GON Reader Letter #1
Give a Few Minutes
Years ago, I was shopping in a Goodwill. A lady across the
shopping rack from me struck up a conversation. We talked for 5 or 6 minutes. As she turned to leave, she said, "Thank you for talking to me."
I couldn’t get to my car fast enough to sit
there and cry that someone would thank me for chatting with them.
Always take the time to give someone a few minutes. You never know how much they may need to just connect with someone that
day.
-- Sally, Chagrin Falls, OH
GON Reader Letter
#2
Using a Back-Up Brain
Hi Maria,
Awhile ago, one of your GON readers wrote about a 1,500 square foot house to declutter. For this job, a back-up brain can make it all so much easier. Muscle isn’t always necessary, but a second brain with no attachment to
the stuff is wonderful.
When I last moved and had to declutter in a major way, my 20-something daughter’s self-appointed job was to keep me on task. When I was indecisive, she would say,
“tell me EXACTLY why you want to keep that” and “if you keep it, will you be able to find it when you need it?”
Another frequent question was “how much would a new one
cost?”
Occasionally she would have to say “are you listening to yourself?” or give me that look that says “really, Mom?” She was absolutely ruthless which was just what I
needed.
For my friend who needed to declutter and had limited mobility at the time, what worked for her was to invite me over and ask me to do the leg work and to keep her focused.
When she decided something needed to go, I took it immediately outside the house to the trash or the donation box which was in MY car for disposal on my way home. She enjoyed making a decision and then having the item either be placed in its new “home” or just disappear. Our reward after the specified
work time was a cup of tea or lunch.
Getting back to your GON reader, if I were this woman’s friend, I’d encourage her to start with her bedside table and use a timer for 15 minutes. It’s do-able, but one should look at the big picture only long enough to decide where to start!
I enjoy your newsletters tremendously and especially appreciate “we respect your time. This newsletter will take ___ minutes to read.”
Thank you!
-- Gail Miller
GON Reader Letter
#3
Useful Tip for Cleaning a Vehicle's Interior
Dear Maria,
I enjoy reading your newsletter and have come to think of you as a friend. Thanks for all your helpful information to help make our lives better.
A few days ago while cleaning out my SUV and truck, my little hand-vac that I use to vacuum them out, ran out of battery life before I was finished vacuuming.
My husband had told me that he uses a brush to clean out his work truck and that it works very well. I have a little brush and dustpan set that I got out and used in the truck and it worked wonderfully. It was even easier than using the vacuum cleaner.
I was able to brush off the seats and then the carpet and pulled out the floor mats and brushed them off outside of the truck. I also used it to brush out the back of my SUV.
Thought this might be a useful tip for others to use
while cleaning out their vehicles.
Thanks again,
-- Ronda
Kase
