Well, at the Oscars, Pixar’s movie “Up” won for best animation. I love how Pixar entertains both kids and adults alike, while getting several heartfelt messages across at the same time. Up is a wonderful love story and the movie has much to say about life in general.

“Up” beautifully depicts what can happen when we become so focused and single-minded about achieving our goal, that we can forget to live in the moment and enjoy the journey toward the goal. Don’t get me wrong we all need a goal or many goals to maintain our focus and give us something to work towards. But sometimes, being single-minded about our goals, can work against us. In the case of the old man in the movie, he was so intent on trying to save up for the adventure of going to a mountaintop to build their dream house, that he lost sight that he was living the adventure with his wife all along.

Remember during the movie, when the old man remains tethered to his house, holding on to the past, trying to get it to his dream mountaintop? He was so tied down by his house and his possessions, that he almost lost what was irreplaceable: the boy and the dog. Only when he freed himself of the house, was he able to recognize that he already had exactly what he needed. How many of us become owned by our possessions, and not the other way around? Sometimes we become so attached to the past or weighed down by our “stuff” because we think these things have meaning. Or we think it all means so much to us simply because it’s there, not because it has any real value. Of course many of our possessions represent something meaningful, but you’d be amazed at how much “freer” you feel when you lighten the load. It’s a lot of work keeping track of all that “stuff” and most of us don’t even realize we’re putting in that kind of effort, until something happens that makes us step back and analyze what we have.

So instead of waiting for a major life event to occur, like a flood, a fire or a death, try to pare down your possessions now, by getting rid of things you no longer use or need. Remember, just because someone gave you something, doesn’t mean you have to keep it, especially if you don’t have room for it in your life (literally and/or figuratively). Try to take pictures of things along

the way, like your kids’ posing with the trophy they won when they were six. The memory resides in that moment captured in the photo and not in the trophy itself. Somehow, those trophies lose that same meaning when your kids are 16 or 26. And by letting go of some of this “stuff”, we’re making room to live in the present, instead or remaining stuck in the past, and creating new memories to look forward to in the future.

I admit to also being guilty of holding on to things longer than I should. For example, years ago when my mother was clearing out her basement declaring it a fire hazard, she insisted my brother and I retrieve our childhood possessions we said we wanted, although never reclaimed, when we each had our own homes. I took my boxes and placed them in a storage closet since I was too busy to deal with the “stuff”, even though I had to have it (and I had the room to store it all). I never really thought about the boxes until I decided to have my childhood friends over to my house right before our 20^th high school reunion. I pulled out the boxes and we all went through the old pictures and notes that were passed in classes and hallways and we had the best time reminiscing. The next day, after the reunion, as I gathered everything and went to put it all away again, I stopped myself wondering why I was still saving it all. That’s when it hit me. I had been saving it all for that moment, with my friends, and now I could let it go. It served its purpose and now it was time to move on. I dumped it all (OK, maybe I saved a few pictures, but all the notes went). And guess what? I don’t miss it. And now the space it had been taking up in my storage closet has been replaced by new memories, my kids’ childhood stuff…and when they’re old enough to have homes of their own, it will be theirs to let go…

SO…what’s holding you down? I’d love your comments…

SO…I was planning on posting this the day I wrote it (last Thursday), and I was hoping to include some snowy pictures that I took that day as well. Unfortunately, I’m having trouble inserting my own pictures here due to an error message. SO, forgive me for a blog filled with text and without pictures to break up the monotony, but if I wait to post this until I figure out how to add my own pictures, it could be spring!

SO, we finally had a great, big Snow Day here on Long Island…yeah! Every winter, when there’s snow in the forecast I tell everyone I hope it’s a big one. Just one big one, that’s all. I love that feeling of everyone being home, not being able to rush off anywhere, and having some forced R & R. No need to feel guilty because you simply can’t go anywhere if you wanted to! No school (I think I’m even more excited than the kids) and no rushing off to work.

Now for us adults, that doesn’t mean we can’t do work from home, especially with today’s technology, but how nice is it to be able to do it relaxing by the fire and having your loved ones around? I know you won’t accomplish what you would have if you were in the office, but that’s okay…we’re all entitled to a Snow Day! (I don’t know what you’d call it if you live in Florida, for example, but I suppose you have your Hurricane Days?) Anyway, I was scheduled to participate in my first “webradio” show and since all I had to do was call in to be interviewed, the show still went on! I was interviewed by Darlene Johnson, of Pear Core Solutions, an employment agency, on how to organized your job search. Here’s the link to the program: www.blogtalkradio.com/help-wanted

Well, ONE snow day is exciting, but now we’ve drifted into two and now it’s just annoying. Today we’re (I use the “we” loosely, since that’s code for my husband) digging out from at least a foot of snow “the day after” and its slow going…and still no school…oh joy. Before cabin fever can set in (although I know it has for some already), this is a great day to get to some of those rainy/snowy day “projects” that we promise ourselves we’re going to get to. Whether its cleaning a basement we never make the time for, or sorting and storing pictures, this is the perfect time for these kinds of “if I ever get to it” projects.

I’m not saying to spend the whole day doing one of these projects, but even an hour or two, will make a difference in how you feel. To find yourself with time you didn’t think you’d have and to accomplish, or at least get started on a project you didn’t think would get done, can do wonders for your sense of well-being (not to mention your space).

SO…next time you’re shopping for winter supplies, like batteries and candles, remember to get some photo album refills and green garbage bags, so you’ll be ready for the next Snow Day!

Let me know what you like you to do on your Snow Days…

All the best,