In This Edition:
1. Decompression is Vital For Everyone
2. Breathing Space Ideas
3. Dealing with Other People's Clutter
Welcome to this Century's version of the Breathing Space Report. The late
1990's editions have given way to this new format and these all new
insights.
Decompression is Vital For Everyone
When U.S. troops began returning from World War II, they were
assembled in large numbers, consigned to ships, and over several months
slowly sailed home. During the time on board, they got to reflect with one
another, and "decompress" -- a term I use freely in my book Breathing
Space -- to mentally and emotionally prepare themselves for reintegration
into civilian society. When they returned, many were greeted by parades and
celebrations. The was national recognition, there was personal as well as
public reflection, these was closure.
Society at large prepared for their return. Not everyone had a
smooth transition, but the probability of reintegrating into a peacetime
existence was heightened because of the nature and duration of the
transition time, the recognition, and the closure.
Conversely, U.S. troops departing from the Vietnam War came home
one at
a time, injured or in a hurry. They came via jet planes that transported
them in less than 24 hours from a hellish environment back to the world they
had left, plus a couple of years. There was little or no transition time,
no camaraderie with people who had shared a like experience, no time to
mentally and emotionally prepare for re-entry
into the civilian world.
The WWII vets came home, got married, had children, bought houses,
became the men in the gray flannel suits, the Vietnam vets couldn't have
relationships often, even with themselves, high rate of drug abuse,
suicides, and so on.
Most were not greeted as heroes or given celebrations. Society at
large had no preparations for their return. Consequently, Vietnam era
veterans had the most difficult time reintegrating into society of any class
of American veterans. In your life it is vital to give yourself time to
decompress, in small ways, everyday...
Breathing Space Ideas
Start July off right by cleaning out your garage of years of
clutter. Finish the job by having a yard sale or donating clothes and toys
to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, church, or other such organization.
Now's the time to enjoy the weather, so steal away to the beach,
lake, or neighborhood pool. Other outside activities in which to engage
might include boating, waterskiing, or fishing.
Celebrate your independence from clutter at your desk, home, car,
and all the spaces of your life. Then go have yourself a happy Fourth of
July.
Beat the July 4th traffic--stay at home. You'll have more quality
time with friends and family, and you'll avoid traffic jams and weekend
crowds.
Get in shape. Depending on where you live, summer is far from over.
There is no greater incentive to start a new exercise program or restart an
old one than the prospect of looking good in your old bathing suit.
Next time you're at the grocery store, pick up a bouquet of fresh
flowers and display them somewhere highly visible.
Go through your sock drawer, and put all strays in a rag bag.
Instead of sending your kids outside to the sprinkler, take them
strawberry, raspberry or blueberry picking one afternoon. Make a pie
together with your recent harvest.
Walk around your yard barefoot like you did when you were a kid.
Feel the grass between your toes. Stick your feet in dirt or in a puddle.
Visit a historical monument and let yourself get immersed in the
challenges that people of that era faced.
Dealing with Other People's Clutter
While visiting someone else's office you notice reports and folders
piled high and a desktop strewn with papers -- things are in disarray. You
immediately know that you have little chance of being treated efficiently by
this person. You don't have the resources to straighten him out.
Sometimes, of course, you have no choice but to deal with this person. He
or she may be your boss, or your spouse!
Aaron is a staff writer for a local magazine. His job involves
reporting to an editor who is hopelessly deluged with clutter. Aaron knows
that the editor's job involves handling an endless stream of paperwork.
This editor's office and desk, however, has many more stacks and piles than
Aaron has ever seen in one room. Aaron's solution is ensuring that his
submitted work will be easily found by buying a box of fire-engine-red
report folders and always turning in his clearly labeled assignments in
these folders.
When you have the option, avoid dealing with clutter bugs -- a
decision you'll have to face with increasing frequency as this era of too
much information overcomes more people!
