Tips For You To Simplify….

Getting your taxes done, and don’t know where to begin?

Here is a great source to prepare your information from Richmond NAPO Newsletter, “The Joys of Stress-Free Tax Prepartion”.

I have personally worked with Cathy LeHew. She is the only Professional Organizer I know of who is trained by one the top Paper Organizers in the country, Babara Hemphill.

Click on this link and get started! http://www.naporichmond.com/archive.htm

A Trend Setter…

Founded in October 2006 as the nation’s first “competitive social venture,” Impactmakers is an information technology and consulting firm that donates all of its profits to charitable community partners in the Richmond area.

www.impactmakers.org

Comments I Have Received…..

“I still think of you each time I look at my bookshelves. ” IJ

“Thank you for your inspirational words of advice each time you came to help me organize. I have really been able in the last months to make some of my visions a reality. However, organizing takes so much time in a life that is currently very short on time, so I haven’t been spending any time on it. I was reading something just last week though that made me think about it another way – clearing out your space is a way to invite in new experiences, and that is definitely what we are about. I realized that I was spending too much time arguing with myself – knowing that I wanted a cleaner, clearer space, but feeling like that was some kind of over-emphasis on WHERE I was living instead of on the LIVING itself. Reading this little Feng Shui book really helped me to understand that spending the time to clear out my space was preparing me to bring in exactly what I want into my life – new experiences!”

“Thank you so much for what you do.” -S.

Another Woman Said…

“Yes, I have drastically simplified my life. I don’t “multitask” anymore and I meditate daily. I live a very simple and quiet lifestyle with my two cats. I feel blessed to enjoy peace most of the time. I have managed to eliminate several stressors (responsibilities) I have carried for several years and it is good to let go! Ultimately, we have to let go of everything and everyone so simplifying one’s life is good preparation for that final letting to. I’m still cleaning out the clutter but making good progress, one day at a time.”
This Came From an Advanced Practitioner of Simplicity…

“Christine, I found this quote three whole days ago and I need to toss (recycle) this piece of paper. (My heavy burden). It made me think of you!

“Our life is frettered away by detail. Simplify . . . simplify!” — Henry David Thoreau

You would be so proud of me, my paper piles (boxes of papers to be exact) are getting smaller. And I think my ratio is 4:1, I’m only keeping about a fourth of what I had and the next step is to file those I’m keeping (as my eyes get large) – way out of my comfort zone!”

Oprah had a show this month about Simplicity. This stuff is catching!

So….What’s Your Pledge to Simplify Your Life?

Take a breath, relax and simplify…

Christine Lynn

Simple Living LLC

Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

Simplicity is an intentional process in your life, and you decide where you can begin.

I remember one of the first places I started was to stop using paper napkins and use cloth napkins. I felt a great sense of change in this small of act.

I learned to whip up a meal within 30 minutes and rarely use a recipe. For the most part, I mastered my process of preparing a simple meal over time. I found my way of simplifying this part in my life just by putting my focus on simplifying meals. By asking myself the question, “How do I simplify mealtime? What I learned is not going to be your way, but it may point the way for you, or at least trigger an insight for you.

So here are some tips I can share with you, pick just one and start there, or none at all. Just allow them to jump start ideas for your style of living.

*Look for ways to simplify your kitchen to where you only have the tools you love and use. More on this next month.

Whatever entree I have, I often just add a salad, cut raw veggies, or coleslaw to it. For example,

Pizza and salad
Casserole and cut veggies
Beans w/ rice and salad
Soup and cut veggies
Chicken and cole slaw
Mac N Cheese and salad

*I change the contents of the salad with different lettuces and veggies to experience variety and color in the meal.

*I chop and steam most fresh vegetables in a shallow pan of water, add some olive oil, cover and simmer until tender. Stop cooking and drain water, pour my favorite dressing (choosing from a variety of flavors, such as Italian, olive oil and Braggs Aminos (similar to soy sauce, get at health food stores), ginger, lemon, or a vinaigrette or sprinkle cheese), and let sit for about 5 minutes.

