Issue 010: Summer Solstice Kicks off the Shake, Shed and Shred Event

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”
– Charles Bowden

We had a glorious day for the summer solstice this weekend in Pittsburgh. For many, including me, consider the solstice as summer’s kickoff. It also marks my annual Shake, Shed, and Shred event, which had me wondering how others celebrate as I walked out of the office supply store. Do you have a yearly tradition or a way to celebrate summer solstice? Is it a personal tradition or professional one?

The solstice drives Shake, Shed, and Shred. I use themes to turn something bland like decluttering tangibles and intangibles into something fun. That’s how the Shake, Shed, and Shred event has evolved.
The solstice makes me think of ‘lighting the load’ for the next two months. Although there are many words you could connect with summer, ‘lighter’ is the most prevalent for me. Our meals are lighter, our clothing textures are breezier, and we have a bounce in our steps…unless we have something weighing us down…like that 11 pounds of paper taking up space in my office.

To get ‘lighter,’ we need to eliminate what doesn’t serve us. We know it. Do we always do it?

1. Shake. We’re shaking off winter chills and spring chaos. (Chaos because sometimes spring forgets its spring.) We can shake off the limitations that chills and chaos seasons bring because summer offers more opportunities both personally and professionally.

2. Shed. Nature sheds the grays and browns of the landscape making way for the burst of color with flowers and trees. We can shed the relationships that overwhelm us with relationships that create more energy. In making summer business and personal plans, I contemplate who will be involved. It’s a simple way to observe what relationships fit.

3. Shred. We can shred all that paper that seems to multiply like kids’ stuffed animals. As I walked into the office supply store, I felt the heaviness of the big bag of paper with every step. When I walked out of the store, there was a bounce in my step. Test it. You’ll feel the difference.

In my book, Phil Cohen of Cohen Woodworking shared that his property was once filled with leftover lumber piles, old tractors, and debris from past projects. After he did a “sell, donate, or toss” purge, Phil found work started coming in. He opened space for business.

Clutter, whether it’s tangible like Phil’s, or intangible like relationships, zaps your energy, causes stagnation, and reduces performance or productivity. Like acupuncture that moves blockages so that energy flows “Shake, Shed, and Shred” has the same intention.

1. What could you shake to initiate a brighter outlook?

2. What can you shed to increase performance?

3. What can you shred to put a bounce in your step?

Until next time, have a Bounce-Up™ day!
 
Mj