Who is your personal hero? March 1 kicks off Women’s History month. Most women know, without being told, that women contributed to the success of men throughout history. That’s a given. But who got most of the credit? The National Women’s History Museum is currently an online group planning on eventual construction in Washington, D.C. https://www.womenshistory.org/ But that doesn’t mean it has any less information about the successes and contributions of women throughout history. Finding it online was a great treat and read. I mistakenly went looking for its physical location because the concept was introduced to me a year or two ago. I thought it was under-construction. But like everything else with women at the center, we’ll have to be patient for that…and maybe work to make it happen. There are websites and posts suggesting how to celebrate Women’s history month, from reading the works of women authors to campaigning for women candidates or fundraising for the National Museum. And maybe you have a special women’s cause to support or further. Regardless, women need to support women. That is likely a given...or should be. If you are not currently fired up to support a women’s cause, maybe you’d like a quieter pursuit to honor or appreciate the women who made a difference in your life. I’m a writer so my choice is to write about women, to women and for women. I’ve admired a lot of women over the years who have made a difference, not just for me, but for generations. And it would be silly to try and list them all. You have your own list, of course. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends and neighbors. But have you thanked any of them? I found that as one suggestion online. Send your personal hero a thank you note, a “thinking of you” card to let them know how and why you appreciate them. Maybe it’s someone older or maybe someone younger you just want to say thank you to or encourage in their life. My regular pursuit is collecting family and local history. I have a collection of “stories” about some of the women (and men) who have contributed to my life, who have made me who I am. It’s a lot of memories collected and recorded, because I believe they should not be forgotten. I haven’t forgotten and I want others to “know” them. Maybe you have a similar case. Someone in your family, neighborhood or town or someone famous you don’t want forgotten for their contributions to life, yours or others. Of course, you can tell us here or another public platform, who is your personal hero? Or maybe you want to post your memories or in a written format for circulation to those who may share your thoughts. If you don’t want anyone to forget, or a newer generation to know, Write it down! Write or record it in your favorite format to be sure their stories live on.

Time to Declutter

Imagine my surprise when a book that piqued my interest showed up on my Kindle today. I was catching up on some reading, reviewing a book excerpt on decluttering. Who doesn’t need to declutter somewhere? My piles of junk mail, tax mail, statements, receipts were calling my name and right beside them are countless “I might need this…someday” items. I’ll bet you have something like that…somewhere. Guess that book caught my interest earlier and I had pre-ordered it. What can I say …great minds! So now, I not only have the interest, but maybe the time? And I’ll know just how to do it…if I can get this book read. I’ll let you know how that works out. But it also brings to mind some of my “failings.” Keeping stuff for the sake of keeping stuff! I now know I grew up in the shadow of the depression. No, I’m not that old, but my parents were and they didn’t like throwing things away, IF you (or anyone) might be able to use it someday. They’re the ones who kept piles of extra lumber or building materials, nails, screws, pipes, old towels or sheets and shirts for rags, mismatched dishes, empty boxes, even old magazines and out-dated books. Do you have a box of pieces of wire you “might” use for repairs? Scraps of fabric you might need for a quilt or a craft? Or a bag of bags, you might use? I’ve often lamented we live in a throw-away society. Toss it, if you’re not using it. You’ll buy another, IF you need it again or a newer version will work better. Or if, like a lot of us, you can’t find it when you do need it! In the meantime, we are living in stacks of boxes and bags of clutter with “things” that we’ve accumulated as we’ve needed them, wanted them or were gifted them…and you shouldn’t throw away a gift! Even if it doesn’t work or fit. It brings to mind a recent Facebook post, where an older family member was trying to downsize and having difficulty getting rid of “things”. The daughter couldn’t understand why it took so long, until she started listening…every “thing” has a story or a memory. It’s not the things we’re keeping, but the memories. And it fits my mantra…”write it down!” If you have gifts that no longer have a purpose, write down why you kept it in the first place. If you keep old dishes or special pots or pans, who used them and why? If you have a dull saw or burnt-out tool that might be fixed, why is it there and what was it used for? If you have pictures of forgotten family or friends, does anyone know or remember them? Tell their story, file a few pictures with them and can the duplicates or out of focus ones! Maybe it’s as simple as making a list of things or stories from or for the family. Maybe you can create a notebook, a scrapbook, a quilt, a renewed piece of furniture…you could even write a book. But you don’t need bags and boxes of stuff for another generation to plow through and wonder why is this here? This book starts out right. Don’t dive in with plans to finish today or this weekend or even this month. Understand it took time to accumulate “stuff” and the memories with them. It’s bound to take time to declutter.