*I steam chicken or fish fillets (not ones coated with bread crumbs) in a covered shallow pan of water, until meat is cooked. Stop cooking and drain water. Pour on my choice of sauce (barbecue, honey mustard, Italian dressing, tamari sauce, lemon dressing, etc). Let sit for 5 minutes.

*I buy convenience foods to help me build the meal with ease. Examples: Buy canned beans, frozen lasagna, shredded carrots, Brunswick stew, mash potatoes, or baked chicken (cold is even cheaper). Make life easy.

*I never plan an entire meal, I start with what I want to eat or what I have on hand and add 2 or 3 other side dishes, keeping a variety of foods on hand. I buy about 3 or 4 different kinds of meats, carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes) and veggies at the store. Oh, and I definitely “shop” in my pantry and throughout the house just before going to the grocery store to see what I need. This alone has saved me lots of guesswork! Generally, I only go the store once a week or every 2 weeks.

*I designated one or more nights for a planned meal, such as every Tuesday was Leftover Night, or every Wednesday was Pizza Night. This helps take the guesswork out when that evening comes up. We also did a Game Night on occasion for the kids and they had to help prepare dinner as well as choose a game. They loved it!

*Whatever the contents or size of the meal it needs one major component to be simple and that is, to be created in the “flow”. In other words, with ease and joy, coming from the heart and your desired appetite. Ha! What does that mean exactly, in the “flow”? It means when you want to fix this meal, when the right time and desire are working together. If not, a fast food meal bought out can easily be considered “simple and in the flow”. Oh … and add a salad to that….HA! The key is to not feel rushed, guilty, short changed, overburdened, ridged, overwhelmed, or frustrated.

*Another way of creating simplicity in our meals is not so much its preparation, but what is going on when we are eating. You might want to consider turning off the TV and have a real conversation with your family. Just setting a specific time and place for meals is enough to create harmony.

Take time and pleasure in your meals….they truly are one of our treasures to be experienced in our ordinary daily life. You know, this is Wabi Sabi !! (Don’t know what that is? Give me a call-Ha!).

Bring Beauty to your table if nothing else, like candles, gentle music, shared moments of the day, friendship, gratitude, cherished dishes, flowers or just evergreen branches from the garden, a tablecloth, a quick note of love in a lunch box or a special stone from your walk.

“You owe it to everyone you love (including yourself) to find pockets of tranquility in your busy world. ”

-George Bernanos

I saw this neat website on Oprah’s website. This is a really great way to reduce our grocery bill. (My daughter, the Coupon Queen is going to love this!)

http://www.couponmom.com/

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

Here are some of the questions we came to:

What is missing in my life?

What do I value?

Get specific about what I value.

Am I on board with what I value, 100% committed to my vision of simplicity in my home and life?

What do I know I need to do that I am not doing?

As the weeks went on I became aware I did not have a clear vision of my life’s work. My lack of commitment of my vision created my experience of not quite making this business what I thought I had wanted.

Later, I scanned my mind for my vision and saw clearly what I have always dreamed about but did not take myself so seriously….could this really be lived in my world? I received some insights while driving in the car on the way to work. I am now about to finish taking time to allow this dream to percolate in my imagination and send it to my reality!

We discovered at the meeting this same lack of commitment to simplify our lives, such as clutter in our homes and too much to do in our personal lives.

Ask yourselves these questions with the brutal honesty we shared last month and join us with your insights at the next Simplicity Circle for more heart centered answers, insights and inspiration.

Are you living your definition of a Simple Life?

Christine Lynn

What are you doing Today…right now… to create Simplicity in your home and your life?

Get INSPIRED Now….This is a Great Time To Begin A Simple Life!

Here are some wonderful resources for you to start creating a Simplicity:

This is my favorite website on information of all kinds about Simplicity and other resources:
www.simpleliving.net

This website is the Richmond National Association of Professional Organizers. They have information on local events (lectures, workshops, etc), Professional Organizers, articles and tips.
www.naporichmond.com

This is a website with an interesting approach to simplifying your home!
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1812048,00.html

Here is a website for your organizing projects:
www.containerstore.com

Happy New Year!

