Where is your Future? Here in your Present, grab it!…

We’ve probably all heard a plethora of ideas or strategies for how to de-clutter our homes, offices, rooms, wardrobes!

‘If you haven’t used it in 6 months…”If you haven’t used it in a year…’ and they go on.

The purpose of such formulaic ways of  organising? (Ummm, querying my use of the word formulaic, I don’t mean it negatively)

The answer I would say, and the common factor – whatever strategy you decide to use – is that they provide a way to let go of the old, in order to make space for the new. – Something which can be easier for some of us than others.

‘Stuff’ is hardly ever just ‘stuff’. The things that fill our homes, offices, cars, wardrobes etc often have history attached to them, memories that we want to cherish, goals we are determined somehow to achieve, mementoes of success or markers  in this journey of life, happy thoughts of a slimmer you,  and sometimes even give us a sense of security.

But can they also hold us back? Keep us from moving forward? Be like excess baggage that we have to pay for? Very possibly yes.

My reason for currently trying to use the Chuck, Cherish, Charity method is that I am due to leave the country for 4 years in a matter of months, and with such a significant change coming, I have to think seriously about what I really need to hold unto, and what I need to let go.

I have been shocked to find paperwork from meetings I attended 10 plus years ago, have shed a few tears on the discovery of some things, and laughed at my musing over  whether I will want to wear certain clothes in 4 years time! It is not an easy process, as I think though I hanker for having a minimalistic life style, I think there is a secret hoarder in there, and I’ve recently  hit a bit of a wall with the whole process, but I have to snap out of it, cos time is running out!

So is it time you tried the 3 Cs for yourself? If it is, and you do, let me know how you get on! Alternatively, if you know of other strategies, I’d be interested in those too! (If you want more info on the 3 Cs work, click here)

She had been at her regular women’s group, and there had heard extracts from a book which tells the story of a New Zealand Christian couple who spent years doing missionary work* in China.

Before going to China ever entered their thoughts, they had felt that God had told them to bury the words ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t', and so they set about removing them from their vocabulary and mindset.

This choice became very significant, when sometime later they felt that God was asking them to go to China.

An understandable response would have been “we can’t” or “we won’t”, but as they had buried those words, their answer could only be yes. And so they went there, spent years there, had 6 children there, experienced many challenging things there – including interrogations – and finally returned to New Zealand thinking their time of missionary work was over. Only to find that God soon asked them to go back.

*Generally understood to mean acts of service influenced by and related a person’s faith, often in a country other than their country of origin. The decision to do such work is usually preceded by a sense of calling to that work from God.

I was struck by that concept of burying the words “can’t” and “won’t”. How liberating could that be for anyone with a desire, dream, or determined vision. How shaping and focusing could such a concept be for goal setting, ‘stepping out’, and following through.

A useful tool for a writer-in-waiting. A good backdrop for the photographer. A blank canvas for the artist…

I think I’m going to ponder this some more, and invite you to do the same.

So why make this mad trip?

Ans: A simple request for some singing sessions, followed by the question “do you have a showreel?”*, began a chain of events which started as a plan to do a simple recording at my brother’s and has become an ‘out of orbit’ plan to record 5 tracks of varying styles, with lead and backing vocals, drums, bass, keys, guitar and whatever else is inspired along the way, ready to take home early – first thing early – Friday morning!!!! – Whatever happened to pressing record on a tape recorder and if you had a mic you felt stush

Before heading for bed, we had a look at the studio, it’s looking good.  Bishop’s guitars are looking impressive on the walls, the desk looks ‘da business’ without being pretentious, and the vocal booth looks inviting. – I haven’t recorded vocals for a long time, so I hope I settle into my new home really quickly. ‘One take wonders all the way!’…

Tiredness began to set in, so instead of going to sleep, I started trying to figure out a 2nd verse for one of the songs. Needless to say, I fell asleep somewhere along the line, until awoken by birds chirping crazily outside my window at 5.34am.I couldn’t believe the sound of them. So loud and so many, definitely haven’t heard that in a long time and most definitely haven’t heard that in the city.  After my initial wonder, I really wanted them to pipe down! Umm, maybe they had a 2nd verse LOL.

Well it’s now 7.32am and I am well and truly up, so I have to get on with that 2nd verse and get ready for this day. – No hours to waste! I also have to hope and pray, this blocked nose feeling is going to go away!

I’ll update on progress tonight, and look out for some samples of the finished work come Friday…

*Here’s a link to some information about creating a showreel and why it is important. – It is geared towards composers for TV/Film, but the essential principles are the same. Showreel

What world? Well in some ways that is open to interpretation, but it could be:

The world of JJ - the people, occurrences, and events of my every day. Basically all that happens within what I call ‘my circle of circumference’.

The world of writing – this is a world I want to become established in, not necessarily to be recognised, though that would be great, but for the personal achievement of knowing I had set out to finally do it and had followed it through.

The world at large - who doesn’t want to have influence of some degree? The worldwide web and facilities such as this resource such a desire. Now to influence the world at large may not be the destination, but what a journey it could make!