My inner slob speaks out
Cindy on January 23rd, 2011
I’m at my best in a messy, middle of the road muddle.” — Harold Wilson, British politician
For years I’ve had a love-hate relationship with women’s magazines. Reading them is one of my favorite guilty pleasures — because it’s pure fun to monitor trends in fashion and home decor.
I’ve also been published in several well-respected shelter magazines, so I don’t like to bite the hands that have fed me. Still, I’m not comfortable with the fact that so many of these publications manage to inspire guilt and insecurity in the most confident among us. This month, especially, you’ll find countless articles explaining why you need to get organized or how to “simplify” your cluttered life forever.
You can read what I have to say about all this in today’s edition of Royal Oak Patch. Several friends have already joined the discussion, so feel free to chime in on the Patch site. I’d love to know how you “simplify” your life. Please click here. –CL
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Cindy, I loved your column. It’s easy to feel guilty about not doing enough — even if the name of good intentions. I like living somewhere in the middle between sparse and hoarding nightmare. Ironically, one of the things we do “hoard” around our house are organizing devices, such as filing devices, binders, boxes and drawer dividers. By the way, Doris Janzen Longacre’s book “Living More with Less” is one of my favorite books, and I was happy to see you mention it!
January 23rd, 2011 at 5:35 pm
This is the all Cindy forum here today;-)
Like you, I’ve gotten rid of things and later regretted it. I have some areas that could probably use a good pruning. I’m thinking of my paper files. Such an accumulation I don’t even like to contemplate tackling that job!
January 26th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Hi Cindy, glad your Mom is recovering and hope the memory comes back as her body adjusts to the pacemaker. My sister, a cardiac intensive care nurse, says it’s common for cardiac patients to have mental lapse, regardless of age, but that there is a good chance of regaining mental acuity.
Take care of yourself too as you care for your Mom.
PS About the magazines. I don’t feel guilty anymore–those are OPL (Other People’s Lives). I take whatever tips make sense for me and let the rest go to the recycle center.