Saturday, December 01, 2007
Christmas Notebook
Several years ago in my never ending quest to become more organized I came across www.organizedchristmas.com. The site is a great source for any organizing junkie.
Over the years I have adopted what works for me and have learned to let go of the rest (an admirable step). My house has never gone through the entire cleaning process and my freezer has never had dinner in it "for those busy holiday nights". In fact, today I sit surrounded by boxes, needing to get my cards done, and only a few gifts are purchased.
But what has worked for me from this site is the overall method of organizing for and approaching the holidays. The opening page of my notebook has the following quotes:
Expectations tend to be self-fulfilling. (anonymous)
Your life proceeds out of your intentions for it. (Neale Donald Walsch)
One of the exercises from the organizing site leads you through an evaluation of last year's Christmas. It has been an incredibly insightful tool.
I am one of those people who believe that you choose your attitude and that your attitude determines the amount of joy you experience in any situation. So, if you did not like something about your holiday season last year, choose to change it or choose to change your attitude about it. Plan to enjoy the things you participate in doing.
I have set up my notebook to cover four areas: Inspiration/Organization; Christmas Cards; Gift Ideas; and Past Gifts. It's also a great place for all your receipts to find a home.
The Past Gifts section holds master gift lists for the past years (since 2000). It is eye opening to look back and realize that I have a tendency to get some people the same gifts over and over!
The Christmas Cards section keeps the mailing list with updated addresses and copies of past cards and letters. ( I also have a tendency to choose the same type of cards on occasion.)
In a perfectly organized world I would be sitting on my sofa, eating homemade bon bons, preparing to overdose on football and holiday movies because all of my shopping, mailing, baking, cooking, planning, etc would be DONE.
But instead, I journey forward with purposefulness and a good attitude.
simple faith
Several years ago in my never ending quest to become more organized I came across www.organizedchristmas.com. The site is a great source for any organizing junkie.
Over the years I have adopted what works for me and have learned to let go of the rest (an admirable step). My house has never gone through the entire cleaning process and my freezer has never had dinner in it "for those busy holiday nights". In fact, today I sit surrounded by boxes, needing to get my cards done, and only a few gifts are purchased.
But what has worked for me from this site is the overall method of organizing for and approaching the holidays. The opening page of my notebook has the following quotes:
Expectations tend to be self-fulfilling. (anonymous)
Your life proceeds out of your intentions for it. (Neale Donald Walsch)
One of the exercises from the organizing site leads you through an evaluation of last year's Christmas. It has been an incredibly insightful tool.
I am one of those people who believe that you choose your attitude and that your attitude determines the amount of joy you experience in any situation. So, if you did not like something about your holiday season last year, choose to change it or choose to change your attitude about it. Plan to enjoy the things you participate in doing.
I have set up my notebook to cover four areas: Inspiration/Organization; Christmas Cards; Gift Ideas; and Past Gifts. It's also a great place for all your receipts to find a home.
The Past Gifts section holds master gift lists for the past years (since 2000). It is eye opening to look back and realize that I have a tendency to get some people the same gifts over and over!
The Christmas Cards section keeps the mailing list with updated addresses and copies of past cards and letters. ( I also have a tendency to choose the same type of cards on occasion.)
In a perfectly organized world I would be sitting on my sofa, eating homemade bon bons, preparing to overdose on football and holiday movies because all of my shopping, mailing, baking, cooking, planning, etc would be DONE.
But instead, I journey forward with purposefulness and a good attitude.
simple faith
Labels: Life
# posted by simple faith : 12:56 PM
