Connection | Winter, 2021

Dearest Clients and Friends,

Love has been on my mind as we settle into this new year.  

I experience love as a deep, gentle energy that connects us to possibilities, and when I enter a space that has been organized with love, I feel it.  My shoulders relax, I take a big breath and I move forward with peace of mind and heart. 

There is something so powerful about infusing your space with intention and love.  My clients have shown me, again and again, that when you embrace your space as a true expression of who you are, your space embraces and supports you on your journey.

As we enter this new year, I invite you to explore how you could organize your home with love and gently create space for what the future holds.

Sarah Thompson
Clean Slate Home Organizing

Kindness from Clients

"Sarah has helped transform my home from a place where I merely “keep things” to a true sanctuary that is filled with intention that is reflective of who I am. My mind, heart and spirit feel more spacious and alive.

I have worked with professional organizers before, but Sarah is far more than that. Her talent for and skill in making your space come alive with your energy is unmatched.”

Lori L. | South Burlington, VT

3 Steps for Organizing Sentimental Objects

Learn how to gently cut ties with the belongings that might be holding you back

and create the space for what the future holds. 

It is a profound gift to yourself to organize your space with love. Yet, when it comes to sentimental objects, the layers of emotion and memory that we associate with each object can obscure what we wish to bring into our lives now.

Some sentimental objects are truly precious. They remind us of a person, or a time in our life. They bring us joy and comfort. And then there are those items that may have been precious once, but now have strings attached. So why is it that even though these items hold guilt, sadness and stagnant energy, we still can not bare to part with them?

Here’s my three step process for approaching sentimental objects with love.

1. Connect

Let your eyes fall on one sentimental object in your living space. Pick it up, if possible. Bring to mind the people, places, and experiences that you associate with this object. Let yourself get lost in the memory and the feelings. Really be present to all the ways you feel connected to this object.

2. Reflect
How have you grown since this object came into your life? When you think about what you would like to make room for in your life, does this object - and the memories and feelings connected to it - support your path forward or inhibit your growth? Does it invite what you want to feel when you enter your space?

3. Choose
I invite you to keep items that support you as you move toward your future. If the object you hold does support your future, find a place of honor for it in your home. If it doesn't, acknowledge with gratitude whatever positive attachment you once had toward the item, and then move it out of your house. 

Don't rush to purge items that you have strong feelings about. If you are not sure about an object or if an item is tugging at your heart even though your head says it time to let it go, put the item in a place where you can see it everyday. Let the memories it holds nourish you. Keep it out for a while and then gently revisit it to see if it still supports who you are becoming. Sometimes when I do this exercise, I discover that after a few days I am ready to pass on something that I once cherished. Other times I find am not ready to let go, and that's OK!

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As you spend time with objects that hold sentimental value, know that you are giving yourself such a gift. You are bringing love and intentionality into your home and your life. You are honoring what supports you and releasing that which you no longer need.  You are organizing with love.

Cultivating Connection 

A five part class for parents of young children

Parenting young children is hard. Often the image we have of the family life we intended to create is nothing like the reality of our day to day lives. The calm, connected relationship we imagined with our child seems illusive or, at times, even impossible.  We are rushed and stressed because there’s always more that needs to be done.

There are so many similarities between organizing from the heart and parenting from the heart - both require us to first connect to what we love, then pare away what's no longer needed and finally build systems and solutions to support what would bring us joy and spaciousness.

I am launching a new program in February for parents of young children who want a clear roadmap for creating a calm, happy and connected family life. 

The series will offer specific tools for connecting more deeply with your children and strategies for creating a home and family life that draws on balance, rhythm, and supportive structure.

If you know of parents who long for family harmony and are looking for practical solutions that are grounded in love and tailored to each family, please let them know about this workshop.

Rhythm and Routine for Family Calm
February 18, 25 & March 4, 11

7:00 - 8:00pm EST

$249

Includes an hour of one-on-one support - scheduled at your convenience - and access to a private Facebook group.

      Moving season is right around the corner!

How to prepare for what's ahead.

As you begin thinking about your move, sometimes it's helpful to have the support, connection and encouragement of a moving partner. I can help you assess your belongings, understand your moving style and identify what would bring you the most peace and spaciousness as you prepare for this big transition. I can also work with you to begin sorting through your items now so that when it comes time to move, you know exactly what you’d love to have in your new space.

Together we will find ways to organize your space and time in the upcoming months so that you experience a move that's as stress-free as possible.

Nurturing Community

I send inspiring updates seasonally.  If you'd like to support my work, please forward this newsletter to a friend or visit my website. To learn more about my home organizing services, moving services or family coaching sessions, find Clean Slate on Facebook and Instagram @cleanslatevermont or email me at sarah@cleanslatevermont.com.

CLEAN SLATE: Bringing ease to your home, your move, and your family life.