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

Christine Lynn

Choose just one area on your “To Do List” for your Holiday preparation and simplify or eliminate it all together! Every year I downsize my list. I am just about down to very little preparation. I do not enjoy alot of the preparation, but I do enjoy some of the Holiday Hoopla. I mostly like the small change of pace, seeing friends and family and eating good food.

Start by making a list of all the things you Think you need to do this season, (Send Cards, Gift Giving, Decorations, Recipes for Holiday Dinner, etc) and pick an area you do not enjoy or decide to make a change.

Start there…you may want to downsize your decorations, or consider giving one gift to charity in honor of your family, ( I know real people who do this!). Consider giving your services instead of a store bought gift, such as raking leaves. Just change one area and next year change another area.

*Please email me, if you like, of how you are choosing to simplify your Holiday Celebration this year.

I highly recommend the book Unplug the Christmas Machine, A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back Into The Season, by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli

3 Resources Just For You:

My Website: http://simplelivingnow.com/home

The Simple Living Network: http://www.simpleliving.net/main/

Richmond Chapter -National Association of Professional Organizers:
http://www.naporichmond.com/

I am keeping this newsletter short and sweet…SIMPLE!

Enjoy Your Holiday,

Christine Lynn

With this in mind, our next Simplicity Circle meets Wednesday, November 5, 7pm-8pm, Panera Bread, 11649 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23113, 804-897-7222

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: This month we are meeting on Wednesday due to the tuesday election. We will go back to the regular 1st Tuesday of the month in December.

I need your feedback, Who is interested in the Simplicity Circles?
I am deciding whether or not to continue them, so your feedback is VERY welcome. Thank you in advance!

I am so grateful for meeting everyone and experiencing the gatherings at The Herb Closet. I have learned so much from these meetings and hope to stay in touch with you. Great Gratitude to all who shared in these Simplicity Circles.

QUESTION …

How do you handle a situation where one partner is neat and organized and the other is chaotic, messy or has alot of “stuff”?

I heard this scenario more than once at the Richmond Alternative Health Expo, and at other events. I see it when I work with clients as well. I would love to get Your ideas and success stories on this!

Hear are a few of my ideas on handling the conflict of partners’ lifestyles:

Pick Your Battles… Identify one or two areas of what is really important to you, such as picking up the dirty clothes, or having a simple kitchen to work out of. Communicate this to your partner and come up with a plan together to work this out, easily and with specific goals in mind. A suggested conversation might be focused on what you are having a problem with and not what your partner is doing wrong. For example, “I feel so frustrated when I see so many clothes on the floor, especially when I just picked up in here yesterday. I so appreciate when you help me get the trash out. How can we work this one area out so I don’ to keep experiencing this uncomfortable feeling.”

Goals need to be simple and specific as well, like “Every morning I will pick up my dirty clothes, or wipe the counter off before I leave for work.” Ask yourselves what you are responsible for and if this is reasonable. Ask yourselves if you are in balance with your lifestyle and your daily responsibilities, could you both compromise more?

Also, be realistic, once you have discussed your priority issue, let go of the rest of your issues with your partner’s mess as best you can. Consider their messy habit is not the worst that can happen, it is a lifestyle, just as much as being neat and organized is a lifestyle, and be grateful for the many positives your partner brings you. Let them know often what they are doing right, even the smallest task is worthy of your recognition sometimes.

As for the organized partner….continue to emotionally detach as best you can from the mess that bothers you. Also, you may have to declare one room in the home that is yours and no clutter is allowed. Let this room be your safe haven and neutral zone to retreat to when you feel your emotions getting off balance due to being around all “the stuff.” Or you both can designate a room for your partner’s own, to do what they will, mess and all, but not in the rest of the house.

I have heard on occasion, a partner declaring “If nothing gets done I am going to hire a Professional Organizer!” (by a particular date given). Ha! Action is often taken swiftly, either they clean up or the Professional Organizer is called in… and sometimes that is all it takes. This service is valuable in more ways than one

You can’t change other people, but you can be willing to look at your partner’s lifestyle another way, ask yourself often, “How can I see this another way?” Given time, you may be able to see many different points of view of this situation. .

