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<title>Latest Articles by luise_volta</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>What Can Be Done About Our Inability to Feel Comfortable When We're Alone</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Relationships/Marriage/what-can-be-done-about-our-inability-to-feel-comfortable-when-we-re-alone.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Relationships/Marriage/what-can-be-done-about-our-inability-to-feel-comfortable-when-we-re-alone.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Many of us have planned our lives very carefully to avoid being alone. We may not see our motivation that clearly but we can sure look back and see a long string of relationships of one kind and another. That ought to tell us something. We like company...someone to use as a mirror. It's possible to see our selves reflected in the approval of others and then dummy up an identity.

Starting out in this life is always a joint experience or we don't survive. We soon realize that pleasing others is a smart move. Teachers come along behind parents and siblings, and the next thing we know we're pleasing our scout leaders and church choir directors. They smile...we do it again. They frown and we hear warming bells. We socialize, grow up, marry and are soon seeing ourselves through the eyes of our own children where we continue to look for identity through approval.

Somewhere along the line, hopefully, a healthy person begins to look toward developing an individualistic side. Often it isn't easy if we meet up with opposition. Others often want to be super-important to us and don't want us to change our agreeable habits. The trick is to not back down into people pleasing when this happens. Most of us won't want to pass on becoming a "stand-alone" person once we get started.

One of the ways to pave the way into the often-foreign territory of "selfness" is learning to like our own company. Sometimes we can learn to partner without excessive leaning by going on an occasional retreat with the up-front agenda of trying to see who we are when we are a alone. Do we feel whole and complete?

Most jobs and family situations don't support the retreat idea. It's more like "You are going to go where...to do what? Are you planning a retreat from life?" Yet it's an idea worth considering. Where would we go and what would we do if we were left to our own devices and desires? If we're not interested in finding out...beware. Fear may be lurking.

Years ago when a death broke up a lifetime relationship, the person left behind was often unable to drive or balance a checkbook. It's more the exception than the rule now. However, we do have those who are left behind who feel like half of something that is no more...individuals who aren't individuals, really. To get caught in that situation and to have to begin building an independent entity at that time could be a tall order. The time to work on it is more likely to be supportive if we don't have to do it in crisis.

If we are uncomfortable alone...don't like to spend a night away from home...need to ask for the opinions of others before making a simple choice and/or turn to someone for support constantly, it is possible to reverse that trend. We can prepare ourselves for the possible eventuality of being the surviving partner of a long-term relationship by breaking old habits. Take the small ones first. We all have a different list of where we defer and when we lean. Both are charming behaviors at certain times and comforting at others, yet if we see a pattern...it is possible to step up to the plate and break free. We need to scrutinize our feelings and interactions honestly to get started.

As we gain experience, a new identity will come forward...a "stand alone" person that is better prepared for the fickleness of life. In the process we could also become more interesting, not only to others but to ourselves as well. ]]></description>
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<title>Many Varieties of Meditation are Available for Stress, Disease, and Depression Through Relaxation</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Meditation/many-varieties-of-meditation-are-available-for-stress-disease-and-depression-through-relaxation.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Meditation/many-varieties-of-meditation-are-available-for-stress-disease-and-depression-through-relaxation.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Most of us who have never meditated or who have always practiced it in a very prescribed manner can learn a great deal by moving beyond our rigid precepts. Beyond the spiritual, there is mounting documentation that regular meditation can reduce stress and support longevity. It's no longer uncommon for health care professionals like physicians, psychologists, and massage therapists to recommend various types of meditation to their patients and clients.

Courses are available at seminars, retreats, colleges and on-line suggesting that we all need to find a way to expand our inner connection while moving outward into the unknown. We live in a stress-producing society and are often much less physically active than our ancestors. Most of us need to find a way to unwind.

One group, Vipassana, offers free retreats that last ten days and require ten hours a day of meditation. If you know anyone who does that type of inner work you have probably noticed that they look very different "after: than they did "before"...and keep going back. That says something for such a rigorous ritual.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) can be researched on the web and studied to great advantage according to its proponents. Many have been at it for decades and wouldn't want to have a day go by without "connecting" in a deep and powerful way.

