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About Me

My name is Renata, and I am a mom, wife, scientist, educator. I'm also a: seasoned declutterer, lover of chocolate, and pun aficionado. Using the magic of the present moment to live with mindfulness and a keener, renewed awareness. Looking forward to the innumerable benefits of creating a simpler, lighter life by keeping the essential and letting go of the 'extra'. 


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My word of the year: Lighter

I was recently asked the thought question: What would be "my" word this year? Quickly, almost instinctively, I said, " Lighter ". While life can certainly be great, sometimes it's really hard. Uncomfortable. Sticky. Heart-rending. Terrifying. In a word, life, and its accompanying emotions, can be heavy .  So, if blessed with the opportunity, this year   I want to work towards lightness . I can't control what happens to me or those I love, but I can control how I respond to events around me. In the interim, I can invite more lightness into my life. Rolling with the punches but knowing that I don't have to white-knuckle my way through; I can loosen my grip even when things feel heavy.   Taking a breath, letting go of fear, feeling gratitude for the love that surrounds me, I have the power to feel lighter in each moment and to be filled with light.  Whether it's decluttering possessions or letting go of toxic emotions, that's exactly what I'm s...
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Why I need a decluttering station

Right now I'm focusing on a new challenge : to get the garage cleaned out and sell some stuff on marketplace. Last year my dad came to visit and brought a beautiful 'new' table, one that my family had used as a dinner table when I was a teenager. Made by Mennonite craftsmen, the ingenuity of the pull-apart mechanism and the hidden leaves is exquisite. My dad had painstakingly refinished the four chairs, so the set is also a reminder of his handiwork. Although we loved our square breakfast nook table, now we can actually welcome more dinner and anytime guests.  So what to do with the old table? I thought about selling it, decided to keep it for one main reason: The sticky issue of cleaning out the garage. As I mentioned in the new challenge post , I would like to clear out the half of the garage occupied by boxes, totes, and other items so that both vehicles can fit inside (and we can get rid of stuff we have now dragged through two moves!).  The dilemma was being able to ta...
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The Energy of Clutter

Recently I participated in an online workshop that focused on how clutter effects our energy. The hour-long session included a guided meditation, breath work, and setting affirmations. Although it might initially sound 'woo woo', the approach was actually quite practical.  Our workshop guide was Jane Hogan, a design engineer by trade who has been exploring the mind-body connection since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2016. Her aim is to implement a scientific approach to unite the body, breath, and mind  to help people dealing with chronic pain and autoimmune disorders. To learn more, check out thewellnessengineer.com . Concomitant with the meditation session, Jane offered this profundity: " Clutter is the accumulation of energy that is no longer flowing. " It's so true. For all of us who've been there, we know how stifling clutter can be, how it can make things feel stagnant. The inertia that unaddressed clutter creates is heavy , which is prob...
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