I can’t think of a better gift to give to someone I love in this down economy than the gift of time, freedom and relief. That’s what Mary’s workbook, The Secrets of Simplicity: Learn to Live Better with Less, gives her readers. The exercises are short and simple yet powerful. If you’re unsure what to keep, she can guide you through the process of choosing. She can also help you identify who you are beneath all of your possessions, reminding you that you were someone before you accumulated them and that you will still be someone regardless. She reminds us that we are separate from our belongings and helps us focus on what matters. Many of us spend so much time shuttling stuff in and out of our homes for various purposes that we no longer have time or energy to be with our loved ones and do the things that bring us joy. Decluttering is a great way to free ourselves again.
Mary walks the walk, too, as she discusses in her book, Give It Up! My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less. I met her when we volunteered at a Ladies Who Launch event several years ago. I knew instantly that she would be a treasured colleague. She gave her time with joy and free from expectation. She had a sense of freedom that I wanted but didn’t realize I had access to. I still sometimes forget I have it, but that’s when I go back to this book and re-do an exercise.
Like conflict resolution generally, decluttering is an ongoing process. But it creates the space we need for our continued growth.
If you’re feeling trapped, overwhelmed, lost, stressed, or anything other than gratitude for your life, you need this book!
Mary Carlomagno is an author, professional organizer and inspiring speaker. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, CBS News and Good Housekeeping TV. Mary’s simple and action-oriented system for an organization has been featured in Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Quick and Simple, For Me magazine, Newsday and the Daily News. She is also an expert columnist on care.com and a regular contributor to Design NJ.
Nance L. Schick, Esq. is a New York City attorney and mediator who focuses on keeping people out of court and building their conflict resolution skills, especially in business and employment disputes. Her holistic, integrative approach to conflict resolution draws from her experience as a crime victim, human resources supervisor, minor league sports agent, and United Nations representative. She is a 2001 graduate of the State University of New York Buffalo Law School trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).