Creating a Life We Love - Together!

Not sure where this will lead to, but it's something I feel driven to do.  This is my intention for 2010: to reduce the amount of mental, emotional and physical "clutter" in my life, so that I can create more s p a c e for what truly matters.

Would you like to join me?  I don't have anything formal set-up, as I think this year-long project will organically evolve and define itself.  So all I'm asking is that if any of you are inspired to reduce clutter in your life, so that you can regain that much needed space for all the things you love - those things that make you feel more alive - then come along.  Let's do this thing together! 

Let's put ourselves first.  Let's put our art first.  Let's put our hidden, quiet, secret dreams first.  Let's be bold.  Let's live more fully.  Let's be our true selves.  Let's let go of MORE so that we can find that place, that s p a c e, where our hearts are open and free.

And, let's share our journey.  You are invited to use one of these badges on your blog to help get others involved, or simply as a way to post a visual reminder for yourself.  Feel free to link it to this post.  Also, let me know if you plan on joining me for this "Reduce Clutter; Create Space" year-long challenge.  I will add your link to the sideline of my blog.  If you aren't interested in participating, yet, want some tips on how to reduce clutter in your life, I will be posting regularly about this topic, so check back often!

Also, if you use Twitter and will be sharing about your reduce clutter journey, add this hash mark:  #reduceclutter to your tweet so we can read each others posts!

Your Personal Reflection:  Ask yourself these questions:  "What is working in my life?"  "What isn't working as well?"  "What small steps and changes can I make this year to continue creating a life I love?"

As of January 4, 2010:  I've added a Twitter "Reduce Clutter; Create Space" list.  Let me know if you want to be added to it.  Also, you can join this "challenge" at anytime throughout the year.

As of July 12, 2010:  Nearly 70 people have joined the challenge.  We all have stories to share and through support, we are connecting, learning and growing.  It has been an amazing 6 months so far.  Let's continue to create more space - one step at a time.  Are you next?

Intentions for a New Year

For me, this photo represents vast spaciousness - something I find myself needing more and more of with each passing day. (And one of the reasons why I took a week off from my blog. Glad to be back!) What started as a de-clutter December project, has now turned into my personal quest for the year of 2010. (This week I'll be introducing "Reduce Clutter; Create Space, 2010" project. I hope you'll join me!)

What does this mean? Well, every year around this time, I grab a warm drink, my favorite pen, and my journal, and I reflect on the past 12 months. I write about the events and celebrations that stand out. I write about lessons I've learned. I write about where I find myself in this moment as I approach a new year.

Rather than write resolutions, I usually write a word or phrase that sets my intentions for the coming year. Sometimes I think about it for weeks, and sometimes the phrase comes instantly. This past month of clearing clutter has erupted a deep desire in my soul to let go of more.

So my intention for this next year is to create S P A C E. I intuitively know that the more space I create, the more open my heart feels. And the more open my heart is, the more peaceful I feel.

I look around my environment, and what was once a place that suited my needs, has now felt as though I'm being swallowed in it. The more I clear, the more piles I find. And these piles are sneaky and hidden. Because on an external level, my house looks clean and orderly. But, when I start to go deeper, I find more and more treasures to sift through and learn from. It's hard. I get why so many of us avoid going deeper in our lives. Sometimes it's easier to not see. To stuff it away. To hide it in the closet. The drawers. Sweep it under the rug. But the physical stuff, the tightness in my throat, and the mental chatter reminds me that I CAN'T live that way. I need to go deeper. I need to clear. I need to breathe. I need to feel free. I need to be.
The creation of more space in my life is SO exciting. I see the open road, and I smile.

Your Personal Reflection: What is your intention for this new year?

(You can see the list of what I de-cluttered for the month of December on the right side of my site.)