Archive for the 'Musings' Category

Journaling in China

Published on November 7, 2011 in Author Blog, Blog, Creativity, Musings, The Sacred Space, writer blog, writing and Writing, journaling.

0 Comments

I just returned from two spectacular but exhausting weeks in China, visiting Shanghai, Xian, Hangzou and Beijing. Traveling always inspires new perspectives and a multitude of journaling ideas and angles. If you were to ask what was my favorite part, I would simply say, the part that I was visiting at the time. Their world is so different than our world that I walked around each and every day in amazement. Particularly captivating was the long historical backdrop of the dynasties and the lives of the emperors and how much time was spent in making the emperor’s lives so superior during their lifetimes and in the afterlife. The palaces and mausoleums left me in awe, saying nothing about the number of concubines each emperor had. As someone who has been reading a great deal on Buddhism, I was also amazed by the gigantic temples and number of larger than life-size Buddhas. Here is a summary of the trips highlights:

Shanghai. At the airport I was glad to be greeted by a guide, because no signs were in English. There was a sense of culture shock in other ways also, such as not being able to access certain aspects of the internet from Google to social networking sites. In some areas, internet was either not possible or intermittent in a way that had little to do with remoteness, but more as a result of government control over services. This city has been considered the Paris of the east because of its women and sex clubs. In general, it was not as congested, polluted or dirty as I imagined. Many of the city’s sensibilities were a merging of east and west, the businesses and the fashion, for example. What I witnessed were the results of a massive growth spurt during the last 15 years. We visited the Shanghai Museum, an eclectic collection of relics, bowls, phenomenal Buddhas and more. We visited what was known as the Jewish Quarter or by western definition, the tenement quarters, where three or four families lived in an area smaller than my kitchen. I had heard about all the Jews who fled the Nazis to land here, but I had no idea about their enormous influence on the city’s growth. Philanthropist businessmen like Viktor Sassoon and the Kadoorie family who owned many of the city’s hotels, made their productive mark in so many parts of the city.

The Chinese people have sayings about everything – I could not write quickly enough. Some made immediate sense while others I needed to ponder. Here are only some which I quickly scribbled down while the guides interjected their wisdom into their historical discussions:

• the bird is a messenger to heaven
• the peach is a symbol of longevity and has nine lives. good to give as a gift
• bamboo is loved by the Chinese as they see it as meaning a long life. they should always be upright as this means there should always be something to learn
• Chinese coins are always round (symbolizes heaven) and square (symbolizes earth)
• Buddha was born under the gingko tree therefore it is considered a Buddhist plant
• Do not step on thresholds because they are thought to be the shoulders of Buddhas and should never be stepped upon.
• The Chinese (or people in general) believe in religion because it guides you and gives you parameters
• Laughing Buddhas hold a bag with troubles in their hand. They fill them up and forget them. I love this idea and will try to incorporate it in my life!
• In talking about relatives – they like when their family lives ‘soup distance,’ away, meaning that by the time you bring soup it will still be warm. Not many of us in the United States have this luxury, and certainly with all three of my kids on the east coast, I do not, but look forward to possibly one day being able to bring my homemade soup to them!
• The lotus is a symbol of purity and integrity.
• The Lily flower is used at weddings and signifies the couple will have a harmonious life for 100 years to come. Never use willows because if a woman is compared to a willow it means that she is flirtatious. However, if a woman is compared to a lotus, it means she is a natural beauty and does not need make up. Speaking of marriage– The Chinese say that the husband makes all the important decisions, but it’s the wife who decides what’s important!

Hangzhou. I loved this place. Our hotel was situated on beautiful West Lake. The first night we saw a water show of an unusual sort. There was a stage about three inches under the water, spanning the lake and the performers/dancers were dressed in traditional attire. They were like dancing fish performing a remarkable love story. Absolutely spectacular, with large boats and little row boats taking the lovers off into the sunset.

Hangzhou has been known as a honeymoon town and hometown of silk and tea. As a lover of green tea, I adored the private tour of the Mei family tea plantation and tea ceremony known for the best green tea in China, especially Dragon Well tea. (BTW, after buying boxes and bags of the stuff, I heard that we can get this tea, although a lesser quality, at Teavanna which is only minutes from my house!) This tea has three qualities, depending upon the season in which it was harvested. By the way, the water for a good cup of tea should not be brewed in a temperature more than 85 degrees. The hotter the water, the more bitter the leaves. The best time to drink is 30 minutes after meals as it aids in digestion. There is a big statue of Lu Yu (Literati) because he was considered the father of Chinese tea. He wrote the first book on Chinese Tea. I will never use tea bags again and I might have figured out why the Chinese women have such good figures.