HeartMath has carefully documented statistics about what can be done to regulate heart rate, blood pressure and even body temperature through their method of meditation. Their system is more data oriented than metaphysical and consistently delivers to those who follow its guidelines.

Some groups are deeply religious in their presentation of meditation. The Catholic Church offers the age-old, Centering Prayer, Buddhists have many differing applications and the Self Realization Fellowship offers a unique mix of Christianity and Hinduism in their Lessons that lead to Kriya Yoga meditation.

The web offers a new student a large selection of options to consider. Many include free instruction and also have local groups for continued support. An overwhelming number of books on the subject are available, also, that can help the neophyte compare meditation methods before establishing affiliation.

To eclectic students, there is the possibility of learning several different methods of meditation and even combining them as they see fit. It can be a very personal process.

Not only can meditation be directed toward individual growth and expansion, there are methods, like the Buddhist Tonglen practice, that take on the job of working toward the healing and well-being of others. Monasteries and convents, both Christian and non-Christian, have meditated for world peace and individualized emancipation for centuries.

The opportunity for all of us to take a closer look at mediation and how it might enhance our lives and improve our health is definitely out there. Start small, shop around, and talk it up. What you come up with could radically change your life. ]]></description>
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<title>What Are Food Supplements All About and How Can We Educate Ourselves on this Subject</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Weight_Loss/what-are-food-supplements-all-about-and-how-can-we-educate-ourselves-on-this-subject.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Weight_Loss/what-are-food-supplements-all-about-and-how-can-we-educate-ourselves-on-this-subject.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Today we are hearing a great deal about food supplements and we are reading about them in almost every type of newspaper and magazine. Yet sometimes the information can be pretty confusing. Some articles are obvious ads and that can make their claims suspect. There are also articles that appear to be written by independent sources that are really disguised ads.

In generations past, fresh fruits and vegetables came from naturally rich soil. For many living in those simple times, there was no reason to go beyond what nature provided. However, some studies show that today there are many vegetables and fruits that don't contain the wonderful array of vitamins and minerals they did decades ago.

So, what do we do? Who can we believe and what is "out there" that we can trust?

According to a many health professionals, the worst thing we can do is to buy and take what our friends tell us is the "latest and greatest". They admonish that nutrition is a science and we are not a one-size-fits-all culture. That's makes sense.

At one time most medical doctors wouldn't recommend anything beyond a vitamin-mineral combination. That's probably still true for the die-hards. However, a growing number of allopathic doctors are currently diagnosing and treating with an eye to diet and food supplements. We need to contact them during our research. They can be a good reference, even when we aren't sick.

Another great place to look when we are feeling OK but would like to improve our general health and energy levels is at the well established, proven, health websites where we can do some serious reading. Two top sites are the one provided by Dr. Joseph Mercola and the one offered by Certified Clinical Nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman. The both sell much of what they recommend, so keep that in mind.

A lot can be learned from the books Ms. Gittleman has written, as well, especially if weight loss is an issue. Reliable authors abound on all subjects and a trip to the local library or bookstore will provide many offerings to peruse.

After we've laid a little groundwork, a trip to a highly recommended Naturopath is often a great idea. Being tested is the way to eliminate the guesswork and hone in on what's really needed. There are all kinds of tests from what is called muscle testing, to EKGs. Some are amazingly simple like the test for low iodine, which is very common. You just get a bottle of Tincture of Iodine and paint a patch on you abdomen, if it fades overnight or sooner, you need kelp, or seaweed. Such visits can be costly but taking what you don't need can be costlier and dangerous, as well. Contrary to popular belief, indiscriminate self-prescribing of over-the-counter food supplements can be deadly.

