Kreamer Connection

April 2002

KREAMER CONNECTION
By Patty Kreamer
www.kreamerconnect.com

ISSUE: April 2002
Welcome!
________________________________________________

Subscribe and Unsubscribe Information
is available at the end of this newsletter.
________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE

1. What's the problem?
2. Excuse, obstacle or reason?
3. What's Happening?
4. In Closing - It's for you!
5. Copyright, Contact, & Reprint permission
6. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

________________________________________________

1. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

I looked up three "problem" words in The American Heritage
Dictionary, Second College Edition, 1982. Their
definitions are as follows:

EXCUSE: To serve as justification for OR an
explanation offered to justify or elicit forgiveness.

OBSTACLE: One that opposes, stands in the way of,
or holds up progress.

REASON: A declaration made to explain or justify
an action, decision, or conviction.

These three words can be our biggest enemies when
it comes to getting organized. The difference
between them is how you overcome them.

EXCUSE-Correctible by changing your attitude or beliefs.

OBSTACLE-Correctible by changing your behavior

REASON-Possibly correctible, but may be out of your control to do so.

Over the next several months, a series of these
excuses, obstacles and reasons will be shared along
with adjustments that need to be made to overcome them.
Each month, see if you identify with the problem, and if
you do, make the effort to change by following the
suggestions offered. This section is being excerpted
from my book, "...But I might need it someday!" that is
due for publication sometime this summer.

The first EXCUSE is in the next section...can
you relate to it?

________________________________________________

Is your company MOVING? Are you MOVING?
Kreamer Connect now offers Organized Moving
Services! Click here for more information!
http://www.kreamerconnect.com/reloservices.htm

________________________________________________

2. EXCUSE, OBSTACLE OR REASON?

EXCUSE: You can't throw anything away.

You just find it difficult to let go of
your belongings. Perhaps you feel guilty because
somebody gave it to you and you think they will
be insulted if they find out you no longer have
it. Or you paid good money for it and you hate
to be wasteful. This guilt is understandable, but
that guilt is costing you your peace of mind and
happiness. You need to go beyond the guilt.

BELIEF ADJUSTMENT

If you have items that you don't need or want anymore
but find it difficult to throw them away, ask yourself
the following questions:

A. Have I used ______________ in the
last ______days/months/years (depending on what it
is, you have to decide what time frame is reasonable)?

B. Does it still have a use?

C. Is it broken?
(And you are keeping that broken 8 track stereo because...?)

D. Can it be fixed?

E. Is it worth fixing? Do you really want it in your life
even after it's fixed?

F. Can someone else benefit from it more?

G. What would happen if I no longer had this in my life?
I sometimes ask my clients, "Imagine coming home one day
and all the clutter is gone. How would you feel?" They
usually reply with a big sigh of relief followed by,
"Awesome!" So why are you keeping it?

H. If I keep my clutter because it is attached to
memories, are they good memories?

I. Would I rather have the clutter and the stress
that goes with it or the peace that comes when the clutter goes?

All of these questions make you take a peak at your
beliefs and what you value more. These questions can
be rough as you begin to organize and declutter your life, but
as you begin to see your life becoming more simplified
and less stressed, they get easier and easier to answer.

Remember, clutter is nothing more than a pile of decisions.
________________________________________________

Have a Palm Pilot but don't know how to use it?
Give me a call for a personal 1-2 hour Palm training session.
Learn it, live it, love it!
412-344-3252
________________________________________________

3. WHAT'S HAPPENING?

I will be speaking on
"Organizational Tips for Spring"
April 11, 2002
HealthPlace ~ 120 Fifth Avenue Place
Downtown Pittsburgh
It's FREE!
12:10-1:00pm
You must register, there is limited space
Call 800-650-8442

________________________________________________

4. IN CLOSING - IT'S FOR YOU!

April is here (can you believe it?) and we will all
be coming out of our shells from the winter soon. We'll be
opening our doors and windows to bring in the fresh
air. Why not start with a fresh view on life as well?

Spring-cleaning is a trite term but it can be very
therapeutic and it can mean many things--not just cleaning.
Look around at the many aspects of your life (family,
friends, work, school, your commute, responsibilities, etc.)
and pinpoint those areas that give you great stress.

Look around you at folks that are not nearly as stressed as
you but have the same elements in their life. Ask them how
they do it. Consider changing your habits and actions to
resemble theirs.

Just take an hour or two alone to look at your life and jot
down the goods and the bads. Where are YOU on overload?
Concentrate on the stressful parts of your life to erase the burdens
You will feel relief and freedom. I know you can do it,
you just have to want to badly enough.

A less stressful life is calling--IT'S FOR YOU!

Here's to simplifying your life!

Until May,

Patty
________________________________________________

5. COPYRIGHT ~ CONTACT INFORMATION ~ REPRINT PERMISSION

Copyright © 2002 Patty Kreamer

///////////////////////////////////////

CONTACT INFO:
Patty Kreamer
Kreamer Connect - Connecting you with what matters most!
Professional Organizer & Professional Speaker
Phone: 412-344-3252 - Fax: 412-344-3253
Email: patty@kreamerconnect.com
Web: www.kreamerconnect.com

///////////////////////////////////////

REPRINT PERMISSION granted in part or
whole when the following credit appears is full:

Reprinted with permission from
Patty Kreamer's FREE Kreamer Connection Newsletter.
Kreamer Connect - connecting you with what matters most!
SUBSCRIBE at www.kreamerconnect.com.