We visited an herbal pharmacy that has been in business for centuries. I learned that herbal medicine consists of herbs, animal parts and mineral rocks.

Beijing. The great wall goes on and on. We were on the west side of the wall and took a cable car part of the way. The towers were built first and it’s amazing they even built a wall on this very mountainous terrain…there were a few times when I wondered about its real purpose! Visiting Tiananenmen Square and the mausoleum of Chairman Mao was a powerful way to end the trip. There were many visitors on this week day and we were told that many younger families bring their older relatives to remind them of the way things were. It was fascinating to see the history sweep across the faces of the seniors who vividly remember the perils of the Communist Regime. Our guide told us that two things the Chinese really value is their food and their freedom—and after visiting China, I can attest to this, even though I don’t think I will have another bowl of rice or marinated meat for a long time. We welcomed a big platter of French fries on our last evening out.

One last thing. When we asked the guide what American tourist attractions they associate with us, he said, Hollywood and Vegas! Now that’s a thought to ponder! No mention of the Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, The White House or The Grand Canyon!

Remembering Steve Jobs

Published on October 10, 2011 in Author Blog, Creativity, Musings, Uncategorized and writer blog.

3 Comments

Dear Readers:

Last week’s news about Steve Job’s passing left me speechless. It’s not that we were not all expecting it, but it just seems that sometimes we just get a sense that some people are immortal. He was one of those individuals. Jobs was a brilliant human being, innovator and visionary who will remain in our hearts and in our lives for a very long time. People often ask me how I am so efficient. In all honesty, I could not do all I do without Jobs–his creativity and innovations. His creations have made work fun. My MAC is like a friend … reliable and always there for me. My iPhone has become my confidant and I don’t go anywhere without it and if I do, I turn around and return home to retrieve it. It’s my connection with the world and with myself. Thank you Steve Jobs for everything. May you rest in peace…

I would like to share the wonderful words on the Apple Website:

Remembering Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs
1955-2011

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

The Joy of Meditating

Published on October 3, 2011 in 1960s, Alternative Medicine, Author Blog, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, inspiration, meditation, Musings and writer blog.

0 Comments

In keeping with my young adulthood passions, I have recently circled back to my young adulthood passion of group meditation in addition to my private practice at home every morning. Recently I have been attending the local Buddhist Center that practices Kadampa Buddhism founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. This type of practice is dedicated to people everywhere to help us find meaning and purpose in our everyday lives. The goal is to develop a sense of peace and happiness. In this week’s discussion the Monk spoke about how the spiritual mind feels a larger goal in life and does not get caught up in the little things happening. He tends to focus on what he can do.
Often times when I talk about meditating, people tell me they want to do it but don’t know how to start. Of course, the answer is there are many different ways to meditate and you must find the right one for you. For example, some people like guided meditation to music while others prefer the quiet. It is really a wonderful way to start your day. Here are some basic guidelines for beginners:

- Find a quiet time and place
- Sit cross-legged on a cushion or a chair. It’s important that your back is straight.
- Rest your hands comfortably on your knees or lap, palms facing upward
- Close your eyes
- Focus on your breath. Nostril breathing is best.
- Do this for 10-15 minutes a day

The biggest challenge is fighting what Natalie Goldberg calls “the monkey mind.” Whenever your thoughts wander away from your breath, it’s important that you bring your attention back to your breath. Do not become obsessed or wrapped up in an idea or “to do list.” This is not the idea of meditation. It’s all about relaxation. Over time, you will notice a sense of calm and spacious feeling of the mind. You can also practice this exercise with your eyes open, waiting in line at the bank, supermarket or seated in a doctor’s office. Focusing on your breath can be enlightening. Try it!

Journaling (Non-Religious) Spirituality

Published on September 26, 2011 in Author Blog, Baby Boomers, Creativity, Journaling, Musings, Psychology, Spirituality, The Dalai Lama and writer blog.

2 Comments

Over the years I have oscillated back and forth on a spiritual continuum. After much contemplation I have come to the conclusion that I am a spiritual person but not a religious person. My spiritual journey began at the age of ten, when my mother gave me a red leather journal with Khalil Gibran sayings on the top of each page to help me cope with the then recent death of my grandmother. “Write down your feelings,” she told me, in an effort to help me through the loss. Gibran’s words of wisdom resonated with me at a deep level. His ideas also gave me something to grasp onto as I navigated through the pain and searched for reasons why she might have taken her life.

