Clean It Up and Clear It Out!!

Photo by Agapale Camil

Springliness is Next to Godliness

I am in the midst of an existential crisis.  Most people call it Spring Cleaning, but in my house it has come to be known as the "Big Spill".  While this is usually a pretty simple concept, it's a little more involved in my case, as this year's "spring clean" is a reflection of a shift in consciousness. Technically, it happens to all of us.  Every spring we get that one wild hair and it drives us to clean up and clear out.  It's not just a symptom of being cooped up all winter, either.  On an unconscious level, we all know that springtime is a period of fertility and renewal.  We also know that a tree must release its dead fruit before it can bloom.  Life is the same, and so the concept of springtime echoes through each and every one of us, pushing us to celebrate by letting go of things that no longer serve our purpose.  Negative thought patterns, misused emotions, and that ratty, old Slayer tee we only ever wear at night (hey, the thing is so worn in it feels like Egyptian cotton!) are cast aside in order to create space for new ideas, new emotions, and cleaner garments.  We clean up and clear out because we're getting ready to cultivate new energy and new vocations.         

This year, my vocation is offloading a house.  My husband and I are looking to downsize because we want to show our daughter the world, and maybe even do some exploring ourselves.  It's a growing trend that many people are beginning to embrace. Life is more than a home and a mishmash of possessions. Not to say that we can't enjoy the simple pleasures of being at home and spending time in each other's company, but to me, the concept of home is simply that: family. Wherever my family ends up is where I live. Personally, I'd like it to end up in some pretty righteous places - hence the downsize, hence extra cash, hence traveling. 

There is also a deep significance in owning a home that reflects who you are, not just at a decor level, but at a deep emotional level. I want a home that not only speaks to me, but for me. I want it to support every aspect of who I am and what I stand for, which is basically a conglomeration of art, literature, nature, and vitality.  At present, we live in a decent home. It's bright and lovely and secure, but it doesn't resonate with who we are anymore. My family has been through a lot over the past five years. My husband was diagnosed with cancer back in 2010. Recently he received his final marks: he got a "C" in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thankfully, that "C" stands for cured. After years of chemo and PET scans and biopsies and blood tests, he's been given a clean bill of health, and I couldn't be prouder. Dealing with cancer teaches you to live in the moment. It's a disease born of stress, and stress is conceived from a constant cycle of worry. When we spend our days thinking about the future, we miss out on the present. When we live in the moment what we see as our future becomes reality. It's a lovely feeling and my family has taken to it quite nicely, though it's still a work in progress. Regardless, we've started throwing ourselves into everything we do, because if you're not going to be all in, what's the point? Work, play, and even rest have become celebratory. We work hard at making life shine, at making the ordinary truly extraordinary. The same will go for our home. We want a place that will echo our beliefs and keep itself warm while we're out cavorting and making messes. It's time to take some leaps, which brings me back to my original issue: 

Er...I mean:

The Big Spill

Photo by Josh Parrish

We want to downsize by approximately 1,000 square feet—a noble goal, yet extremely difficult.  We look to list our home by May Day, but life is persistent, meaning it NEVER STOPS. Mail comes in every day, along with my daughter's school papers, her artwork from art class, and then there's the notes and marketing material for my novels, store receipts, recycling, new clothing, new books, old toys, etc.  My husband and I both work full time and every single weekend in March was completely booked! This is, admittedly, my fault because, at the same time I decided to offload my house, I also decided to nurture all the relationships in my life.  

What can I say? I set the bar high...

My goals, while admirable, are operating at a tragic speed because, at present, I'm not even behind the wheel.  This is one of those things that happens when we put our affirmations out into the world and then do very little to manage them. Don't get me wrong, dreams and innovation are flippin' fabulous. They're the backbone of our lives, but there is something to be said for the conscious mind.  It helps us formulate plans and get our shit together (pardon the Francais).  A clear conscious mind allows us to manifest our desires, as it is completely aware of what we want and it uses healthy pathways to help us get it. The conscious mind is also a messenger.  It shows us when our thought patterns have gone awry, as it assists in the manifestation of not only dreams, but of barriers.  Things that block us don't appear out of thin air. We make them appear. We can also make them un-appear by shifting our thought patterns.  For me, becoming aware of the craziness that is my life helped me realize that, instead of beating myself up over not having anything done at the house, I'd make a point to sit down and calendar out the weekends, giving myself time to clean and purge.  I would have to make the conscious choice to nurture my goal.  

Stepping back to look at the situation from an objective view point helped me see that I could work on BOTH goals at once.  I didn't have to choose between them - I could develop my relationships and clear my space simultaneously. First, my family and I would clean up the house together. We would do it bit by bit throughout April and use the time to chat and talk about life. Then, I'd invite all my friends over for a Home Improvement Party, with beer and niblits and good music. We could spend our time catching up while packing, purging, and making repairs to the house. Armed with my ideas, I reported to my Facebook page, prepped an Event Invite, and sent it out to my friend folk. 

But my clean up and clear out didn't end there. As I was loitering on Facebook, I noticed a couple of people on my friends list that I never talk to, like ever.  

Behold, the light of realization dawned on me, and I saw that it was good. 

Okay, putting the spiritual references aside, I quickly came to the conclusion that part of nurturing my relationships meant letting go of those that no longer serve me. There's really no point trying to resurrect dead friendships. If people are not willing to relate to you, it's time to cut them loose. I know that might sound mean, but if we want a healthy garden, we have to prune the bushes. Doing so removes dead and unhealthy buds, giving the stronger blossoms a chance to flourish. Indeed, when we redirect the energy wasted on futile friendships to those friends who actually relate to us, we develop long-lasting and neigh unbreakable bonds. Having lots of friends can be difficult because its hard to give so many people the time they deserve. I'm sure you've heard the saying: "Quality not quantity"? Well, it's absolutely true, especially when it comes to relationships. Spreading ourselves thin for too many people will only produce  "thin" friendships.  

With all this in mind, it seems one can ride "The Big Spill" into a realm of personal achievement. Through awareness, evolution will occur.  Knowing who we are and where we stand allows us to better nurture our identity, take steps in the direction of our dreams, and scrub the mildew from our souls.  

Which brings me to my...

Springtime Giveaway!

In honor of the Big Spill, I've decided to offer up the following "goodies" to one lucky subscriber of my Newsletter*! (subscribe by clicking on that handy telegram-looking link in the upper right hand corner of zis blog)

the life-changing magic of tidying up

by marie kondo

Shuter Y3161 Frosted Expanding File Folders/ 13 Pockets

andy warhol pocket planner

192 pages including checklists, contacts, notes, sketches, etc.

*Subscription to the Newsletter will enter you into the foregoing "raffle" and get you one Life by Seven Newsie every few weeks. No more, no less. If at any time I decide to up the outtake, I'll let you know!

Welp, that's all for today!  Go forth and enjoy. Oh, and be sure to keep it real.    

Much Love!  <3

    

 Nichole