Page 10 - Boca Club News - February '24

Page 10, Boca Club News

From The Professionals’ Desks

Healthy Answers–A Guide to Healthy Living:

“To Keep Or Not To Keep!”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C. find a new hobby that’s not hard to do and make a few Stay with it–Now that you’re on the right track, keep
Dale is a motivational speaker bucks at the same time. My niece became a vintage expert it going. When stuff comes in use the checklist above to
who has spent many years as a while researching the price point for family relics. Now determine its fate. Keep or not to keep that is the question.
Certified Life Coach and has written she’s able to distinguish old from new in antique and thrift Don’t let clutter get the best of you this year. Take
numerous articles and e-books shops and price it right. hold of it, look around your room, house and yard and
relating to self-improvement and Be charitable–The list of charities is a mile long. Pick ask yourself: Does everything I see make me happy? Does
ways to build a high-performance yours, call for pick up, or self-deliver. Whatever you don’t it serve me to keep it? How would it be if I never saw it
team. She is the author of the book, want, remember someone else does. Your junk may be again? Would it change my life? Your answers will tell
“Small Steps...Big Changes: The someone else’s treasure. Makes you feel good too. you what action to take. Good luck!
Personal Stories of a Life Coach,” from which this month’s
column is adapted. Her education and years of experience
in physical fitness and training of elite athletes has
enabled her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-
related areas. The following introduces a new approach to
Ms. Brown’s series of columns devoted to many topics that
deal with the mind/body connection and the importance
of living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can
be reached at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com.
How do you feel about getting rid of “stuff”? As
comedian George Carlin put it, “You spend the first half
of your life collecting “stuff,” and the last half trying
to get rid of it.” Some people have no problem tossing,
donating or giving away things that no longer serve them.
We started purging after my husband retired. We set a goal
to gradually put various items on eBay, clearing closets
of things we would never need or use again.
The amount of “stuff” two people can accumulate
over the years is absurd! I’m not sure what sparked my
husband’s desire for simplicity, but he ordered every
shipping supply item ever manufactured. This included
bubble wrap, packing tape and labels. It looked like a UPS
substation had taken up residence in our home. Little by
little I noticed packaged “stuff” disappearing from our
front door labeled “for pick up.”
At first it was books, CDs and knick-knacks, then it
turned into big stuff like artwork and furnishings. Trouble
is, who wants the big “stuff’?” Ask the kids; maybe they’d
like some of this “stuff.” No thanks, they’re millennials,
what were we thinking? They have their own “stuff” and
it doesn’t resemble any of ours.
Minimalists are masters at keeping only the necessities of
life. As much as I admire their ability to toss away the past,
it’s not that easy for me. I have a sentimental side that prevents
me from parting with things that bring back memories. For
example, I keep a silly ceramic clown with a long body, holding
shot glasses along his sides. Although it has no monetary value,
it brings back happy thoughts of home.
I know I’m not alone. Millions of people have bought
into Marie Kondo’s bestseller, “The Life Changing Magic
of Tidying Up,” which says that you should eliminate
everything that doesn’t bring joy into your life. The theory Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center
behind why we find it hard to throw things away stems
from a variety of reasons depending on what we value.
For instance, if success is important to you certificates
of accomplishments, plaques or other tangible items might Ari
be hard to part with. If you value relationships above all
else you may find difficulty giving something away that Axelrod
was given to you by grandma, friend or loved one. You
might feel guilty or disloyal if you discard a little bit of
the love that person gave to you. Those little tchotchkes
handed down from generation to generation, or Dad’s WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
watch that doesn’t keep time anymore, are not only part 7:30 PM
of your past, they’re your identity. Life is a Cabaret: Ari’s Favorite Standards
The bottom line is, regardless of your decision giving An evening of standards. Well, not just standards —
up possessions is a tough thing to do. When you get the songs that are standards, songs that should be
“urge to purge,” try following my simple plan for success. standards, and songs that will one day become
Start with small steps– Do a little each day…10 or 20 standards. Compositions you know and love,
minutes max, one closet at a time. served with a unique twist.
Why are you keeping it?– Who cares? Does it make FEB 4-24
you happy or are you waiting for some day to use or wear THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
it again? Happy = keep. Maybe = toss. 2:00 PM
What’s in this box?–If you look and find you haven’t
seen this stuff in five years, much less used it, toss it out. A Place for Us: A Celebration
of Jewish Broadway
You’ll never see or need it again. Trust me. Updated with new songs and arrangements!
Memory lane–This is my nemesis. Sentimental items Ari’s internationally acclaimed, award-winning
get me every time. My mother’s scarf and sweater still show honors the songs and stories of Jewish composers
hang in my closet, never worn. Learn to let go of the and their contributions to American Musical Theater.
material things, memories will always be there. MAR 13-24 APR 2-3
Dump the binders and old magazines–Anything you
have in hard copy can be found online. So why keep dated For tickets, call 561-464-3086 or visit levisjcc.org/sandler
material easily accessible in an updated format? If you
feel there is valuable information you can’t replace, clip Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center • Toby & Leon Cooperman Campus
21050 95th Avenue S., Boca Raton, FL 33428
and file. Otherwise, toss. You’ll never miss it.
Sell Your “stuff”–Ebay, Craig’s List, Etsy are only a
few of the many ways to list your items. You may even