After my grandmother’s death, I also tried to find solace in traditional Passover rituals, but they just confused me. Not only did I not understand Hebrew, I didn’t even understand what the prayers meant in English and nothing was ever explained to me. As an only child of working immigrant parents I was taught to take things at face value and not look beyond.

During my early college years, I continued to search for meaning and signed up for an introductory course in transcendental meditation (TM) with Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi. The first meeting was held in an old two-story mansion. After being greeted by two young smiling women with ponytails and a sparkle in their eyes, we were escorted into the dining room where chairs were lined up in church-like fashion. When all of the seats were occupied, Maharishi gave an introduction into the practice of TM.

When the time came to raise my family, the question of religion surfaced once again. My husband and I decided to do what my father did and continued to be “Minimalist Jews,” meaning we would follow the holiday traditions, but remain unaffiliated. When our children began questioning, we chose to handle it differently than my own parents. We booted up our computers and bought some reference books and researched the meaning behind all the Jewish traditions. Fortunately, this information was much more accessible than during my own childhood where the only resource was typically the World Book Encyclopedia.

After my father passed away in 1991, we slowly abandoned many of the Jewish traditions and accentuated with our kids the simple importance of being honest, being a good person and practicing loving kindness. I also encouraged my children to meditate and take yoga classes.

In 2008 when the Dalai Lama visited my home town, I found myself passionately yanked into and moved by his words. Buddhist beliefs resonated with me at a deep level, perhaps because many are similar to those of the Jewish tradition instilled in me by my father. Others were simply common sense reminders of the importance of goodness. Here are only a few of his powerful tenets: be kind to others, whether your beliefs are similar or not; cultivate a habit of inner discipline; when our hearts are filled with love, there is no room for suspicion; one of the most beautiful aspects of being human is being able to smile; our attitude is critical for inner peace; negative thoughts and emotions obstruct our basic aspirations for happiness; and compassion belongs in every sphere of activity.

My spiritual journey has evolved from following mysterious rituals in childhood to seeing the clarity of Buddhist beliefs today. Losing my grandmother and the other sad moments in my life have made me appreciate the good times. I now welcome compassion and the fine art of living. Although Buddhism has many facets, the basic tenets of caring for and acting out of the concern for others, regardless of our religious traditions unites people, rather than dividing. This idea is so important during these tenuous and challenging times as we all search and struggle for some global meaning and sense of internal and external peace.

Transpersonal Psychology with Stanislav Grof

Published on September 5, 2011 in 1960s, Author Blog, Healing With Words, Health, Health and Wellness, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Musings and writer blog.

1 Comment

This past week I attended my first seminar for my PhD in Transpersonal Psychology at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA. The keynote speaker was Stanislav Grof, author of Psychology of the Future (SUNY Press, 2000). His book and discussion were illuminating. Dr. Grof is a psychiatrist with more than sixty years of experience in the field of non-ordinary states of consciousness, who conducted a great deal of research with hallucinogenics in the 1960s. I immediately connected with him; after all, I am a baby boomer who grew up in New York in the 1960s. You bet I did my own experimentation to bring me to altered states of consciousness, although it was never called that. It was simply referred to as “getting high.”

Grof’s premise involves the idea that hallucinogenics have the ability to help us transcend to places which assist us in understanding who we are and what we are here for. So much of what he said resonated with me and it was nice to hear how eloquently he articulates his ideas. His discussion reminded me of an incident in my own adolescence. When my beloved grandfather who lived with us suddenly collapsed from a heart attack I remember feeling deep sadness and being offered LSD by some friends. They said the drug would not necessarily remove my grief nor help me escape it, but rather, it would help me reconnect with my grandfather at a more profound level.

As an open-minded teenager, I accepted their offering and since that day forward have believed in the power of hallucinogens.
Back in the 1960s the discipline of transpersonal psychology was not yet formulated. So I sort of consider myself an early practitioner, with my experimentation with LSD and practice of transcendental meditation. In some ways, I feel like a pioneer amongst my peers! In view of this, one of the most interesting ideas that I came away with from Grof’s talk was the idea that the deepest force or motive behind alcoholism and other forms of addiction is the misguided craving for some sort of transcendence. I had not heard this theory before and not only does it make absolute sense, but it also gives credence to my own experimentation with hallucinogenics. It is a fascinating idea that those with a tendency toward various addictions are searching for transcendence or a way to bring their lives to another level, whether they choose to use illicit drugs, alcohol, sex, food, or gambling.

