Gratitude

Is gratitude the act of being grateful when you get what you want out of life? Or, is true gratitude perhaps being grateful despite what you get? I looked up the definition of gratitude this morning on the internet, and this is what I found on wilkepedia.com, “Gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.”

How can you be grateful if what you have been given is not at all what you asked for? According to the definition I found, it looks like first of all gratitude is a positive emotion or attitude. I can’t be grateful unless I act grateful. This is an action that I must carry out. Point well taken, wilkepedia.com!! The other aspect of the definition that struck me was that this positive emotion was backed by an “acknowledgement of a benefit … received or will receive.” Therefore, although the circumstance itself may not have been my wish, I will reap some sort of reward, even if for the life of me I can’t see the greater good right now. To acknowledge this is an act of faith on my part.



Thanksgiving is next week and I am so thankful and grateful for the lives of those around me. I don’t always savor the taste of life’s experiences, as so many lately have tasted quite bitter. But, I guess the old adage is true, that with a little sugar, even the sourest of lemons can make a wonderful glass of lemonade. Life’s sugar is gratitude.



What areas of your life need a little sugar?



Betsy

Bitter Ending

I never met Scott’s Great Uncle to my knowledge. He may have been at some wedding or funeral from my past, but I certainly have no recollection of it. I would have easily passed him on the street without so much of a second glance. He was a stranger. I will honor his passing today by attending his funeral, but I am saddened that there is no piece of him: his personality, his hopes and dreams for the future; that I can carry with me. Sadly, no one from the funeral has really known him for years, as this is what he wanted. To my knowledge, I don’t believe he even had an animal companion.



I am reminded once again that to live is to share my life with others. It is not to acquire things, or to protect myself (above all costs) of becoming hurt. I have a responsibility to myself to share my story: my past lessons, present priorities, and future aspirations. We all have stories to tell, don’t we?



I ask you, as I ask myself, are you sharing your stories? Do you love others as deeply as possible? Are you weaving bits and pieces of yourself into those around you, so your life will go on here on earth well after you have left? Will others be better for knowing you? Or perhaps we also need to recognize whether someone amongst us is trying to share their story, but we keep pushing it off as we try so desperately to grasp everything we can in our own today.



I can usually find great solace, even amongst great sorrow, because I feel that there is a plan for everything. Today sitting at this funeral of a life I have never met, I’ll pray for lessons to be learned. When my final days are here, and let’s face it… it will happen someday for all of us. I want my ending to be sweet and lovely, just like my life.



Betsy

"Me... Simplfied" is now available on Amazon.com

I am so thrilled! The search engine capabilities are not totally working yet, so if you want to check out the book on Amazon you either need to know the ISBN number or you can simply click here: http://www.amazon.com/Me-Simplified-Journey-Inner-Beneath-Clutter/dp/1449564852/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1257210528&sr=8-1

My book is DONE!

The book shares not only our personal story of the fire that changed everything, and includes many of my de-cluttering tips, but I also wrote it with space for journal entries at the end of each chapter. You can find it by visiting my website http://www.cashinclutter.com/ or by going directly to the e-store at https://www.createspace.com/3406247. It will also be available on Amazon.com within 3-5 days. Will keep you all posted when it is in Amazons search database. VERY excited!!

On Pins and Needles

It's coming today. My first book (notice how I said first) will be arriving today for my final review before it will be available for purchase on amazon.com. The name of it is "Me...Simplified" and I am so thrilled that I am actually at this point. I am on pins and needles wating for the FedEx man! I'll keep you all posted!

What is my cancer?

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to listen to Kris Carr, from "Crazy Sexy Cancer" speak at Geisinger Medical Center. Kris was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer 6 years ago. She probably will never be cured from cancer, yet she considers herself a survivor.



What is a survivor? According to: wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn it is "one who lives through affliction." It is not living despite affliction, and it is not living after the affliction is cured. It is living through the affliction while it may be ever present.



Kris asked us what our personal cancer was. I ran through all my ailments which paralyze me from time to time. I am not a patient of the hospital, but I wear a gown of fear. Kris was talking directly to me it seemed and in that moment, I think I finally got it. All this time I wanted to be cured from my afflictions: self-doubt, feelings of unworthiness, debt, and countless others... yet the cure was not the key to overcoming these obstacles. I need to live through them, allow those things to make me better; use my ailments as my teacher.



The light-bulb glowed so brightly above me, I am quite sure those around had to have seen! My life is not just starting gate and finish line. It is all the twists and turns along the way, and if I don't hold onto the steering wheel and enjoy the ride, I will spend so much time trying to look ahead to see where life is going next, that I'll forget to look out the window on my right and left side and see all I have right in this moment.



Today is a new day and I am still not perfect. Rather than spending the day doing an imperfect inventory on myself, I am going to embrace my flaws and persevere. If I did everything perfect all the time, what fun would that be? right?



Untying my gown of fear and putting on my big girl pants! Who's next??

Betsy

Planning a yard sale next spring? Better do your research first, or you could get a HEFTY fine!

Do you know which items in your house right now that have been recalled by the manufacturer? I know that I don't! Did you know that if you sell that recalled item in your cleaning-out-the-house yard sale, you could get slapped with a hefty fine?



As of last year, it is now illegal to sell items that have been recalled. It does not matter if you are selling it on eBay, Craigslist, or for a buck-a-bag at your next yard sale. It doesn't even matter if you don't have a clue it has been recalled. Don't think you have anything that has been recalled because you don't have any children's items? You could very well be wrong! There are many non-children items that have also been recalled.



So, what do you do with your recalled merchandise? You can't sell it... right? You certainly cannot donate it either. The best thing to do is to contact the manufacturer and ask for their recommendations on proper disposal or recycling methods.



For more information please read the following article, and see below for some links to check out if your clutter is unsafe goods!



Taken from the article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574274200783855602.html