I remember my Granny’s house, she had alot of clutter, but look again… she had some treasures in that house. There was usually a story with every item, and if you couldn’t find something in a store, go to Granny’s house, she would have it and be happy to share with you her treasures. She was not going to change her ways, so I had to change my point of view about the situation. Just be willing to look at another’s lifestyle differently, give it time and see if something miraculous happens.

As we get into the holidays, our conflicts can be more heightened. Consider what Nancy Twigg suggests in her book, Celebrate Simply, in the section on Hospitality versus Entertaining….

“When you entertain, you bring honor and glory to yourself. Showing hospitality brings honor and glory to God. Stated another way, entertaining makes you look good but extending hospitality makes your guests feel good.” Your close friends and family love you and your partner, not your home, make the best of a situation if you want to have guests over. Many a time my Granny “swept off” her kitchen table so we had room to eat! I remember her more than the clutter.**

I have compassion for both sides of this issue and there is no quick fix. With some effort on both your parts, your world can change just by being willing to see what is this opportunity is trying to show you.

Accepting what is, on a very deep level inside you and doing the best you can with what you have, often releases the energetic charge of this issue between you and your partner. I have seen, once a partner takes responsibility for their own actions, the other partner joins in to meet their own responsibilities.

May your journey be light and easy.

So what have you done successfully to resolve this issue in your own home? I would love to hear from you and post it next month.

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I am excited to learn about a program, Save Our Food, www.SaveOurFood.org at the Farm Bureau that supports local markets and eating local food! What a wonderful way to live simply than to buy and eat local food. The benefits for ourselves and our environment are numerous. What a neat way to explore your area as well. I plan to visit some of these markets as a form of my recreation, aah, simple pleasures. From the Home page, go to Get Involved, click on Fast Food Locator to find the local markets.

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Listen to a really Great local radio station that I had the pleasure of being interviewed on this week by Rebecca Faris, on Indymedia Live ( 12:30pm on Tuesdays) at WRIR, 97.3 FM, www.wrir.org. Click on Listen: Primary Stream to get their current program. Just another way to get simple…listen to the simple entertainment from our local radio, just simply great!

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My talk on “Simplify For the Holidays…and Enjoy Yourself” is now available for any organization that wants to present it, or women’s groups to have a holiday home party.

Gift Certificates are available for your loved ones who have everything!

*Please remember that I have a NEW EMAIL; please make the changes NOW! =)

Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com

Great Gratitude, and Stay in the flow….

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
www.SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

Picture this scene: Christine Lynn and I sitting amongst, and sorting, a great circle of baskets we had brought from the inner recesses of my closet. I sit quietly observing, memories flashing through my mind’s eye, gestures of those now gone, passed from our mortal walk, seeing a smile here, a proud gift to me there, a soft embrace, a loved one wearing that sweater lying in the basket right beside me. And all the while time has stopped.

I felt my emotions playing tug of war, the other part of me admonishing myself about allowing clutter to accumulate to this degree over the years.

While preaching rather aggressively to the choir (that being myself in this case), I suddenly became aware that all of my clinging, all of my neatly tucking away things into tidy little coves behind a closed door, was because these things were cherished, these things ARE familiar.

Familiar – think of this word in it’s every facet, and really allow yourself to sit with it.

I have gone through so many mental stages since this reality enlightened me. All the way from yes, yes, familiar, to the anguish, angst and acceptance that I cannot travel the rest of this lifetime with all these items if I am to live in an environment of order, inspiration, simplicity and most important serenity. It simply is not a pathway that is congruent to being whole and aligned.
It got me thinking for sure, to stop berating myself and to discontinue feeling that I am entrenched in chaos.

The chaos has been an inward juggling act, me finally recognizing that for some of us, the holding on, those inner recesses quieted down by holding on to all that is familiar, especially if you happen to be under going some sort of crisis, the familiarity is for me nearly tranquilizing but in a soothing way, to the most vital parts of myself.

I will compare it to how a teddy bear makes a child feel secure and loved in return when they have to be alone. Well I will admit to my own chagrin, that it gives One a lop sided sense of balance; but, some balance is a whole lot better than to feel that you are undoubtedly going down with the ship.

