tip of the Month
Do you think you need help?
>>What's going to be your breaking point to start to de-
clutter?
>>What's it going to take for you to choose to take
control of your life? Of your "stuff?"
>>How much pain are you willing to take?
>>Do you get lost in the chaos, not being able to see what
you need to do or what needs to be changed?
>>Do you feel you never have enough time to do the things
you think are important?
>>Do you second-guess everything, not knowing what to
keep, unsure of what to toss?
What is your rationale or excuse for not getting organized:
1. I brought some organizing books but never read
them, or I read a little but never did the exercises.
Now I can't find the books.
2. I brought some organizing tapes but never listened to
them, or I didn't follow the advice. Now I can't find the
tapes.
3. I took a class but never did the exercises when I
returned to my office or home. Now I've forgotten
where I put the workbook/handout.
4. I made a plan but never carried it out.
5. I looked on the Internet but then get waylaid by all the
information available. The day is over and I promise
that I'll begin tomorrow but using some of the ideas I
found while surfing the Internet.
6. I Found an organizer in my area and promise myself to
call, see how they can help and what the cost will be.
I'm tired of looking for things, stepping on things,
creating high interest rate purchases, tired of wasting
my time, tired of the constant chaos and
wastefulness. I've had it! I lost the organizers phone
number and never called.
7. I'm afraid to make an appointment. I don't want
anyone seeing my mess. I don't want to be judged. I
have a fear of change.
8. I called an organizer today but think the cost is too
high. How much is it costing you to live in this pain?
9. I'll call some other organizers next week to see what
they offer. I just want this over with!
10. I've really had enough - I'm not going to live like this
anymore. I'm ready for change, I need change or I
won't be able to go on, to survive. I'm going to take
control of my life and get some help, no matter what!
I'm calling RIGHT now to schedule a consultation and
de-cluttering dates.
I can help you if you have decided to get professional help
for your clutter problems. I can help you, one-on-one by
your side, or Organizing By Phone. Call us today at
410-586-9440 to see what we can do for you.
You can also find organizers in your area by checking out
several different web sites: The National Association of
Professional Organizers http://www.napo.net ,
On Line
Organizing http://www.onlineorganizing.com
, Professional
Organizers Web Ring http://organizerswebring.com
and
Organize Your World http://www.organizeyourworld.com
I'd like this section to be yours! If you have a tip that you'd like to
share, please email it to: mailto:janet@overhall.com?subject=Tip
I'd love to hear from you so we can all learn something new!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Organizing by Phone! The Newest and Least expensive way
to get organized by a Professional! Call Janet at 800-687-3040 or
mailto:janet@overhall.com to find out
how you can get
organized by phone!
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4. Broken Doesn't Mean Unusable
By Dawn Adams, writer and former editor of A Personal
Touch (reprinted with permission)
In this society, we consider everything disposable. This was
not the way it was meant to be and Mother Nature is
screaming for us to stop. How do we stop? We start to think
of new uses for items that we once considered unfixable or
unusable. You say, I don't want junk around my house. I
don't either. I am not recommending using a computer as a
paperweight. I am suggesting finding another use for
something which may in the end improve something.
For example:
old laundry basket =garden harvest basket
picnic basket with a broken handle = toy holder or planter
stained sheet = paint tarp or kids tent
clothes = scavenge for usable pieces (buttons)
old sponges = art sponges
mens' old shirts = smocks
crayons = crayon chips (see Tightwad Gazette) or color for
paraffin candles
coffee grounds = for rose mulch
organic kitchen matter = mulch - eggshells have been doing
wonders keeping the slugs away
milk / OJ cartons = kid cities or candle molds
cereal boxes = magazine holders, car garage and ramps
carpet = cat scratch posts
ends of 2 x 4 's etc. = children's blocks after sanding
Phone = children's toy
Old book or magazine pictures = De coupage
Brown paper Bags = cover books or wrapping presents or
draining bacon
Broken Terra Cotta Planters = Drainage hole covers
Burnt out cookie sheet = Art tray for children
Broken garbage can = End table (flip it over, add a wooden
circular cover, and cover with fabric.)
panty hose = Christmas ornaments or tomato plant, ties,
sachets for drawers
toilette paper cores = wire or rope holder, silent wind chimes
old newspapers = mulch / weedblock, wrapping paper (i.e.
comics, business, travel, etc.)
Just look twice before you throw something away. Could it
have a second life? Even Martha Stewart reuses her empty
wine bottles with an alcohol server tip as a kitchen soap
dispenser. It was prettier than the alternative dishwashing
soap bottle. So before you toss anything out, brainstorm you
may find that the item has another use and another life.
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Get Your IMPORTANT Documents Organized and recorded
TODAY! Check out http://www.overhall.com/wwwh1.htm
"The Red WHO, WHEN, and WHERE Home Management Booklet"
NOW available as a downloadable E-book.
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5. Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes
>> "Pull out the arrow rather than spending time wondering who shot
it."
--Dali Lama
>> "Don't find fault. Find a remedy."
--Henry Ford
>> "You can't build your reputation on what you're going to do."
--Henry Ford
>> "He who putters around winds up in the hole."
--Unknown
>> "If your mind can conceive it, and your heart can believe it,
then you can achieve it."
