By LIZ MARCHI
Predictions are easy; there aren’t a lot of consequences for getting it wrong. As I work to make new habits, I spent more time this New Year looking back at how I did against what I wanted to do for 2014. Mostly I get C’s for diet and exercise, I drank too much wine, didn’t spend as much time with my extended family as I had hoped, I got a B+ in tempo change, I am really slowing down although I managed to drive 44,000 miles. Oh well, I love the state. While I didn’t hit the bar on some measures, I am really pleased that I have opened up some space to let something new in. I don’t know what that is yet, but I am patiently waiting. I said no a lot more and didn’t jump into much that was new.
One of the things I have to own is how much I love to clean and organize. I love it. My space is very important to me. I probably should start a cleaning service. The more I age, the more I want to edit stuff. So I am editing. I realize that not everyone likes to spend time organizing and cleaning. For the record, my husband is in possession of virtually every piece of paper he has ever touched. It’s a lot of paper. Paper gives him great comfort so we tread very lightly on paper movement.
Before…
Last year he gave me a treadmill for Christmas that he promptly installed in HIS office full of stacks of paper. Every time I used my treadmill I just got irritated because he isn’t managing that paper stuff.
Before…
Over the last year we have purchased 8 additional filing cabinets, which were virtually empty until Sunday. For my husband to move a stack is a very emotional event. This was my soft sell, I know you love your paper but we need to take care of your paper because I am sure when the history of the world is written, somewhere in his millions of pieces of paper, there is going to be the key information that unlocks the secret of the universe to future generations. Plus, when I look at the work he has done over his lifetime, the diversity and detail truly amaze me.
After!
What also amazed me was the pile of boxes and old printers we sent to the dump this morning. So whatever is your bliss, nurture it, edit it and own it and make this year the best yet.
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Liz Marchi lives on a ranch in Polson, Montana with her husband Jon. She is the Fund Coordinator for the Frontier Angel Fund and spends a lot of time thinking and learning about entrepreneurs, the economy and Montana’s unique place in the world. She has three daughters and a stepson and daughter and a grandchild. She graduated from Hollins College and is entering the final quarter of life…unless we go into overtime.