QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
– Are you flying a flag outside your home or apartment today?
– Call any friends or families who are Veterans. It doesn’t matter if they served in wartime or not, just that they served in the military. It doesn’t have to be a long call, just a nice gesture that you are thinking of them and remember their service.
– If you have any AnySoldier/AnySailor penpals, today is a good day to make time to write them a nice card. They obviously will get it in the mail long after Veteran’s Day, but if you mention in your letter you made a special point of writing to them on Veteran’s Day, they’ll appreciate your kindness even more.
– Check your coat closet, which is going to get a lot of use in the next couple months. Does it need to be tidied up? Any coats that have migrated elsewhere in the house and need to be rehung in their proper place in the coat closet?
TODAY’S PROJECT: Bookshelf Sorting
Now that it’s darker and colder at night, I’m finding myself making more time to just sit quietly and enjoy reading a book.
My bookshelves are a terrible mess all the time, though I’m doing better at not buying more books right now to contribute to the problem. If you have overflowing bookshelves, like I do, take some time today to organize. While I’m at it, I will dust the bookshelves too. In one case where I’m removing all the books from a bedroom bookshelf, I will take the time to move the bookcase so I can vacuum under it.
Do all the bookcases in your house if you have time, or just one bookcase, or at least two shelves. Every little bit of organizing you can sneak in helps.
See if you can bear to part with any of your books, especially paperbacks you’ve already read but don’t need to keep forever. Be firm with yourself and honest about your book reading habits. Ask yourself on each book, Have I read this yet? How long have I owned this unread book? Am I really going to read this book in the next six months? Is this a beautiful coffee table book, or a reference book I need to keep around? Is this a sentimental book? Did someone special give this to me? Is the flyleaf inscribed?
Donate books to the library, charities which send books to the troops, mail them (if they are in good or very very good condition, only) to AnySoldier.com penpals, or sell them on eBay’s Half.com or to a used bookstore. Maybe some of your friends might be interested in a book or two of yours – but don’t make your book clutter problem someone else’s problem too.
Organize the books that are left, dust the bookshelves and replace. If your bookshelves still look like they are sagging when you are done, and you can’t bear to part with any more books, put “New bookcase” on your shopping list and make a plan to head for Home Depot, IKEA, Office Depot or somewhere else to get bookshelves.
Make some time tonight, even if you can only find 10 minutes, to enjoy a book you’ve been looking forward to reading.