--Unknown
~~ If you have a joke, quote, or anecdote that would fit
well into OverHall IT!, please feel free to email it to me at
mailto:janet@overhall.com?subject=newsletterjokes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you gotten your * tickle * for the day? Check out the
secret organizing tool that ALL organized families and
successful people use on a daily basis at
http://www.overhall.com/tickler_file.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Products, Books, and Web Site Reviews
Books:
What You Think Of Me is None of My Business
by: Terry Cole-Whittaker
You will NOT be able to put this book down! It is full of advice
that everyone should read! Terry talks about your power, your
abundance, your purpose and more with exercises and affirmations
at the end of each chapter. This book is selling for less than $10
Get it today!!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/051509479X/overhallconsulti
Alan Cohen, A Deep Breath of Life contains a different
inspiration, affirmation, and prayer each day.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561703370/overhallconsulti
Newsletters:
"Get your free Timely Time Management Tips ezine now to help
you get more time every day and reduce your stress. To subscribe,
click: http://www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement
or email:
mailto:timemanagement-subscribe@topica.com
"
Website:
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic.htm
has many recycling articles
you might want to check out, BUT please be careful with this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Ask the OverHaller
Q: I have my boxes of magazines that I still want to go through
to cut out the useful recipes and articles.
--Lori
A: It's ALL old news and you can find a recipe ANYWHERE!
Even on the Internet. If you haven't gone through them by now,
when will you have time to go through them? When will you
have the time to try all the new recipes? If you really want to go
through them (What would you rather be doing?) Take a stack to
bed or while watching a TV show. Set up files, something like:
recipes, living room, kitchen, hobbies and rip out and file.
Wait six months and if you haven't pulled ANYTHING out of those
files, toss it ALL!
If you have a question you would like to ask the OverHaller, please
send them to: mailto:janet@overhall.com?subject=question
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars and get ready to get organized!
START the NEW YEAR off right by attending or getting
the audiotapes (http://www.overhall.com/eietapes.htm
)
Jan. 9, 2002
"OverHall" Your Life For More Space,
Time and Money & Break the Debt Cycle For Good
$39; SLC Conference Center TWO SESSIONS AVAILABLE!
22 West 34th Street, 5th Floor, NEW YORK, NY 10001
212-244-5888 for directions
http://www.overhall.com/enoughisenough.htm
to register
Session 0109A: 9am-noon; Session 0109B: 1-4pm
Jan. 9, 2002
Do's and Don'ts of Bouncing Back From Bankruptcy with
Contemporary Prosperity Advisor, Paula Langguth Ryan
7-9pm, SLC Conference Center
22 West 34th Street, 5th Floor, NEW YORK, NY 10001
212-244-5888 for directions; 800-507-9244 to register
$39 (includes a free copy of the groundbreaking
book, Bounce Back From Bankruptcy).
Jan. 10, 2002
"OverHall" Your Life For More Space, Time and Money
& Break the Debt Cycle For Good $39; Oakland Johrei
Spiritual Center TWO SESSIONS AVAILABLE!
818 Ramapo Valley Road, Route 202N, OAKLAND, NJ
201-337-2031 for directions;
http://www.overhall.com/enoughisenough.htm
to register
Session 0110C: 1pm-4pm
Session 0110D: 6:30pm-9:30pm
These workshops are also available as audiotapes at:
http://www.overhall.com/eietapes.htm
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FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATION or WEBSITE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have many articles available for reprint in your publication,
company newsletter, web site, etc. You may use articles
written by me that you see in OverHall IT! All you have to do
is print the article in its entirety along with my byline, and
complete contact information at the end of each article. I
would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Back
issues can be viewed at
http://www.overhall.com/issues_and_articles.htm
Thanks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this issue. I'll be back shortly with
the Computer Corner issue of OverHall IT!
Smiles, not Piles,
Janet L. Hall
Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author
Authorized Paper Tiger Consultant
http://www.overhall.com
Organizing for your Inner and Outer Self
Individual Counseling, Coaching, Workshops, and Seminars
If Your Current Systems Aren't Working For You...Get an
"OverHall"!
Janet L. Hall is the owner of OverHall Consulting, Organizing By
Phone, and co-owner of Enough is Enough International
Organization. Janet is based out of Southern Maryland and can be
reached at 800-687-3040 or 410-586-9440, or e-mail her at:
mailto:janet@overhall.com
Copyright (c) 2001 by OverHall Consulting
P.O. Box 263,
Port Republic, MD 20676
All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce,
copy, or distribute OverHall IT! or any articles by Janet L.
Hall so long as article(s) is kept intact, this copyright notice,
and full information about the author is attached.
ISSN # 1533-0702.
OverHall Consulting is proud to send you the bi-monthly
organizing newsletter that you have subscribed to OR that
someone has forwarded to you. If you are receiving this
issue as a forward, and would like to get your own free
subscription, visit http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm
Here in OverHall IT! it is my hope to help you stop juggling
areas in your life around and help you "OverHall" the areas
that might have become cluttered, ignored, or put on the
back burner. I want to help you bring back into focus the
things that are important to you. I want the chaos to stop for
you and help bring you some structure and hopefully some
useful advice and systems so you can accomplish the most
important task...running your life!
Please recommend this newsletter to anyone you know that
is interested in getting control of their life They can sign up at
http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm
PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute, rent, or sale
your Email Address to anyone. Period.
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