I’m on an organizational kick. The mind clutter level has gotten too high, there are two many things going on to keep it all straight, and things were starting to fall through the cracks.
kaughy inadvertently provided me with a path to follow to solve this issue whilst posting about his own efforts to manage the startup of his business, and more about this later, for that is not what this post is about.
This post is about, sort of, Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. I’ve told this story many times, maybe even in this journal. It bears repeating.
Julia Cameron was a professor for a time at the undergraduate university I went to. I never took her class, but a couple friends of mine did (stronglanguage, for example). Everyone who took her class loved it. One of my friends believed she was a witch because of her uncanny way of knowing what you were thinking, and what you needed/wanted at any given time.
One of the first exercises in this class was to write your life story. They had a week or so to do it, and on the day they turned in their papers, Ms. Cameron asked everyone to raise their hand if they had done a major purging of their stuff the previous weekend. Everyone raised their hand.
It seems the act of recording your life down on paper frees up some of the need to pack-rat mementos. It clears out some of the cobwebs and baggage hanging around in your brain.
So, I’m going to make an effort to try and get some of those stories out of my brain. Time to turn the hose on the mind clutter.
I may need to rent a dumpster.
Good for you. I have been thinking about things I need to get rid of lately. Mostly it’s been manifesting as “throwing stuff out”– keeping only things that i love in the house, and getting over old thoughts. The idea that “This is perfectly good and I might need it someday,” has turned into, “Hey, this is still good so maybe someone else needs it” or “Maybe I should just set this outside and see who takes it.”
But there are other layers to it, as you know.
The morning pages helped me throw some old journals away back when all they contained was a bunch of complaining. It was useful at the time, as I was growing up and finding myself and all, but I don’t need to read that again.
I had thought to make LiveJournal my “morning pages”, but thus far it hasn’t worked out that way.
Maybe this will be the year.
I can see how there would be a difference between spilling out your morning pages and writing for yourself and others to see– maybe having the MP as private entries would make it easier. You have given me an idea…thanks! I’ll let you know if I do it.
…
and then there’s, “I wouldn’t give this to ANYONE, so why am I storing, maintaining, and tripping over it in my small house?
I think the metaphor is too obvious not to point out. I love getting rid of stuff.
Re: …
Who said “get rid of anything in your house that is not useful or beautiful”? I can’t remember.
Re: …
Well, I think of FlyLady (http://www.flylady.net), who has been helpful to me in my aspiration to let go of perfectionism– in the spirit of, “All or nothing usually results in nothing,” and 15 minutes a day = 7.5 hours a month (so it’s OK just to do a little bit). Or as puts it, Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.
Wow,
If things weren’t too busy I would definately do this.
Maybe for the one year anniversary. When I should be doing a file purge anyway. Keep us updated on how it goes!
I certainly will.
I’m 3/4 of the way through Getting Things Done, thanks to your mention. You may have changed my life. I’ll let you know.
Cool!
I was surprised at how quickly some bits worked their way into my life. I’m planning to re-read it soon as it’s been about two months, and I think I’m ready to ramp up some more.
Totally Unrelated.
Mr Rocket, didn’t you work for Echostar for a while? If so, what do you know about the antenna on the back of their boxes for receiving signals from their RF remote controls? Can the supplied antenna be replaced with a larger/more sensitive one?
Thanks
Re: Totally Unrelated.
I have never worked for Echostar. Not that there’s anything wrong with working for Echostar.
I work for Scientific Atlanta, which makes settop boxes, so there’s your confusion.
I am sure their antenna can be replaced with a larger/more sensitive one. Don’t know if it would work or not, though.
Re: Totally Unrelated.
Where would one go to buy an antenna that uses a coaxial style connector? Radio Shack? Fry’s?
Re: Totally Unrelated.
Either one. Cool kids go to Fry’s.
Re: Totally Unrelated.
Fry’s it is!
Thanks.