So where am I going with this? Well, for those who can relate, I say thank God! Laugh out loud!
I would love to send out a gentle embrace, and an invitation of consolation, encouragement, and support, and assure you that you are not some lazy cad that sits around eating truffles with your thumbs tucked under your bottoms consumed with fancies that do not matter.

Above all, when you are sitting with yourself and you are earnestly trying to seek to gain mastery over what ever has been mastering you, start with Grace. Grace for yourself, the grace that you are so willing to give away freely to others you care for. Start with Grace, and go from there.

As for me I add in prayer and softly lit scented candles, maybe some aromatic oils to soothe both me and my home. I am thinking in terms of Haven these days in place of mayhem.

And, I am going to suggest to anyone interested to start an album. While I release what is now not being used, I will have a cherished photo album, and send my packed away things back into the world to find love, a continuation of their mission and a Spirit of Gratefulness of all they have meant to me.

Anyway you feel directed to be a part, there is magic in our lives in prayer, contribution, sharing and recycling, and in that magic we both find, give, and receive Love and isn’t that all a part of being in Divine flow?

Written With Love, Gratitude and appreciation for Christine Lynn’s devoted Coaching and work with me.
Carmen Wright
“The Steamyphilospher”

Bio
Carmen Wright is a Spiritual Development Writer, currently featured in Synchronicity In Your Life Magazine. Carmen known as The Steamyphilospher, has been an Empath, Counselor,Teacher and Laureate Poet for most of her life, working and writing for Spirituality, inspiration and enrichment. Free subscriptions can be accessed at SynchronicityInYourLife.com

To read Carmen’s updated blog go to:

Welcome To The Journey! (Latest Link)

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Our next Simplicity Circle Meets on Tuesday September 2, at the following locations:

12pm-1pm, The Herb Closet, 6520 Iron Bridge Rd, Richmond, VA 23234, 804-377-1690
7pm-8pm, Panera Bread, 11649 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23113, 804-897-7222

Free…Informal…Friendly…Informative… Inspiring!

*…and Check out my Web Site!
www.SimpleLivingNow.com

TIPS

Want to Simplify your Life? Hang out with people who Live Simply…who are organized or have recently downsized. This is the best inspiration I know of. I get my best bursts of energy when I am around others getting things done, organizing, and simplifying.

Want to get organized? …and do not have the time? Create the time…put on your calendar and think of it as precious….Time is better than Money… You can never get it back, you can always get back the money.

Here is a wonderful lecture on Time Management by Randy Pausch (who did The Last Lecture)

I hope you find this video lecture as inspiring as I have.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5784740380335567758

But what I really want to say here is… if you can’t do alot at one time, do at least one thing a day towards your goal… EVERY DAY Do Something no matter how small towards your vision of simplicity.

Invite your friend to the Simplicity Circle!

Stay in the Flow…

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**EVENTS and Such**
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October

**October 28, Tuesday@ 12:21pm

I will be interviewed, LIVE on WRIR Radio, 97.3 FM

*I have a NEW EMAIL, please make changes NOW!

Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com

Stay in the flow….

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
www.SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

Our next Simplicity Circle Meets on Tuesday September 2, at the following locations:

12pm-1pm, The Herb Closet, 6520 Iron Bridge Rd, Richmond, VA 23234, 804-377-1690
7pm-8pm, Panera Bread, 11649 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23113, 804-897-7222

Free…Informal…Friendly…Informative… Inspiring!

EVER WONDERED HOW REAL PEOPLE LIVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF A SIMPLE LIFE?

I have invited a special guest speaker to come to both of our Simplicity Circles. Terri Sammons and her husband, Bill voluntarily simplified their life and downsized from a 3200 sq ft house to a 1400 sq ft apartment after spending an anniversary trip in Hawaii. They were equally dissatisfied with their life. She says she is having more fun and at peace than ever before. Their 3 teenage daughters benefited from this change as well.

*Come join us and see for yourself how this remarkable transformation from life in the fast lane to a life of simplicity is filled with rich and exciting possibilities!!

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*Check out my new Web Site!
www.SimpleLivingNow.com

Listings in the Website include Services, Wabi Sabi, Simplicity Circles, Newsletter, Resources, About, Contact

*DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER? You can take a look at the archives there as well!

