General

Tax time.

Yep. I said it. It’s looming and now – not later – is the time to get your tax papers in order.

Have I lost you yet?

If I haven’t, let’s chat about a couple of things that will make tax time easier:

1 – Every home must have a proper filing system. Even if it’s only a filing box, you need to have a space where you can keep and reference files when necessary. Because, as some of you may have learned the hard way, you don’t need it until you really need it. And that’s not the time to be searching everywhere for paperwork that you need.

If the very thought of dealing with the piles of paperwork in your home stresses you out, reach out to me for support! Here’s my number: 403-836-6523. Text me “SOS! I have a paper situation!” and we can figure it out together. No judgement. Just support.

2 – If you already have a filing system and have your tax papers, but aren’t 100% sure if you’ve got everything you need, check out this resource. I follow a great financial newsletter from Kalee Boisvert (she featured me on her podcast a few months ago) and I’ve been using this as an opportunity to expand my financial literacy. Here’s a link to a recent article about tax time:

Paying Your Taxes In The Age of Covid-19: Here’s What Every Canadian Needs To Know: https://financialpost.com/personal-finance/taxes/paying-your-taxes-in-the-age-of-covid-19-heres-what-every-canadian-needs-to-know

3 – If you’re ready to do your taxes, but setting aside time to do them is a struggle, you need to check out this week’s Support Local segment below. Dawn has created an amazing business that gives you the accountability you’ve been needing to get focused and get stuff done.

Just remember, you’ve got this! And, if you don’t, let’s connect.

Have an amazing weekend!

— Jen

PS: Thank you to everyone who reached out to me after we sent out the newsletter about my Mom. I was incredibly touched and it gave me beautiful evidence that I do indeed have a tribe of people who are here to support and love me. Which reminds me, thanks to an eagle eyed client, I also have a correction to the Support Local segment from that newsletter. There was a spelling error in Chelsey’s email. If you’d like to reach out to Chelsey to learn more about her services (she is a death doula, but also loves working and visiting with seniors), the correct contact email for her is: Chelseymah@gmail.com 

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SUPPORT LOCAL!

Every week in our newsletters, I’ve committed to showcasing a local business that I know and love. Check them out and show your support! 

Client: Dawn O’Connor
Business: Focus Bubbles
What they do: So, this idea is genius! If you are an entrepreneur and you work alone a lot, this is an amazing business strategy. Focus Bubbles are facilitated work sessions that harness the power of connection and commitment to help you get things done. Sound like something that can support you? Learn more on her website and contact Dawn for your J’Organizing special 2 week free trial!
Website: www.focusbubbles.com
Email: dawn@dawnoconnor.ca
Located in: Calgary, but you can join the bubble from anywhere!

Sometimes I know what I want to write for these newsletters and sometimes, like right now, I sit in front of my computer and wait for inspiration to strike. As my coaches would say “What’s bubbling up?”

Today, what’s bubbling up is my Mom. She died on February 7th, 2012. Two days after my husband’s birthday. And 10 months before our first son was born. 

The pain definitely gets less raw as time passes. But the hurt of never seeing her with my sons never goes away. I can feel the tears coming right now as I type that. It’s the biggest regret of my life, that I never got to see her with my boys and I know I’ll feel ripped off about that until the day I die. 

But, through a lot of work and a lot of healing, I know her death has also given me many gifts. 

I know, without a doubt, I can walk through pain and uncertainty and find happiness on the other side. 

It’s given me a depth of compassion for my clients who are struggling through the loss of a loved one. I understand them on a level that only someone who has experienced this can know and be there for them, in their pain and be comfortable with it in a way many people aren’t. 

And it’s made room for some amazing and beautiful relationships. My Mom filled so many spaces in my heart, it’s taken a tribe of people to fill in those places, and I’m so grateful for every single one of them. 

So today, this letter is for her and the person I’ve become because of it. And to anyone hurting right now, you can always reach out. The healing happens when we talk about it and, most importantly, when we know we’re not alone. 

