My heart is filled with gratitude as I reflect on several significant milestones that happen this month. I will be entering my sixth decade of this beautiful thing we call life. Yes. I’m turning 60 next week! November also marks my 10th blogging anniversary or bloggiversary.

Ten years ago, I had just turned 50 and published my first book, The Other Side of Organized – Finding Balance Between Chaos and Perfection. My book coach suggested that I start blogging as a way of engaging a broader audience. I had no idea how much I would love writing regularly, or how many thousands of amazing readers, inspirational conversations, opportunities, and supporters would appear and enrich my life. With close to 500 posts written so far, I feel like I’m just getting started.

Blogging and having conversations with you has been one of my greatest joys over these last ten years. You have played an essential role in creating this beautiful community. Thank you for your generous contributions to commenting, questioning, sharing, promoting, and reading the various posts on organizing, mindfulness, clutter, letting go, change, and so much more. It takes a village. I am deeply grateful to you.

There are so many people to thank and acknowledge. Many of you have been longtime, staunch supporters, sharers, inspirers, and contributors to this community and my blogging world. My deepest gratitude to Janet Barclay, Seana Turner, Diane Quintana, Ellen Delap, Felice Cohen, Sabrina Quairoli, Andrea Sharb, Sue West, Nacho Eguiarte, Hazel Thorton, Sara Skillen, Stacey Agin Murray, Deb Lee, Janet Schiesl, Nancy Haworth, Andi Willis, Julie Bestry, Yota Schneider, Cam Gott, Val Sgro, Anne Blumer, Sheila Delson, Geralin Thomas, Janine Adams, John Hunt, Leiann Thompson, and Steve, Allison, and Cassie Samuels. I wish I could list everyone, but we’d be here all night.

Being in a reflective mood, I thought it would be fun to look back on some of the favorite and most popular posts. There is always a value in thinking about the past. It’s a way of honoring what was and preparing for what will come. It’s in this spirit that I share these discoveries with you. 

1. First Blog Post

Waiting for Something – November 12, 2009

We are all waiting for something. What if instead of thinking about our wait time as an inconvenience or annoyance, we considered it a gift?

2. Most Popular, Consistently Visited Post

10 Motivation Challenges & Fixes – July 3, 2012

What gets in the way of motivation? Sharing ten common obstacles and strategies to help you get unstuck.

3. Most Comments for Non-Feature Post

5 Tips for More “Happy” in Holiday – December 8, 2011

The holiday season can make even the most positive among us feel stressed and frazzled. Sharing five tips to infuse more “happy” into your holidays.

4. Most Popular “Ask the Expert” Post

Ask the Expert: Julie Morgenstern – June 26, 2012

In this popular “Ask the Expert” series, which began in 2012, I interview leading experts in organizing, productivity, and other related industries. To date, I’ve spoken with 34 experts. I’ve loved talking with and learning from each person. Some of my favorite conversations were with minimalist guru, Joshua Becker, time management pioneer, David Allen, organizational expert, Peter Walsh, chronic disorganization pioneer, Judith Kolberg, creativity expert, Todd Henry, happiness and organizing author, Gretchen Rubin, and of course, Julie Morgenstern productivity and organizing expert.

5. Most Popular Collaborative Post

Stuck? 7 “Now What” Tips – March 5, 2013

For the collaborative post series, I pose one specific question to selected colleagues on a particular topic. From the most popular post in this series, I asked seven colleagues to respond to this question:  When you are stuck, how do you figure out the next step?

6. Most Popular “What’s Interesting?” Post

What Are Today’s Interesting Finds? – v22 – February 18, 2019

In this feature, I share unique and inspiring discoveries, which inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. Since 2014, when I first introduced “What’s Interesting?” I’ve written 25 of these features.

7. My Favorite Post With Nature Video

What Wonderful Change is Emerging Beneath Your Surface? – February 11, 2019

In addition to writing, I love taking photos and videos, especially of people and nature. These images are often shared my blog. Sometimes I create videos to enhance what I’m writing about. In this post on change, I include a video of the mesmerizing movement of frozen sheets of ice cracking and shifting on the surface of the Hudson River.

