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This month has been a rough month. This is the month my mom passed away. Even though it has been years ago I still miss her, especially when I need motherly advice or information about something. I’m glad it is almost over and a new month dawns, but who knows what this month will bring. Every day is a new day and it is a new day to have a new start.

The journey has not been easy, but without the hard times, a person cannot grow spiritually or mentally. A person will be stunted or slow in their growth. Even a seed as it grows has to push through a hard shell before touching dirt as it grows. Then it has to push hard through dirt to make its way to the open sky. Even then, at times, hard times are over, because there is the weather, rain, cloudy days, hot, dry days, even at times droughts or floods. Depending on where that plant is there is even worse weather, tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, fires, and even battles and wars of all kinds; physical, mental, spiritual…If that plant has deep roots and is strong and has a good Gardener taking care of it that plant will not wither or fade away until its time.

Depression is the worse. It can be debilitating. It feels like walking or wading through clay mud up to your waist while it’s storming. Or walking forwards in tornado force winds and getting nowhere or being pushed where the tornado is going. Then coming out on the other side and feel like you are not in Kansas anymore but in the Land of Who Knows Where.

Having habits or routines can help because when there are days that are clear or brighter it can help get things back on track. There are days it seems like I am dragging or crawling my way through the day just to make it through, but if I can get just one task done, that is my goal to shoot for until I get it done. At times it takes me days to accomplish that goal and when I do I then shoot for that goal daily to get back at making that a habit or a routine.

There are times, a lot of times, it seems like I take a couple of steps forward and even five steps forward, then I fall ten steps backward or I just fall down a hole. Then I have to either climb back out of that hole or start walking forward all over again. However, I never give up.

I encourage you to never give up. Don’t try to handle it on your own. If you need help don’t hesitate to ask for help from family, a friend, a pastor or religious leader, or a professional. Have a great day or evening.

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The other day my daughter did a bit decluttering without me asking and helping. She threw a lot of things away. It was a bit of a sting and I did a knee jerk way of thinking as to “What was she throwing away? Is it important? Can I reuse it somehow? Will I need it someday?”

At the same time she was decluttering, I was helping my brother fix my vehicle. I needed my thermostat replaced. I was a very quick, easy repair and not an expensive part. I had to go to the store to get more antifreeze, or coolant, to put into my radiator and reservoir. Come to find out I had a leak where my thermostat is. As I drove to the store that got me to thinking about what was being thrown awayhow and why I was feeling the way I was feeling.

As things were being thrown in the dumpster right on top was a stylus that I had been looking for, for about a year, for my old tablet that I had dropped and busted the screen. The screen pretty much shattered and when you turn it on the screen goes crazy and it is hard to see what is going on. Anyway, I picked out the stylus to put back with the broken tablet.

I got to thinking about me pulling that stylus out. “How much does a stylus cost to replace it?” My husband replaced it by buying two, in case I lost one, which I have and I am still looking for it, and it cost about $20- $40 for one. No it is not one that it is made for it, but it is compatible. The one that is made for it costs about 10x’s the compatible one. Why am I keeping the one that goes with the broken tablet. “Can it go with my new tablet?”, I am thinking to myself.

I get to the store, get my stuff, and head back home. I am still thinking about what was tossed and the stylus. Why is it painful. Then I think to myself “You know what, how easily can the stuff that was tossed be replaced? How much would it cost to replace? If it is $20 or less, then let it go. Plus, if you haven’t missed the stuff until now, you are not going to miss it when it is gone because you didn’t even know what or where the stuff was.” With that last thought That eased the pain of letting go. Also, the thought of “How much happier you are going to be when the stuff is gone, the area is clearer, and that is less stuff that you have to deal with later.” I think I need to let my daughter declutter on her own more or just do a little more of less thinking about things and letting go and chucking it out the door.

So the moral of this story is if you have to much stuff that is taking too much of your attention away from the things you love to do or the ones you love to spend time with, you need to declutter and either trash or donate/give away the things you haven’t used in the past 6 months to a year, didn’t know you had it in the first place, love it, like it or want it. If you need help, seek help from a professional to help you declutter. It will be freeing to have a space you can enjoy that is not cluttered, clean, and organized.

Clutter just causes anxiety, depression, and health issues.

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