An open mind can be our greatest source of inspiration. Those of us who are wiling to could probably profit from deciding to look into the interesting subject of improved self-care through food supplements. Why not give it a go? ]]></description>
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<title>How Can We Approach a Necessary Divorce Wisely and Well</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Family/Parenting/how-can-we-approach-a-necessary-divorce-wisely-and-well.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Family/Parenting/how-can-we-approach-a-necessary-divorce-wisely-and-well.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ One of the things none of us ever expected to have to face when we were young adults wearing custom-fitted, rose-colored glasses was leaving a marriage. We've had no training in how to do it although most of us have had the misfortune to observe how not to do it, up close and personal.

When our children are still at home the process becomes a great deal harder. Divorce already looms as nearly impossible without our having to face the fact that we don't know how to cope with our offspring's present and future trauma, brought about by our mistakes.

What brings each person to the point of no return in a marriage is too complicated to accept generalization. We all have different tolerances for despair and even abuse. Long ago I read a book, whose title and author have both since dimmed, that involved a study of how individuals define a good marriage. The incredibly varying answers stretched from a description of what most of us would see as terminal co-dependency to the candid response that it is when no one cares any longer and peace reigns. That said, now that we have come to The End, what do we do next?

One of the greatest deterrents to being able to face the music is the loss of self-esteem. The person who has lost identity in a non-supportive marriage, or who entered marriage already in that state only to have it go from bad to worse, often has no idea how to move to higher, safer ground. All too often, lack of self-worth in one or both partners keeps a pathological union in place.

If a crutch is needed to be able to move on and that crutch is a new "romance" for one of the partners, we are looking at double-trouble. It may be a way to leave but it comes with baggage galore and usually takes things into a war zone. A triangle is formed. The spouse and children who are being left behind will feel doubly abandoned and have an "enemy" to focus on. That's not a wise way to approach dissolution when it's an eventuality.

In the triangle situation, the person leaving has reduced all future options to an either/or choice...while at the same time being in no condition, emotionally, to know what could or should come next. How often have we seen the disastrous results of an "out of the frying pan into the fire" solution?

However, the need for a crutch may be very real and even necessary. When that happens...it's time to seek-out wise, unbiased friends, (which may be hard to find), and/or a good counselor to provide some much needed support and direction. If things have gone way past reconciliation, then someone to help steer the ship through troubled waters could make all the difference. ]]></description>
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<title>Christmas Shopping Doesn't Have to be a Grueling Experience if We Approach it Methodically</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Consumer/christmas-shopping-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-grueling-experience-if-we-approach-it-methodically.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Consumer/christmas-shopping-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-grueling-experience-if-we-approach-it-methodically.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Every year most of us tremble at the thought of doing our Christmas shopping.

The task looms and we shrink back from it dreading the crowds and what we will have to face when the snow clears, Santa is gone and the Visa bills arrive.

Christmas shopping is a job that can be reduced to a very minor issue with a little organization. There is no law that says we can't allocate next year's Christmas present buying over as many months as we choose.

It goes something like this...plan your work and work your plan. What that means is you put a list in your wallet of the names of the people you always buy for. If there are some who get more than one present, put that number behind the name and leave more room under it.

Allow your self to pretty much forget the project most of the time. All that is necessary is to be more observant when you are in drug, specialty and department stores. As you're cruising through in search of an item for yourself, watch the sales tables. As you glance over them, think of those on your list and pick up items that will be suitable. It's possible to pretty much cut your costs in half. Also, when catalogs arrive, scan them the same way, go online and get that unique gift on special.

Always make a note of your purchase on the list in your wallet and place a sticky note on the gift indicating whom it is for. That's very important. When you buy over several months it's hard to remember what you have gotten for whom.

Allocate a special place in your home, probably under lock and key if you have kids, and place the gifts in that central spot. Glance at your list once in a while to see who is covered and who isn't so your scanning in stores can become more specific as you progress.

When the season arrives, pull all of your gifts out to see if you missed anyone. Once the system is used for a year or two, that won't happen very often.

Sometimes you will want to switch things around, come Christmas, because specific needs have come up over the year. And if you find you have gotten too much for one person, save it for a birthday present.