The seminar also reminded me that the world is one big family, and that no matter where we live, who we are or what are our spiritual or cultural orientations, there is a common thread running through our lives. This is the ultimate quest for happiness. Everything we do and say is motivated by this common quest. On that note, I would like to feel a smile from all my readers!

Typos and Misspellings

Published on August 8, 2011 in Author Blog, inspiration, Musings, New York Times and writer blog.

3 Comments

A typo is a mistake in typesetting or in the typing process. It’s typically due to human error and does not necessarily include spelling errors. In this article, however, I am lumping typos and spelling errors together because, as writers, if we are not good spellers, chances are we will miss typos when rereading our work.

Typos drive me crazy. They really bother me. I do not care to dive into the psychology behind my frustration, and I’m sure I make my fair share, but I also make a point of reading my work a few times before sending it out. Even emails. I was delighted to read a discussion on this subject in a recent Op-ed piece in the New York Times, called, “The Price of Typos,” by Virginia Hefferson, particularly as it relates to the digital era.

As the compiler and editor of two anthologies, Writers and Their Notebooks, and Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak on Addiction and Dependency (due out in 2012) I am intrigued by various writers’ spelling skills—or lack thereof. According to Hefferson, there is no pattern; Nabakov was a great speller and Fitzgerald was not. Instead of just saying some people are only talented one way or another, Hefferson analyzes the personality of the good and bad speller. She purports that bad spellers tend to see through the words he or she encounters, straight to the things, characters, ideas, images an emotions they conjure, thus they tend to be good at reportage. While good spellers tend to see language as a system and are more often than not, drawn to wordplay and genres like poetry. Since I am a poet who loves Scrabble and crossword puzzles and who is obsessed with the correct spelling of words, I was drawn to this concept.

For poor spellers, there are numerous web sites, which offer suggestions on how to improve one’s spelling. Most of the recommendations include doing more reading and writing, two things writers tend to do on a regular basis. First, if you are a journal keeper it is suggested that you find new ways to use old and new words; second, whenever you finish your writing whether in a journal, on a pad or on the computer, make sure to check for mistakes. It is hoped that as time passes, you should find fewer words to correct.

With the new flood of digital media, the increased amount of typos and spelling errors has become a large issue. “The reason for this seems two-fold: work is published more quickly with less attentiveness is paid towards editing and, when cutbacks in the publishing houses began happening, those who first lost their jobs were the copyeditors and proofreaders—those typically responsible for catching misspelled words and typos. It just seems as if publishers, small, medium and large have become less vigilant about editing and spelling. Rushing to publish and overlooking glaring typos may have become part of the new economics of traditional publishing,” concludes Hefferson.

Research on Demand

Published on August 1, 2011 in 1960s, Author Blog, Creative Nonfiction, Creativity, Memory, Musings, New York Times and writing.

3 Comments

Because of technology, the world seems to be moving faster. In a recent New York Times article by James Gleick entitled, “Books and Other Fetishes,” (July 16, 2011), he discusses the role of digital media in the search for historical information. The raw material of history appears to be heading for the clouds. What was once hard is now easy. What was slow seems to now be fast, he summarizes.

It appears as if Europe has jumped on the bandwagon of using digitial media to capture historical information, quicker than us. Last month, the British Library announced a project in collaboration with Google which would digitize 40 million pages of books, pamphlets and periodicals dating back to the French Revolution. Of course there’s speculation that Europeans simply have more history to work with than we do, a good excuse for the need for digitalization.

There is a school of thought that this sort of thing called, “techno-enthusiasm” can potentially cheapen scholarship. An English historian Tristain Hung said, “When everything is downloadable, the mystery of history can be lost.”

In fact, my favorite part of school back in the sixties and seventies was going to the library and cracking open volumes of books and journals looking through the table of contents and indexes for answers to my research projects. I was always a research buff and continue to be one. Furthermore, it had additional entertainment value because of the opportunity to meander over to the photocopy machine to copy relevant pages to bring home. Forgive me if I am getting too nostalgic, but I do think we were previously more mindful back then, creating memories one moment at a time.

Doing research back then was simply more alluring, exciting and mysterious, whereas now it might simply involve one or two clicks on the computer. The magic and sense of discovery is minimized. Maybe I am just old-fashioned and love the old way better in the same way that I miss visiting bookstores vs. browsing online.

