A month into my Lighten Your Load, Lighten Your Life challenge and I am feeling lighter. In lots of ways.
The group on Facebook (you can join too – click here) provides not just encouragement and inspiration, but accountability too.
To recap, in case you missed it: I challenged people to consider getting rid of a set number of things in your life every day for a year. I committed to getting rid of five things, but everyone can pick their number and some in the group chose to pick a number for each week. We’re flexible and friendly, so don’t be intimidated.
Initially, I thought the ‘things’ I would be getting rid of would be tangible items – all the crap cluttering my closets, house, office, barn, car, etc., but the group has definitely expanded that idea. Some people are clearing out their computer files, the pictures on their phones, attitudes that restrict them, rules that bind, even people that drag down their souls.
It’s been motivating to see what people post each day in response to my daily prompt. Besides being impressed with their dedication to this challenge, it provides ideas for more places where I can lighten my load – the refrigerator (and pantry), the junk drawer, the glove compartment, linen closet, dog toy basket.
There are moments when I wonder if I (and they) can keep this up for a year. But instead of accepting that burden, I remember this is about lightening my load, so I just fling it away and take this a day at a time. Today I will do it, but tomorrow can wait.
Still, I know there are five ‘things’ I can remove from my home/life/soul every day for a year if I decide to do it, and lean on this group to motivate/inspire and provide new ideas.
My drawers and closets are already less-stuffed. I’ve developed a habit of scanning rooms as I walk through them, evaluating everything—do I really need seven winter coats now that I’m not in PA? Do we have to keep five bottle openers, six spatulas, all the old dog collars, every book I’ve read? (Just in case, you (like me) stopped to ponder those questions, the answer is NO)
The other great change this has wrought is in my spending habits. Our credit card bill has dropped significantly because I reconsider every purchase—do I need to bring another anything into my home or my life?
We, like many Americans, have WAY too much of pretty much everything. It is a burden on not just our wallets, but our souls. Even if you don’t want to formalize this feeling by joining my challenge, let this short, dark month be one in which you re-think not just your belongings, but your habits, priorities, goals, and maybe even your dreams.
I just finished a fascinating book, Think Again by Adam Grant. It’s an engaging read that changed my approach to my work and my goals, but more than that, how I listen to people and how I respond. It’s also helped me listen to the news with more compassion and interest.
A few gems from Think Again:
“Reconsidering something we believe deeply can threaten our identities, making it feel as if we’re losing a part of ourselves….We favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt, and we let our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We laugh at people who still use Windows 95, yet we still cling to opinions that we formed in 1995. We listen to views that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard.”
My next newsletter with fun links, reads, and recommendations drops this Sunday. I hope you’ll jump on the list:
Hey, thanks for reading. I know you’ve got lots of options, so thanks for sharing a few of your minutes with me.
Honored,
Cara
If you’re a writer (or you wanna be) and you’d like some guidance, editing, accountability, or some good old fashioned encouragement in meeting your writing goals, reach out. I offer one-on-one coaching. Learn more here.
My latest novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. It won the Womens Fiction category of the American Writing Awards in 2022. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
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I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, twitter, or Instagram, and I’m thrilled to get email from readers (and writers), you can reach me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.
My book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues is available anywhere books are sold, but if you’d like some help finding it (or want to read some lovely reviews), click here.
My Life in Paragraphs 
I consider myself a fairly organized person. I don’t like a lot of clutter even in my computer. But one thing I learned once you retire is this- you look at things differently. You ask yourself “what is the value added to my life by holding on to this?” That’s a big game changer. I moved to a different state and a year prior to my move, I purged BIG TIME. Donated things, sold things and trashed things. It felt good!
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I want perfection in each of my work either i am working professionally or doing some other household chores. Consistency and punctuality is the most important factor in achieving you goal. My aim is to become Medical billing specialist at Doctor management services which provides resourceful and highly optimized service package for all doctors in California. That would be a life’s turning point for me. Now i have started working on my dream lately. Hopefully will achieve it soon!
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