Winning the Never-ending Battle with Stuff

On January 12, 2019, Delta Pi Delta members rang in the New Year with a meeting designed to help us get off to a good start-- by downsizing, decluttering, and thereby simplifying our lives. Our speaker, Kathy Rice, made the presentation, “Who Gets Hannah’s Clock? It’s Time to Declutter.” Kathy has a background as a hospital administrator, healthcare consultant and  best-selling author. She is a registered pharmacist and is presently pursuing certification as a professional organizer. 

The porte-cochère of Naples  Country Club

Valary, Kathy, Ann and Marjie at the entrance to the country club

Reception area adjacent to the dining room

Carol, Lisa & Jackie

Marjie, Brenda, Phyllis & Mary

Judy & Mary

Shirley, Susan & Esther

Becky, Darlene & Ronda

Rosemary & Scottie

Valary & Sue

Our speaker, Kathy Rice, & Ann

Hostess Julie & Veronica

Pat at the lectern

Carolyn, Mary (Amy’s sister & guest), & Amy

Colleen & Rosemary

January Birthday Girl Marjie

Teddy, Scottie, Darlene & Jane

Co-Presidents Pat & Margi

New member Katie, Sue & Ronda

Mary, Carol & Shirley

Sandi & Kathy

Kaley & Veronica, hashtag AXO 

Mary & new member, Katie, Theta from the U of Michigan

Speaker, Kathy Rice

Hannah's clock

The beloved clock in the title belonged to Kathy’s aunt; it doesn’t work, even after having been fixed twice, but Kathy refuses to get rid of it.

Storage unit clutter

"Things change in the blink of an eye," and aside from precious heirlooms, much of our stuff is just clutter.

Office clutter

Kathy’s advice is to minimize the amount of stuff, maximize space, and maintain this strategy.  Remember OHIO-- Only Handle It Once when you are in the decision-making process. Assign worth to Tools, Toys, Trash and Treasure and keep or get rid of the stuff according to their functionality and depth of emotional attachment.

Heirs to Hannah's clock

Kathy especially doesn’t want to burden others with disposing of her things after death.  She gave us a very useful checklist of information we should have on hand, like legal documents, bank accounts, insurance, will and passwords for online accounts.

 As an object with low function but high emotion, Hannah's clock will continue to be cherished by a young couple who have promised to love it as much as Kathy has.