When Good is Bad

I was stunned to see how long it's been since I've posted anything. Sorry about that, guys!

My most current thought stream? The Good Stuff.

I read an article a while back by organizing expert, Harriet Schechter. She points out that Good Stuff (emphasis, mine) is often a source of our clutter. We tend to keep things because "they're still good." We don't use them--may never use them again. Yet these Good items fill our drawers, closets, and attics much like the Good intentions which fill our thoughts. Ms. Schechter advises to get rid of the Good.

I tend to agree.

I recently spent a lot of time on the internet searching for full-time work. Organizing income was rather dry over the last 6 months, and my husband and I are determined to get out of debt. We had already cut expenses. The only thing left to do is increase income. So a full-time job with benefits seemed like a Good choice.

There's that word again: Good.

It seems to make sense to spend time looking for a full-time job. But if I spent that same amount of time developing my business, networking, advertising, leaving brochures at local businesses, blogging... I could be doing to improve the business I already love. And why not keep doing what I love, working smarter rather than harder?

When I take the time to sit down with my heart and ask what I really want to do, it's this: I want to make a difference in others' lives. I'd rather simplify a home to support someone's life than sit at a desk doing data entry. For me, there is just no comparison.

So here's to all those shiny distractions that mesmerize us, occupy our time and focus, then, unfortunately, distract us from what might be our Best choice. Let's be discerning of our Goods, and our goods. Let's give the Goods their appropriate place.

Then let's intentionally select our Best.


(c) 2010 Sheri Smith Bertolini