If you live in states with deciduous trees, have you noticed how gray and stark the landscape has gotten since the leaves have fallen from the trees? I enjoy scanning the landscape when I walk Jake and Oz, my beloved pups, every morning. As I was walking this weekend, I noticed that the grayness was broken here and there by a pop of bright red and green from bows on wreaths and other Christmas decorations. It occurred to me that we begin to decorate for the holidays right after the leaves fall from the trees. The greens of the leaves are first replaced by shades of yellow, red and gold. Then when nature can no longer provide the energy of color, we pull out our bright lights and red bows. What a wonderful transition to winter!

Is it any wonder that the early days of the new year seem so bleak. When we pack away our decorations we systematically remove the color from the landscape . Little do we know, but that energy was feeding us, nurturing us, giving us visual pops of joy. When we remove them we are left a primarily gray landscape and the white skies of winter. With the exception of berries on bushes and shrubs and an occasional cardinal, it’s difficult to find a pop of bright energizing color anywhere in the landscape.

Here are some suggestions for adding color to your outer world:

-add a colorful flag at your front door
-add a wreath with some red accents to your front door
-add doormats at your front and back doors that have colorful designs
-add small yard flags with bright colors and fun themes in several locations in your yard, even the back yard
-paint your shed or any other outbuilding red
-get a red bird feeder or paint your existing bird feeder red
-install a blue or red birdbath
-add wall plaques beside your front and back doors that have cheerful greetings and bright colors
-add a red, blue or purple gazing ball to your landscape (if you’re not worried what the neighbors will think!)

Did you notice that many of my recommendations specified “red” as the color of choice? Red is the color associated with the fire element in feng shui. When a landscape is primarily gray, adding red provides a pop of warmth and energy in an otherwise cold and “dead” landscape. So, add color outside, especially red, and warm up the winter landscape and your life!

I was recently asked for Christmas gift suggestions for staff by an elementary school principal. I told her I work hard to give gifts that won’t add to a person’s clutter burden. I give gifts that are consumable and that anyone would appreciate, like gift cards (which are really money $$$$) and special foods. 

This year I am giving amaryllis bulbs to many people on my list. Several years ago my neighbor gave me one. Though it took me some time to finally open the package and plant the bulb in its little pot, when I finally did, I found such pleasure in watching it grow into a luscious red bloom in the cold gray months of winter. So, I’ve added giving gifts that provide the recipient with an experience to my gift giving options. 

After the principal and I discussed these various options, I think she settled on the gift card idea. She can feel confident that the gift she’s giving won’t end up in the Good Will bin or the trash, or even worse, stashed away in a clutter pile of things that must be kept because it was given by someone significant, even though it’s not really of value to the recipient. And better yet, the gift of money during these tough economic times will certainly lift the spirits of her staff.

What can you do this holiday season to give without creating clutter?

“Hello!” I looked up with a start at the greeting that had torn me from my thoughts and prayers.  There was the man with his Border Collie. My first thought was, “I wonder if he heard me praying?” You see, I pray as I walk my dogs in the dark each morning. I pray out loud, not loud, but my prayers are audible. Then I thought, “Oh, well. Let him wonder. . .”

I have been praying as I walk in the morning for a long time. It helps me start my day with the right perspective, the right connection to the source of my personal power. Once I have that gentle conversation I am better able to deal with the realities I encounter each day in my work. 

Recently a trusted advisor suggested I start my day by first listing things I am grateful for, then stating my intentions for the day, and finally ending with specific requests of God, spirit, the Universe, my Higher Power. I’ve been doing that for several weeks and find it a nice, balanced way to pray.

My prayer might go like this: I am grateful for all my wonderful clients, Bob’s love, these sweet, faithful mutts. Today I intend to be a grounding, positive source of help and support for my clients. I intend to look for opportunities to rest and have fun. I ask that Mark (my disabled brother) and Mom and John (my step-father) be safe. I ask for more clients who want feng shui or feng shui organizing services.

It’s amazing how good I feel after my morning walks!

It happened again today! I was looking for a recipe and ran into a paper pile that wasn’t even on my radar. I keep special recipes with the phone books on the shelf of a telephone table in the kitchen. As is my habit, when I reached for the recipe folder I also took a look at all the other items on the shelf. Not only did I rediscover an excellent healthy eating cookbook, but I also found several out-of-date phone directories and guides to exploring Richmond, a spiral binder and a looseleaf binder that could be emptied. I felt good when I saw that stack of stuff shrink, and I was also rewarded with the find of a great cookbook the had gone out of my awareness. 

Remember you too can experience the pleasure of purging if you do it as you go about your every day activities! It only takes seconds to pitch a few things, and the benefits far outweigh the effort. Every time you get rid of something, you are creating clarity for yourself and clearing a path to more prosperity.

Who Piles?  Other options. . .

Have you ever noticed that some people have piles all over their office and others do not?  If you do not organize by piling, you might be viewing those piles with curiosity, or disgust or amazement.  Why would anyone want to be surrounded by piles, especially “dysfunctional” piles, or have piles all over the floor?

After many rounds of pile busting for my clients, I have learned that many ‘pilers’ share certain characteristics:

• they are visually oriented and worry that if papers are out of sight, they will be out of mind;
• they prefer to organize horizontally; instead of vertically (traditional filing);
• they have difficulty throwing papers away because they are afraid they will either make a mistake or miss an opportunity;
• they have difficulty making decisions because they tend to try to consider all the possibilities for use of the papers;
• they are easily overwhelmed by paper; once they get even a little behind on paper management they shut down and stop dealing with it;
• they really do not know how set up more effective systems for effectively dealing with paper.

What to do? Of course, one option is to continue using piles, but make sure they are functional piles-ones that contain papers pertaining to just one subject or project.

Other options to avoid piling:

–Make a commitment to MAKE A DECISION about what to do with paper the first time you touch it.  1) Is it an action item? 2) Should it be filed?    3) Should it be routed to someone else?    4) Is it trash?    5) Is it something to read?    6) Or, is it something you are undecided about?  Create easy to reach places for each of those types of items.  Then, put it in the appropriate place.

–Make a commitment  to STOP SETTING PAPER ASIDE for any reason.

–Use a step sorter on your desk to make files visible.  Have those files contain active projects or documents and forms you use frequently.  Be sure to label the files in dark ink.  Or, better yet, use a label maker (available at office supply stores for about $50).

–Use an open filing cabinet (available on wheels), desktop filing box, or crate so that you can continue to enjoy a horizontal format, but have the benefits of a vertical filing system.