8. My Favorite Post from the Last Few Years

How to Say Goodbye and Let Go With Love – April 22, 2018

Letting go can be painful. When it’s time to let go, we often feel a loss. As I prepared to say my final goodbyes to our family home of 57 years, I identified ten gentle ways that helped me let go. I hope they will help you too when it’s your time.

9. My Favorite Post That Includes Smead’s Keeping You Organized Video

How to Prepare Yourself for Better Possibilities – October 21, 2019

One of the many exciting outcomes from blogging is being invited as a guest blogger or vlogger. Smead has been exceptionally generous (thank you, John Hunt and Leiann Thompson) about featuring my blog posts on their weekly Facebook Live shows and also interviewing me many times for the Keeping You Organized series. I often incorporate the videos into my blog posts. This recent interview on preparing for organizing success is also one of my favorites.

10. My Favorite Old Post

Gratitude 101: What's On Your List? – November 17, 2011

There is so much to be thankful for. Incorporating gratitude regularly into your day can boost your mood and improve your perspective about life.  What are you grateful for?

So here we are. Ten years and many blog posts later. It’s been an incredible journey so far. I am grateful that you’ve been on the path with me and look forward to continuing our travel together in the years to come.  I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a favorite post from one I shared here? Or, maybe you have another favorite that I didn’t list? Your participation makes this a vibrant community. Once again, I invite you to join the conversation! 

There are times when you’re on a journey, and certain things begin to connect. An idea from one place melds into a concept from a completely different corner of your life. Something you’re focusing on begins appearing everywhere. For example, if you start organizing, randomly, other friends and strangers share their organizing stories with you. Or have you ever bought a new car and then you start noticing on the road tons of that exact car? This frequently happens to me each month when I write about a singular blog theme. Conversations and observations about that idea seem to find me.  Or do I find them? What we look for appears. How does this apply to possibilities? I’m glad you asked.

This month on the blog possibilities is my theme. Since this is the last post of the month, I’m writing about perspective and possibilities. The idea for this post came from a recent session with my coach. I said something like,

“I’ve noticed a shift that I was feeling open to this process, and now I feel more unsure.”

My coach suggested that I write about that difference.

Then something else happened. I was in yoga class. And just to clarify, I’m new to yoga. This was only my third class. One of the things I love about the teacher is his philosophical life lesson that precedes doing actual yoga. At this session, he was talking about distracting thoughts and the choice we have with engagement. We can move towards or away from them. Then he used the phrase “ocean of possibilities.”  I heard an imaginary bell sounding like, “Ding, ding, ding!”

The two separate situations informed each other. In the context that we all have an ocean of possibilities before us, how you perceive those opportunities will significantly influence your path forward.

Here are some questions to consider:

Does being unsure negatively affect your engagement in possibilities?

Does uncertainty prevent you from experimenting?

Does being unsure make you want to retreat to your comfort zone?

Does uncertainty make you fearful?

Does being unsure make you want to give up?

Is your mindset fixed?

Or . . .

How do you approach vast options? 

Are you available to try something new?

Are you willing to experiment and stretch?

Are you open to not knowing the outcome?

Are you able to stay curious?

Are you able to let go of the result?

Is your mindset one of growth and learning?

Here’s the fascinating thing. I suspect that, like most journeys, there isn’t a single way of being. We go through non-linear phases with twists and turns. So we may have moments of bravery when we’re feeling positive and open to new possibilities. And other times, we retreat because things are not going along as quickly or as smoothly or as  _________ (fill in the blank) as we expected.

Perhaps the thought of expectations puts restrictions on our journey. Can we be open, yet also expect? I’m not sure about that.

In the ocean of possibilities that are present, I strive to have an open heart and mind as I move forward. But I also realize that there will be bumps and setbacks along the way. On those days, uncertainty will get the better or me.  Then I’ll find an opening. I’ll face my fear. I’ll reset and remind myself that out of uncertainty comes stretching in ways I never imagined, like in yoga class. While I don’t know where the journey will lead, I am excited about the growth and learning along the way.