This reminds me of a time a few weeks ago when I visited the nearest chain bookstore, now a thirty-minute drive from my house. I phoned a writer friend from the reference section and said, “Guess where I am? I am at the Barnes and Noble in Ventura and am so excited to be here. I miss this.”

“I know what you mean,” he said. “I could easily live on the floor of a bookstore.” Now that might just be every writer’s fantasy.

Back to the subject of research. Maybe I am a believer in hard work producing results, thus spending long hours researching in the library or bookstore seems gratifying. The sense of serendipity and chance also seems to be lost during this new digital age.

I guess I better just buckle down and face the changes around me. Who am I fooling? I am aging; times are changing and the world moves on….

Wake Up Calls

Published on July 25, 2011 in Author Blog, Creativity, Healing With Words, Health and Wellness, Journals, July, Musings, Spirituality, writer blog, Writing for healing and Writing, journaling.

1 Comment

At one point in your life, you will have what is commonly known as a “wake up call,” or an “ah-ha moment” chances are you will be happier when a health problem causes you to wake up and pay attention to yourself and your body. A wake-up call is a cause for action. In fact, having a wake-up call can save your life. You never know when this might happen or how many wake up calls you might encounter in your lifetime, but in addition to taxes and death, these events are sure to arrive.

I have been blessed with numerous wake-up calls. I say blessed because they have all served me as inspiration and material for my life as a writer. As a result, my philosophy has been to embrace any difficulties or tumultuous times by trying to turn a negative experience into a positive one. In essence, it’s easier to understand and appreciate the light after we have experienced the dark.

Much of the key to happiness is making the most of a wake-up call. Recently, I picked up a book called, The Way of The Happy Woman by Sara Avant Stover which reminded me of the importance of tapping into these moments. The author suggests illuminating our compassion, beauty, sensuality, nurturing, creativity and receptivity – all attributes which remind us of who we are.

Although the book is written for women—the principles really apply to both sexes. It reminds us to embrace who we are and to honor self-love as a key to happiness and continued good health.

According to Stover, “Love is the essence of who we are. She says, and I agree, that at the end of our lives what really matters is “How well we loved.”

The basic tenet of the book is to simply slow down. As the Buddhists advocate—live in the moment. Stover says that the Chinese character for busyness translates as ‘heart killing.’

Summer is a fabulous time to slow down, watch the flowers grow and children play. Summer is also a good time to crack open a new journal. I was delighted that in the book’s first chapter, Stover had an extensive section on how to do this. She discussed the power of journaling and how over the course of her lifetime, journals have been her best friend and were there for her as she chronicled various milestones. She provides many similar journaling tips as I do in my own classes. For example:

• visit your favorite book or stationary store and choose a journal which resonates with you
• write your name and the date on the top of the page
• make a list of what’s on your mind at this moment and/or something you have not been able to talk to anyone about
• from your list choose the one you most want to explore in your journal
• list three of your strongest emotions about the situation and where you feel them in your body
• write three ways you can support yourself during difficult times (i.e. deep breathing, walking, exercising, meditating, gratitude journaling)

This book offers many tips, but I think the most pertinent one is that journaling will help you with self-expression which is also important when it comes to your connection with others, and saying what is on your mind, and helping your figure out what brings you pleasure.

So whether you have had a recent wake-up call or not, try this: Tomorrow morning, wake up and say, “Today I choose happiness.”

The Full Moon’s Effects

Published on July 18, 2011 in Author Blog, Creativity, Depression, Health, Journaling, Musings, writer blog and writing.

1 Comment

We have all heard that the full moon can affect human behavior and this past week’s full moon (June 15th), had a huge affect on me. I particularly recall the effects of the full moon from my days practicing as a registered nurse and the number of patients we admitted into the hospital during and around the full moon; often for baby deliveries and other ailments.

I’m not quite sure why this most recent full moon had such a dramatic affect on me. It seemed to last three or four days. During that time, I was energetic and the most discerning part was that no matter how tired I was at night I was unable to fall asleep. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling even though I avoided coffee late in the day.

The full moon represents fertility, celebration and a sense of completion. It has a tendency to give us an energy surge and also heightens our emotions. It is already known that the full moon increases the concentration of positive ions in the atmosphere resulting in both positive and negative effects which might . fluctuations in hormonal balance, hyperactivity, increased creativity, depression, road rage and migraines.