— Jen

Name: Chelsey Mah
Business: Full Circle Doula
What they do: Chelsea is Death Doula, dedicated to helping people through the death process. She works with people to come to terms with the lives they have lived, to fully close anything that has gone unaddressed or hidden in their lives, any regrets they may have, so they can meet death as peacefully as possible. She also helps those who are grieving the loss of a loved one by creating a space where they can safely share their pain and devastation with others who can relate.
Website: Her website is not yet up and running but you can reach her at the email below…
Email: chelsesymah@gmail.com
Located in: Calgary

 

I’m not super big into New Year’s resolutions, but at the beginning of this year I did make a promise to myself that I would cut way back on my social media.

The first thing I did was set a limit on my phone (no more than 30 minutes a day). But then I ran into a different problem. What was I supposed to do with all that extra time? I’m not a fan of being idle, especially when confined to the house, so I decided that books were a great alternative.

I have the Libby App for the Public Library so I took a look to see what audio book I could sink my teeth into. I came across the non-fiction book “The Year of Less” by Canadian blogger Cait Flanders and it seemed right up my decluttering alley so I dove in.

photo @caitflanders

It’s read by the author whose voice, honestly, is a bit dry, but the ideas were interesting so I followed it through to the end. Here’s the basic premise: Cait decides to put herself on a one-year shopping ban. It starts with decluttering 50% of the items in her home (eventually she will purge over 70% of her belongings). She then does a full inventory so she has a clear idea of what she already owns. From there, she creates a list of rules and guidelines for the next year of what she’s allowed to buy (like food and toiletries) and what she isn’t (like take-out coffee, books and clothes).

One of my favourite lines came when she was getting rid of a box of old CD’s and movies. Most of the box was an easy decision, but there was 1 old CD – the first she’d ever bought – and 2 old movies that were favourites growing up. These were tougher to get rid of. They brought back such special memories. But then she told herself this: “If these memories were truly special, they’d likely cross paths again.” That gave her the push she needed to add them to the rest of the donations and let them go.

I love this idea. If memories are truly special, you will indeed cross paths with them again. You’ll hear a song on the radio, you’ll see an old movie on Netflix, or maybe you’ll just be reminiscing with friends about the things that you loved growing up and you can let that memory wash over you again. Memories are rarely in our things. They’re in our hearts and minds and when they show up unexpectedly, that’s when we can hold them close and be grateful they exist.

I found this book inspirational, so that’s why I’m sharing it with all of you. It gave me some motivation to declutter some things from our place. And I’m seriously considering doing a 3 month shopping ban. I love a good challenge and a fun experiment. Would you ever consider it?

I hope you have an amazing week. And remember to keep scrolling! I’m so excited to share another business from an amazing client!

— Jen

Clients: Rena Fairey
Business: Just 4 Eyes
What they do: First of all, Rena has an amazing and infectious energy that you will want to surround yourself with on a regular basis. Secondly, she’s a wizard at picking out just the right frames to suit your face and personality. And, lastly, she spends the time to make sure you know how you protect your vision. This is especially important now with so many of us spending extra time in front of our screens. If you need new glasses, you need to see Rena.
Website: www.just4eyes.ca
Email: rena@just4eyes.ca
Located in: Calgary on Bonaventure Drive.

If we want to see our clients eyes light up, all we have to do is tell them we’re going to get rid of all of their unwanted items and they are in heaven! It’s definitely a pinch point for most of them because, even if they want to get rid of stuff, where should it go?

Here are a few of our favourite locations to take items in and around Calgary. (Full disclosure: I’m sure there are dozens, likely hundreds, of amazing places to donate items in Calgary but these are the ones we use most frequently with our clients).

Our favourite place to donate furniture

ReStore. You do have to upload pictures of what you’re getting rid of, but they will come and pick it all up for free! For a full list of what they do (and don’t) take, click here.

Our favourite place to donate women’s business attire

Making Changes (formally known as the Walk in Closet). They not only take business clothing for women needing a hand up, it is also a great place to take your gently used bras. They also accept unused make-up, cosmetics and personal care products. And, as an added bonus, they also take teenage girl clothing as well, so it’s perfect for some of your more kids (or even possibly your) more casual clothing as well. For the full donation list, click here.

Our favourite place to take unwanted, non-expired food

The Calgary Food Bank, of course! But, listen up because here’s the easy part.

Most grocery stores have a food bank drop bin right by the entrance or the tills. It doesn’t mean doing an extra trip. It just means throwing the stuff into one your re-useable grocery bags and making the switch on your next shopping trip!