What have you noticed about being open or unsure when faced with new possibilities and choices? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

With the change of seasons and this gorgeous fall in full swing, it is the ideal time to reset and rethink. By doing some preparation, you will be ready to embrace possibilities that you might not have considered.

In this Smead Keeping You Organized podcast with my friend, John Hunt, we talk about five ways to prepare for your organizing success and more by combining action with mindfulness practices.

The path forward includes . . .

1. Do one thing. – Single versus multi-focus.

2. Open up thinking. – Awareness of digging in versus leaning towards change.

3. Say “yes” to now. – Focus on the present.

4. Embrace “niksen.” – Doing nothing or being idle as a form of rejuvenating.

5. Acknowledge uncertainty. – Understanding that uncertainty will be part of your journey.

To learn more, listen to the podcast below. Or, check out the post, 5 Powerful Ways That Will Prep You for Organizing Success & More.

What helps prepare you for success and new possibilities? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

The latest installment (v25) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my recent discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring possibilities-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are such a wonderfully engaged group. I am grateful for your presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community.

I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Learning Possibilities

Most of us aren’t great at accepting criticism. It’s common to become defensive. In Thanks for the Feedback – The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well* even when it is off base, unfair, poorly delivered, and frankly, you’re not in the mood, coauthors Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen explain why receiving feedback is essential for growth yet challenging to accept. It’s how we learn from life. They say, “Receiving feedback sits at the intersection of these two needs – our drive to learn and our longing for acceptance.”  They explain that individuals who can view themselves are “…easier to work with and to live with.”  The positive news is they believe that receiving feedback is a skill that can be cultivated. The authors provide insights into the three triggers that can block feedback- truth, relationship, and identity triggers, along with strategies to overcome them. What would be possible if you were better able to receive and evaluate feedback?

2. Interesting Product – Morning Possibilities

Studies show that getting quality sleep is essential for our well being and functioning. So having good sleep hygiene and routines is crucial. What if we extended our good sleep habits to our wake-up patterns? How do you get up each morning? If you want to enhance your mood and possibilities for the day, consider this alternative way of waking. Sensorwake Trio designed a unique alarm clock that gently eases you into your day by slowly activating three of your senses- smell, sight, and sound. You can choose from a variety of scents like freshly brewed coffee or a pine forest, and also select a sound. The clock’s three minute “good morning” cycle has a minute of your chosen scent, one minute of light, followed by one minute of sound.

3. Interesting Resource  – Doing Good Possibilities

One of the challenges many of my clients have is letting go of things they no longer want. They often feel bad about tossing something that could be useful to someone else. We look at ways to eliminate their letting go obstacle by helping them feel good about giving things away. We identify potential recipients like family, friends, neighbors, charities, or resale groups. In most households, especially those with children, stockpiles of broken and full crayons are common finds. Bryan Ware, founder and a parent who created The Crayon Initiative, found a way to keep discarded crayons out of the landfills. The non-profit collects donated crayons, melts them down, remanufactures them, and distributes them to art programs at children’s hospitals across the United States. What could be better than releasing your crayon clutter to bring color, joy, and possibilities to kids in need?

4. Interesting Season – Organizing Possibilities

The inspiring, colorful fall is here. If you are feeling disorganized, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to move forward, make this your season to get organized. Take this opportunity to reset your organizing goals, declutter the extraneous, and create the calm you deserve. Change is possible, especially with support. Enlist help from a compassionate and non-judgmental friend, family member, or professional organizer like me. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when you work side-by-side with someone. I’m ready to help. Let’s talk. Call 914-271-5673 or email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com.

5. Interesting Thought – Noticing Possibilities

How will your day unfold? Will you approach it with intention, dread, or an open mind? How will your attitude influence what transpires? When we seek out new experiences, opportunities we might have missed otherwise, come into view. Create your day full of possibilities.

What are your exciting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation!