Creating a clearing

As part of Mondo Beyondo - we have an exercise to create a clearing - a physical, emotional, spiritual...what have you.  So that is giving me the kick in the pants that I need to get some stuff done at home.  Unfortunately, this is a crazy busy week -- 2 birthday dinners for my mom, catch up dinner with my dad and then a professional organization meeting.  PHEW!  Makes for a busy Amanda.  So with that in mind, I decided to take Friday off as a get stuff day. 

I have some practical things that I want to do - clean out the fridge, organize my pantry.

But I have some space creating/clearing to do too - I want to change up my basement. I live in a townhouse that is entirely too big for 1 person but it was never purchased with the intention of being for just one person.  Anywho -- I have this basement which was once the boy room and then when there were no more boys in my house, I riped it apart, repainted, recarpeted and created a half-assed office space with which I do nothing. 

I want to create a multipurpose room that will meet the following needs:

• a meditation space
• a creative space
• a quiet space
• an office space

this is a lot to ask of a 300 or so square foot room, I know. Right now I have some Ikea desk/table things in there and I have a mish-mash of book cases, a small table, a small tv.  I want to repaint the room first and foremost -- right now it is this purple colour that just isn't working for it. I'm thinking a willow green.  Then I want to repaint the bookcases so they work together.  I keep googling how to paint Ikea furniture and not coming up with great answers -- I think I have to go ask my fine friends at Home Depot (UGH!)  I am stuck about what to do with the colour of them though...

Then there is furniture.  I don't want to spend much money but I want something comfy where I can curl up with a quilt and some tea and read or just be.  And then there is the question of how to create some space where I can do practical stuff like pay bills but also do some create stuff like scrapbooking, quilting etc.  I also need some sort of music set up AND I would like to get a tv that is bigger than just my face.

All of this will not get done on Friday -- CLEARLY. But it is fun to open your mind to creating a space that really fits where you are.

In coaching, we talk about something called tolerations -- the things that nag at you all of the time and thus zap you of energy to spend on the things you really want.

Let me give you an example -- I have a laundry closet thing in my 2nd floor guest bathroom and for years the shelf above the appliances was a mess.  And everytime I did laundry, it drove me bonkers.  So flippin annoying.  One day I decided I had enough and I spent the 20 minutes it took to organize it and I have to tell you -- it was like a weight was lifted.  Not that a messy shelf is life changing but it was something I was tolerating and once I wasn't anymore...well, it opened space.  I am hoping that beginning these projects on Friday will open up some space to let other, better stuff in.

Comments

[Karin]

great idea, creating space. Amy actually uses that phrase in our yoga class as we stretch, move, balance. Create space between your shoulders and your hips, between your vertabrae...great idea! Good luck with the basement. call on our friend Cathy Krill for the painting ideas, she's good!!

[Robin]

i love new projects like that, we have so little room in our house i rarely can do that. enjoy!