Many of the people who shop for Christmas this way have reported that they are done by the first of April. If that sounds impossible, it isn't. And remember, the whole plan saves time, because you are on other errands when you pick up the sale items, and money because you get things at outrageous prices.

Why not make a New Year's resolution to let yourself off the hook in 2007? ]]></description>
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<title>Looking Closely At Our Friendships To Determine How To Function To Capacity With Others</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Relationships/looking-closely-at-our-friendships-to-determine-how-to-function-to-capacity-with-others.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Relationships/looking-closely-at-our-friendships-to-determine-how-to-function-to-capacity-with-others.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ We read a lot about our live-in relationships and where and how they flourish and/or founder. A step away from those lesson-providing efforts, are the special friendships we have over the years that continue to matter to us and to thrive.

The basic good news is that we don't have to live with our friends! What a blessing!

Beyond that is the need to see what each friendship that matters offers, and what we need to give it to keep the flame alive.

One huge factor, if we don't live near each other, is the ability of both people to communicate in writing. Over the years, we can easily stay in touch with someone that doesn't really matter that much and lose contact with someone special for the simple reason that one likes to correspond and the other doesn't. Most of us have found that telephone conversations leave a lot to be desired. They are often interruptive, lack privacy and tend to be superficial, as in, "What time is it there? How's your weather?" That gets old, fast, and often doesn't satisfy the needs of either person.

Accepting the obvious need to connect in a way that is real, we often feel frustrated about how to create it. Class reunions not withstanding, we can be on the alert for a chance to hook up and have a good visit at an airport or on a vacation. Both could offer a great chance to connect if we were willing to work through the logistics. As a friendship tool, however, it can only be effective if contact is kept current by some other means like, email.

Sometimes it takes a direct confrontation to clear the air about long silences. Rather than fuss and fume about not hearing from someone special, it may be more productive to ask what, if anything can be done to continue the connection.

Nothing much can be done if there isn't a demonstration of mutual responsibility. There are times when one person takes the initiative all of the time because it matters that much. In such cases the other person may welcome those occasions yet never reciprocate. If that's as good as it's ever going to get, it may still be better than nothing...because nothing brings us obsolete addresses and returned mail.

There are so many ways to be friends that each situation has to be judged on its own merit. Some friendships are purely data oriented and others reach way down into spiritual and philosophical levels that mean a lot to us when shared. Decisions regarding how much to put into staying in touch often depend on those factors.

Instead of letting such matters drift, we can take a close look at our friendships, great and small, to determine if we are getting what we want from them. How can they be improved or, if necessary, purged? Being proactive could bring about some very valuable changes, while facing reality might lighten the load. ]]></description>
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<title>Blaming Others for the Roadblocks in our Lives May Be a Way to Stay Stuck</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/blaming-others-for-the-roadblocks-in-our-lives-may-be-a-way-to-stay-stuck.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/blaming-others-for-the-roadblocks-in-our-lives-may-be-a-way-to-stay-stuck.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ How many of us point the finger at someone else when we look at the problems we face on a regular basis? Whether at work or at home, we can site the cause readily enough as our boss, co-worker, spouse, or offspring. Often we are right but where does that get us?

A very hard lesson to learn is how to take affirmative action when the difficulty rests with others and the ball is in their court. We often get stuck in the bog of "if only." If only she would stop doing that. If only he would straighten up. If only they'd listen.

Reading newspaper columns where people write in for advice, we are well aware of the standard complaint that the problem lies beyond the sphere of influence possessed by the writer. Hopeless and helpless are the operative words.

A new way to look at this very old set of circumstances is to see what we can do. We're seldom without options. Often we just don't like the consequences. Why not take on the job of moving through impasses by getting that the person or persons responsible for our roadblocks are going to go right on being the way they are. What they do is about them...how we react is about us. Once that fact is firmly established we can take a closer look at how we feel about the situation and how drastic our solution might have to be.

We don't have to stay in bad marriages, or keep rotten jobs. We can move out of a neighborhood that isn't working for our kids. Sometimes we can disarm the enemy with kindness and cooperation. What we don't need to keep in place is being stuck.

That's what counselors are for. Sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees, and we need help in finding workable options. Getting input from a professional can make all the difference and bring valued support, an advocate at long last.

No one needs to live a life of quiet desperation, locked into some kind of impasse. It takes gumption to look for solutions and to implement them but the rewards are right in front of us, like a carrot on a stick. We may need to polish up our courage and look closely to be sure that we aren't hiding behind hopelessness out of fear.

We've all heard the admonition: "Do something, even if it's wrong!" Well, we can do one better than that and make a right move in our own best interest. It's time. ]]></description>
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<title>Being Responsible Can be A Loaded Concept That May Need Scrutiny And Require Updating</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/being-responsible-can-be-a-loaded-concept-that-may-need-scrutiny-and-require-updating.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/being-responsible-can-be-a-loaded-concept-that-may-need-scrutiny-and-require-updating.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If we are willing to take a close look at responsibility, it may occur to us that there are many different ways to address and define it. Giving the subject some thought could bring a breath of fresh air into our stale concepts and automatic behavior patterns.

Most of us think a responsible person is one who takes on a job and follows though with it in a way that reflects integrity. We have grown up being told that we need to be responsible and that it is a characteristic that needs to be honored and developed with serious intent.

However, through the years most of us have run into people who are Responsible with a capital "R" and not all of our experiences we them have been positive. That kind of responsibility can blossom into full-time bossiness and a scowling continence that has little appeal.

Another way to consider being responsible is to use it as a tool for discernment. Sometimes slowing down is responsible and sometimes taking a closer look before we leap qualifies, as well. We can make wiser choices when we look at people, places and things, including situations and opportunities, with a jaundiced eye.

A good way to take a closer look at our level of personal responsibility is to notice how often we are late and what we might be able to do to clean up that area of our lives. Many of us are always on time or can give a good reason why we're not. If so, how often do we opt to explain ourselves instead of arranging our lives in a responsible way? It can get to be a habit and not be seen for what it is by the person perpetrating the fraud.

When we read something or attend a lecture, are we too willing to take everything on face value or do we assume the responsibility for deciding for ourselves whether it makes sense or not? If we ask questions, is it to get attention or to get more information to base a decision on regarding accepting or rejecting an idea?

We need to look at how we "hold others able" when assessing our attitudes toward responsibility. Do we do too much for those who need to learn to do for themselves? That's often a sneaky way to hide self-aggrandizement. Can we delegate and back off? Can we supervise and train others and not get puffed up? It's an art form for most of us to learn to be responsible and still know how and when to pass the job on to others with grace.

Being responsible isn't always shouldering the load. Sometimes it's saying no and meaning it. Part of being a mature adult is creating a healthy attitude toward giving our selves rest and leisure. Responsible doesn't need to mean pushing ourselves until we drop. Searching for, finding and maintaining balance is something we need to accept the responsibility for, as well.

Why not take a look at the concepts we are carrying around about responsibility and see if they need to be reframed? We usually expand when we are willing to do that. ]]></description>
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<title>A movement is Replacing New Year's Resolutions and It's Working for Those Willing to Give It a Try</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/a-movement-is-replacing-new-year-s-resolutions-and-it-s-working-for-those-willing-to-give-it-a-try.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Inspirational_Motivational/a-movement-is-replacing-new-year-s-resolutions-and-it-s-working-for-those-willing-to-give-it-a-try.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Many of us have totally given up where New Year's Resolutions are concerned. We have left a sad little trail behind us that seems to reach out into infinity...liberally strewn with broken promises and dead resolves. So what's the point?

Still when the time approaches, most of us can't help but think about our weight or our savings plan or a thousand other things that really could take some cleaning up.

We wrestle with not actually calling our hopes and dreams resolutions. How about "new beginnings" or something equally innocuous? It's hard to resist a clean slate...a new year...hope. Can't the phoenix rise out of the ashes one more time?

About two decades ago a group of people started something called "Miracle Lists", with some considerable success. When others want to learn what they are doing and how it works, they are quick to suggest that each group create their own name for the lists. For some, the word "miracle" is loaded.

It works like this: you get together every New Year's sans booze and make two lists. This usually takes an hour or more for each one. The first is a list of all of the "miracles" that have occurred during the last year. Others use the word "accomplishments" or something close. Don't get too into it, because anything will work. They are events that happened over the last year that were both positive and appreciated. Some were produced by the efforts of the person making the lists some were instigated by others and some just seemed to drop out of the sky.

When everyone has run out of material, which often evolves into 20 - 50 entries, or the hour is up, they stop and go on to the next step. Going around the room, one at a time, each person reads an entry until all are done. No discussions are held...the others just listen.

Back to the drawing board. List two consists of the "miracles" each person is willing to have happen in the year to come. The same procedure is followed with an hour allowed for everyone to make a new list, followed by the same kind of sharing as with list one.

The group then agrees to meet the following New Year's Eve, the lists are put into the hands of a member who can be trusted not to misplace them and it's time to eat.

Booze, optional.

The real fun starts the next year when the group gathers again. Each person again makes a list of the "miracles" that came their way in the past year. Then the lists of the miracles they were willing to have surface over the same period of time are distributed and each person goes over his/her list and checks off the ones that "came true". Following this, they go around the circle and share both lists...one item per each person until completed. Usually there is a high success ratio.

The last step is making lists for the up and coming year. Sometimes an item that didn't happen is again listed and sometimes the material is mostly fresh. Often it's a combination.

Groups of long-standing love to look back over old lists to see what once mattered, that no longer does. They find they are able to track their progress through life by watching their hopes and dreams change.

What is vastly important is that failure isn't factored in. It's an "up" experience and reassuring to those willing to lay their lives open to a chosen few. Why not try it? ]]></description>
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<title>We Often Don't Notice our Accumulation of Possessions Until They Take Us Over and Possess Us</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Home/we-often-don-t-notice-our-accumulation-of-possessions-until-they-take-us-over-and-possess-us.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Home/we-often-don-t-notice-our-accumulation-of-possessions-until-they-take-us-over-and-possess-us.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Have you noticed that as we get more palatial homes with huge multiple garages and also awesome second homes...that we are also renting more storage lockers? We have become a culture focused on "things" and the truth is we don't know what to with the over flow.

Closets are full, basements, garages and attics are full and most of us really don't have a clue when we start to look for something...where we put it. To make matters worse, our kids move away and leave us their stuff.

Downsizing is the next step and it can be an art form. It's for those of us that are tired of going in circles looking for an item we know we possess only to have to give up and go out and buy another one because we can't find it. Enough is enough. Actually it's too much! When we get fed up, that's a good sign. That's where we need to be to be able to look seriously at the downsizing

Downsizing is best done room by room. A good rule of thumb with clothing is to look at our needs and then look at our closets with a jaundiced eye. If we were going on an extended business/pleasure trip that would include several climates, what would we take...given an eight-suitcase control? Use two suitcases for each season.

The sort goes something like this: Pile 1 is for the keepers. Pile 2 goes to the thrift Store. Pile 3 is heading for the dump. This may take quite a while because Pile 1 may have to be renegotiated several times to be able to stay within the eight-suitcase limit.

Linen closets, kitchen cupboards and bathroom cabinets can be approached in a similar fashion. Instead of the extended trip analogy think about people who live on a boat. What would be needed for six months? What should be tossed? The rest goes to the thrift store.

Garages can be downsized, too. A good plan is to wonder who might use the item "regularly" instead of keeping it because we might need it "sometime".

A man I know who owns a storage locker tells me that after people have paid him rent for months and sometimes even years, many eventually toss 90% of the stuff because they have learned to live comfortably without it.

The truth is this: we aren't our stuff. When it gets to be a problem...it's not an asset. Less stuff can be freeing. Life can be simpler. How would it feel to have a totally empty closet along with a few unused drawers, just for the heck of it? Whee! ]]></description>
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