I love the last newsletter, A Message from George Carlin. I received more responses on this one then ever! Thanks for your emails, I so enjoy receiving feedback about them. Also, Thank you so much for sending your articles, I truly love sharing information.

*Thank You! Gary Tugan for my web site design and creation! (GaryTugan@yahoo.com , 804-677-3903, getNetMarketing.com)
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*WANT TO REDUCE YOUR JUNK MAIL? Make your request to:

www.ProQuo.com/stopjunkmail

*LOOKING FOR SOME UNIQUE ORGANIZING PRODUCTS?
Check out a few websites:
www.containerstore.com
www.organizedatoz.com

*Did you know I am a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, NAPO, which has a local chapter right here in Richmond! Go to their web site when you have a moment. Listed are tips and articles and upcoming events about organizing,
www.naporichmond.com

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**EVENTS**
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September
I have been invited as a guest author to write an article for this month, “Love Your Home” (page 35) for an online spiritual development magazine, Synchronicity In Your Life.

Hope you enjoy the article as much as I enjoyed the whole experience of writting it! Here is the link to visit:
www.synchronicityinyourlife.com
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Saturday, September 13, 2008…
Richmond Alternative Health Expo
10am-4pm
Richmond Raceway Complex
www.rvahealthexpo.com
I HAVE A BOOTH AT THIS EVENT!
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Saturday, September 20, 2008…
Presentation: Create a Simple Life… Working From the Inside
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Presented by: Christine Lynn
A potluck will precede the presentation.

Non-members $3.00.
6:00 p.m. potluck; 7:00 pm. program.
Please bring a dish to share, vegan preferable, and your own place setting and beverage.

A unique and lasting approach to creating simplicity in your life. After organizing your closet, desk, or garage, they often do not stay that way. Creating simplicity begins from the Inside of you. Learn a lasting process that enables you to create an inner simplicity that leads to the creation of outer simplicity. Explore for yourself some internal practices that promote and attract a simple life to you.

Location: Friends Meeting House, 4500 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA
Contact: Call 804-344-4356 or email Lois@vegetarianrichmond.org

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“So divinely is the world organized that everyone of us, in our place and time, is in balance with everything else.” ~ Unknown by me

“Participate in your life, make small changes at first, the rest will follow if you persevere.” ~ Christine Lynn

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
www.SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

Our next Simplicity Circle Meets on Tuesday, August 5, at the following locations:

12pm-1pm, The Herb Closet, 6520 Iron Bridge Rd, Richmond, VA 23234, 804-377-1690

7pm-8pm, Panera Bread, 11649 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23113, 804-897-7222

Free, informal, friendly and informative!
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Due to the Lazy Days of Summer, I am sharing this message
in honor of a great Comedian,

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

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**FYI

I am a member of the Richmond National Association of Professional Organizers.

Here is their website, a great source of local information and events.
NAPO of Richmond

**Consider…Stop using plastic bags beginning this month….I just received a very interesting, must-see email (see pdf on my website) on plastic bags and our environment and wild life. It only takes a decision on your part to just STOP… and reduce the negative impact it makes.

**Upcoming Lecture: “Create a Simple Life…. Working From the Inside”

A unique and lasting approach to creating simplicity in your life. After organizing your closet, desk, or garage, they often do not stay that way. Creating simplicity begins from the Inside of you. Learn a lasting process that enables you to create an inner simplicity that leads to the creation of outer simplicity. Explore for yourself some internal practices that promote and attract simple life to you.

Wednesday, August 13, 7:30pm-9-pm
Unity of Richmond
800 Blanton Ave
Richmond, VA
804-278-6478

Fee: Love Offering

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**Check out my new website, www.SimpleLivingNow.com
Gary Tugan did a great job! GaryTugan@yahoo.com, 804-677-3903

Please pass this Newsletter on to someone you know who might benefit from this information.

Have a wonderful and fascinating summer!

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
SimpleLivingNow.com
“Gently Showing Others Another Way”

So enjoy for now. I look forward to seeing ya’ll at the next Simplicity Circle Meeting!

Christine Lynn
Simple Living LLC
804-869-4909
Christine@SimpleLivingNow.com
www.SimpleLivingNow.com