find joy in the journey

Find Joy in the Journey

Do you find joy in the journey, or are you constantly delaying happiness? Maybe you’ve thought, I’ll be happier when I get my next promotion, or elated when I get that next big raise. Perhaps you’ll be happier when your bank balance reaches $100,000, or you retire. Years ago, I met a woman whose kids … Read more

minimize your life

How to Minimize Your Life to Maximize Your Enjoyment

In my younger years, I believed more stuff would make me happy—more events, activities, clothing, friends, and, of course, more money. But as time passes, I recognize that minimizing my life leads to more enjoyment.  The law of addition by subtraction brings happiness in ways that more stuff never could. By reducing the excess in my life, … Read more

Why do I want to get rid of everything?

Why Do I Want to Get Rid of Everything?

There have been times when I wanted to get rid of everything, when I thought of grabbing a set of garbage bags, throwing everything I owned into the car, and driving it far from home. Some people turn to alcohol, drugs, or gambling, but when I’m stressed and overwhelmed by life, I turn to organizing … Read more

clutter free gifts for grandparents

Clutter Free Gifts for Parents and Grandparents

Do you associate holidays and birthdays with piles of brightly wrapped gifts? Many of us do. But this year, I’m taking a different approach to gift-giving. After helping my parents downsize their possessions, I don’t want to add another unnecessary item to their home. Instead, I’m focusing on clutter-free gifts—heartfelt gifts that don’t take up … Read more

will i regret quitting my job to be a stay at home mom

Will I Regret Quitting My Job to Be A Stay-At-Home Mom?

Have you ever thought about quitting your job to stay home with your children? Every week I receive letters from women who are considering leaving their careers. Some emails are short, and some are long, but more than half ask the same vital question: Will I regret quitting my job to become a stay-at-home mom? … Read more

how to let go of regret

How to Let Go of Regret and Remorse

Every day we make choices hoping to make our future selves happy. We consider our options, weigh the pros and cons, and choose what appears to be the best path. We flash forward, through the magic of our imaginations, and think, “I’ll be happy I did that.” It doesn’t matter what choices lay before us. … Read more

what does success look like

What Does Success Look Like and How Does It Feel?

What does success look like? When you hear the word success, what do you picture? Growing up, success meant luxury goods and over-the-top experiences. I grew up watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, where the host, Robin Leach, explored the yachts, mansions, and luxury car collections of the world’s wealthiest people. Then signed off … Read more

generosity how to be generous

Generosity: No Act of Kindness is Too Small

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines generosity as the willingness to give more money and time than is necessary or expected.  For decades, I struggled with the idea of acting generously and battled furiously against the desire to keep everything for myself. Rather than giving from a place of love and abundance, I was emotionally attached to money and … Read more

the law of diminishing returns

The Law of Diminishing Returns in Everyday Life

According to psychologists, our happiness peaks when we reach the magical salary of $75,000. Once we earn that much, our health and the quality of our relationships provide more joy than making more money ever could. We need to feel safe, secure, and well fed, but once money pays for life’s necessities, we don’t need more to … Read more