For the most part, people are affected by this increase in positive ions, while few people are affected by negative ions. Increased positive ions tends to cause an increase in serotonin in the way that anti-depressants do. For those of us who live in California, winds such as the Santa Ana winds also release positive ions in the atmosphere. So if you feel good during those winds then that might be why!

Research has shown that creative individuals, such as writers, who are working on a particular project may find that they are likely to get more ideas and thoughts pertaining to their project, creativity and writing These types of thoughts will arise out of the creative part of our brains.
During the full moon days, some people believe that their spiritual thoughts are also heightened because Spirituality lies in the sub-conscious part of the mind.

So what suggestions do I have for the full moon time of the month? From my readings, I concur that you should not fight this wonderful energy surge by taking medications or by using other crutches, but rather, try to embrace the energy and use it to your advantage. Stay up late and create. Go with the flow of what you are feeling. Write in your journal about what happened during the past month and what you might have accomplished or thought about. Think about what you want to do different in the coming month. Some people also recommend taking care of yourself in other ways during the full moon, such as eating wholesome foods, such as soups and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Since you have no idea what affects the full moon will have on you, it has been suggested that you refrain from making any major decisions during the days surrounding the full moon.

To prepare you, here are the upcoming full moon dates for the remaining months of 2011:

August 13
September 12
October 12
November 10
December 10

Namaste,
Diana

Hoarding Journals and Other Items

Published on June 6, 2011 in Author Blog, Journaling, Journals, Musings, writing and Writing, journaling.

5 Comments

I hoard journals but not much else, however a recent article on the subject piqued my interest. It appeared in the “Well Blog” section of The New York Times and was entitled, “Children of Hoarders.” It discussed children of hoarders who are left to their own devices to make sense of growing up in homes where having visitors was challenging because of all the inanimate objects laying around, resulting in a difficulty in navigating through clutter.

I have always been fascinated by the psychological studies people choose to undertake. Randy O. Frost, a psychology professor at Smith College for two decades has been studying the act of hoarding. (Now doesn’t that sound as if he is a hoarder of information?)

His study of hoarding surmised that children of hoarders often display a tortured ambivalence toward their parents, primarily because they have little choice but to live amongst the junk. “They grew up in a difficult environment and naturally came to resent it,” says Frost.

The Mayo Clinic defines hoarding as an excessive collecting of items and the inability to discard. Typically these items appear to have little or no value to others whether they are clothes, papers, notes or other items. Sometimes hoarding can cause a significant impairment to move around a residence or office.

I am thankful that neither of my parents were considered pathological hoarders, however, I think my father had a tinge of hoarding in his blood in response to the Nazis taking away all his belongings at the onset of World War II. He did not hoard all over the house but did have “sacred” hoarding locations which were confined mainly to his desk, closet and the garage.

You might ask, what can be done about hoarding? Here’s a summary of some suggestions offered in a 2008 article on Oprah.com and offered by Dr. David Tolin:

1. Not being able to think of a use for an object doesn’t mean you need to keep it.
Ask yourself not whether you can use the object, but whether you really will use the object. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used an object in over a year—you probably can live without it.

2. More is not necessarily better.
Get rid of the extras.

3. Categorize items into piles.
Make a pile of things to keep, a pile of things to donate to charity, a pile of things to sell or give away and a pile of things to throw away.

4. Follow the “OHIO” rule: Only handle it once.
“If you pick something up, make a decision about it and then put it somewhere it belongs…if you find yourself handling things again and again, moving things from one pile to another, stop yourself. Refocus and move on,” says Tolin.

5. Don’t overthink.
“If you have to go through a long and complicated decision-making process for each and every item before you get rid of it, you’ll never get free of the clutter,” Dr. Tolin says.

6. Be brave.
“Beating compulsive hoarding requires you to face things that are very scary,” Dr. Tolin says. Those who gain the most are those who are willing to risk the most.

7. Understand what you’re afraid of, and recognize when your fears are irrational.
“Ask yourself: What’s the worst that can happen if I throw this out? Try making a prediction about what will happen if you discard an object. Then discard and see if that bad thing really happened.

8. Be patient.
You will not be able to overcome hoarding overnight.

9. Be strict with yourself.

10. Know when to ask for help.
Compulsive hoarding is a potentially serious mental health issue and some people might need professional help to cope with hoarding.

My mother was the opposite of a hoarder. She never kept anything, including all the journals I filled up as a child. That’s the flip side and I am quite upset about this! In the writing classes I teach I stress the importance of keeping old journals because you just never know when they will come in handy for a current project. This kind of hoarding is just fine, in my eyes, vz as a writer!