My house has been pretty indicative of my state of mind.  Clean on the surface, but dare to open up any cupboard and be prepared for the onslaught!! Every cupboard was exploding with all sorts of things, and the shelves were stacked high, and don’t even go into the study! The study was ‘that room’ – you know the one that everyone has where they just shove stuff to hide and not deal with. Everyone has one!

Then one day, standing in my wardrobe trying to decide what to wear I just started throwing stuff. I decided enough was enough. It was time to get ruthless. I had 3 piles. 1 for the Salvos, 1 for the rubbish and 1 for keeping. And my rule was simple: “If I hadn’t worn it in 6 months, then I was time to go” … Ruthless, calculating and goddam refreshing and energizing!

I worked my way through the entire house. Cupboard by cupboard. Adding to my 3 piles. And the space that just started to appear. The organization that started to happen. The things I found! Oh dear! The things I found! Hubby walked in half way through this cleansing ritual! He didn’t say a word. He just surveyed the damage, saw the look of relief on my face, and joined in. He attacked his own wardrobe. Oh My!

When all was said and done, we looked at each other and exhaled. It was brilliant. The sense of relief of letting go, was more than just with material things in our lives, it was like we’d both decided that the ‘life overhaul’ was about to begin.  Being the best versions of ourselves was not going to be centered on materialistic things. That t-shirts and jeans were not what we were about. We stood for more than that. We cleaned out all the baby things that we knew we were never going to need again. Not saying we are never going to have another baby (that’s a whole blog in itself!) but that we didn’t need these things in our life anymore, and just ‘hanging’ on to them ‘in case’ is not good for us. We knew that if that time came again, we’d be ok. We’d find other things that we’d need and use and we’d manage.

Let go. Letting go. It’s so cleansing. We hang on to too much in our lives, we have too many ‘things’. Life is not about filling it up with new and exciting things, however nice that may be. Life is not about hanging on to things just in case. Life is about living in the moment and being the best you can be in the moment.

So, our new rule, if we bring something new into our lives, we need to share something old with someone else. Pass it on. We don’t need to hang on to it, but someone else will need it for that moment in their lives. Don’t throw things away, acknowledge that it has been important for us at a time, but then pass it on when we don’t need it anymore.

So, go forth and clean out those cupboards – you’ll be amazed what it does for your state of mind too!

After cleaning out our minds, I mean house, we sat down on the couch to then hear a knock at the door. A brown paper package, addressed to me. An unusual shaped package, but exciting none the less. I opened it to find the most powerful thing I’d seen in such a long time. Powerful, to the point of tears of joy running down my face. It was a gift from a friend. There was no card. I knew who it was from because this dear friend has sent me a text saying to expect a package. I was completely miffed with this gift. It was a book.

I sat, opened the book and read each word aloud to my husband. Half way through I stopped. I was crying tears of joy and tears of inspiration. This friend spoke to me through the words of this book like no other.

As each word bounced off the page, my mind wandered to images of me reading this to Archer. Guiding his life with these words. I imagined me giving this book to so many of my own friends, to help them, in the way my friend was helping me.

I was astounded at the truth of this book. The connection I had with it. The fact that I’d never, ever come across it before in my life, and how it arrived at my door step when I needed it the most. And that my dear friend, knew the power that it would have. I am forever grateful for her gift and I know that this book will in turn, effect others the way it has me. A true sign of passing it on.

I want to share the book with you. If you have read it, then enjoy it again. If you haven’t, enjoy it all the same, but ask yourself, is there someone in your life that this book would help. I know, that I’ll share every word of it with Archer. That I’ll read this book over and over again. I want to give this book to my godson. I want to live by this book. It has made me want to move mountains.

‘Oh! The Places You’ll Go’ – Dr Seuss

 

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places.

You’re off and away.

 

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

Any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

 

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.

About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

You’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

 

And you may not find any

You’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town

 

It’s opener there

In the wide open air.

 

Out there things can happen

And frequently do

For people as brainy

And footsy as you.

 

And when things start to happen

Don’t worry. Don’t stew.

Just go right along

‘You’ll’ start happening too.

 

OH!

 THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

 

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers

Who soar to high heights.

 

You wont’ lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.

You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

 

Except when you ‘don’t’

Because sometimes, you ‘won’t’

 

I’m sorry to say so

But, sadly, it’s true

That Bang-ups

And Hang-ups

CAN happen to you.

 

You can get all hung up

In a prickle-ly perch

And your gang will fly on

You’ll be left in a Lurch

 

You’ll come down from the Lurch

With an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

That you’ll be in a slump.

 

And when you’re in a Slump

You’re not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

 

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

 

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…

Or right and three quarters? Or maybe not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it’s not. I’m afraid you will find,

For a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

 

You can get so confused

That you’ll start in a race

Down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

And grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

Headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.  The Waiting Place…

 

… for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

Or a bus to come, or a plane to go

Or the mail to come, or the rain to go

Or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

Or waiting around for a Yes or No

Or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

 

Waiting for the fish to bite

Or waiting for wind to fly a kite

Or waiting around for Friday night

Or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

Or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

Or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

Or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

 

NO! That’s not for you!

 

Somehow you’ll escape

All that waiting and staying

You’ll find the right places

Where Boom Bands are playing

 

With banner flip-flapping,

Once more you’ll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.

Ready because you’re that kind of guy!

 

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

Will make you the winning-est winner of all.

FAME! You’ll be famous as famous can be,

With the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

 

Except when they ‘don’t’

Because, sometimes they ‘won’t’

 

I’m afraid that some times

You’ll play lonely games too.

Games you can’t win

‘cause you’ll play against you.

 

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

You’ll be quite a lot.

 

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance

You’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

That can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

 

But on you will go

Thought the weather be foul.

On you will go

Thought your enemies prowl.

On you will go

Though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up many

A frightening creek,

Though your arms may get sore

And your sneakers may leak

 

On and on you will hike.

And I know you’ll hike far

And face up to your problems

Whatever they are.

 

You’ll get mixed up, of course,

As you already know.

You’ll get mixed up

With many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

And remember that Life’s

A Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And NEVER mix up your right foot with your left.

 

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed.)

 

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

 

So…

Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

Or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O;Shea,

You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So… GET ON YOUR WAY!

 

–       Dr Seuss ‘Oh The Places You’ll Go’

–       Haper Collins.

 These Days are My Days and I Thank You Dr. Seuss (the greatest philosopher there is!)