Where to take unwanted and/or broken electronics

Be careful on this one. Thanks to some adjustments in funding, a lot of items formally acceptable for e-waste removal were taken off the list. Here is a photo I took on one of my last drop offs to the E-Waste drop off in the curry barracks a couple of years back.

If it is computer related, you can look at nearest Best Buy location as many of their locations take old printers, laptops, ear buds, etc. And, of course, there is always the Calgary landfill, but it will cost you.

For more information on this, visit this page on the City of Calgary website.

What to do with paint, chemicals, aerosol containers & lightbulbs?

If you want to avoid the costs of the Calgary Landfill, there are a few firehall locations around the city that do take these items. For a full list of these locations, click on this link.

Where we take everything else

There are a number of great places around the city to donate the rest of your gently used items. (And yes, please only give items that have been gently used. The last thing these locations need is to sort through stained, ripped and broken junk.)

The Calgary Drop In Centre. Click here for a list of their most urgent needs.

WINS (Women In Need Society). Click here for a list of what they accept.

Goodwill. There are donation centres all over the city but I frequently visit the large donation centre just down from Chinook Mall, because of it’s central location.  For their full list of what you can donate, click here.

These are just a few of the places we frequently visit. If you have any other great suggestions for donating, please share them below!

When I first started this business, I did it because I loved organizing. And I assumed that that reason alone was why I have kept it up all these years (9 years, to be exact!). But I was recently listening to an episode of The Life Coach School podcast and they were asking business owners to find their “Hard Why”. In other words, what is the reason you work so hard? Why does doing this job & running this business matter so much to you?

My first thought was, of course, “I do this because I love organizing.” But I dug deeper.

Getting to my “Hard Why”

Seven and a half years ago, my Mom died. She was diagnosed with liver cancer on November 7th. She died exactly 3 months later on February 7th. She was 61 years old. Until she was diagnosed, she was the epitome of health.

She was thin and strong. She walked to work every day. And, when she didn’t walk to work, she worked out at the gym. She ate right. She never smoked. She hardly drank. There was nothing in her history that would have led us to see this coming. But just like that, she went from healthy to sick. And then she was gone.

I struggled a lot. We had an amazing relationship and the same year she died was the year our first son was born.

To say I missed her terribly was an understatement. I needed her so desperately and struggled with postpartum depression. I was so used to knowing exactly how to do my job but this one had me totally out of my element. I felt like my Mom would have had all the answers so raising a child without her felt like an exercise in failure.

How could I do this without my Mom to show me ropes?

Going back to work was a gift. It felt so good to be back doing something I actually knew how to do! But I now realize the reason it felt so good to go back to work wasn’t just because I loved doing it. The death of my Mom had given me my “Hard Why”.

My Mission

I don’t want another person wasting a single second on their home when they could be spending that time with their family. Or pursuing their dreams. Or doing any number of things that bring them joy.

Life is just too damn short.

Our future is not a given. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not even promised this next hour or minute. All we have is right now.

That is why I do this work.

I want to take this task off of as many plates as possible so it no longer takes up 10 line items on their to-do list. If it didn’t, imagine all of wonderful things that could take it’s place?

“Organize the Pantry” could become “Work on my business branding strategy.”

“Clean my closet” could become “Spend the day in the mountains.”

“Organize garage” could become “Read a chapter in my book. Go to park with the kids. Make a healthy meal. Go to yoga class.” (and yes, you could literally do all of those things and more in the time it would take to organize a garage properly).

The point is, how do you want to spend the hours of your life?? Do you want to spend them doing things you don’t love, yelling at your family to put things away, spending your weekends “cleaning up”, only to find yourself in the exact same position the next month or next week?

Life changing magic

When Marie Kondo called her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, she wasn’t kidding. Having an organized home is actually life changing. My clients are proof of that. People who live that way are proof of that. (Full disclosure: I don’t use the konmari method of organizing, but I do love how much attention she has brought to organizing through the popularity of her book and show.)

So that is my “Hard Why”. That is why I show up for clients week after week. Sometimes on weekends. And, on the odd occasion, in -30 degree weather during a blizzard. Because this job and the difference it makes in peoples lives matters BIG TIME to me.

If you are ready for help, if you are ready to get your life back, if you are ready to experience some ‘life changing magic’, please reach out. As the wise Jack Dawson from the box office giant ‘Titanic’ once said “Life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it.”