First Unpacking Workshop!

I’m excited to offer my first workshop on “Unpacking Your Life” – 10 to 11:30 AM Saturday, Jan. 13 – as part of Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning program. The class will be in the lower level of the UA Municipal Services Center.

Join me to mine your “stuff” for treasures that are significant in your life stories and bring them as prompts to create stories to share with each other and who knows what else.  Write them out? Record them? See how they figure into your goals and values now?

A place in the class could be the perfect gift for downsizers and their family members, who want to turn a dreaded process into an enriching one.  The easiest way to register is to call UA Lifelong Learning at 614-583-5300. Course number is 441286A. If you live in Columbus, I hope to see you there!!

Newsletter awakening

I awoke the other morning at 1 with a disturbing revelation.  I’d been thrilled that my first newsletter about downsizing was finally out, after no small round of technical glitches.  “WooHoo!” I’d planned to report to friends in an email.  And suddenly, it occurred to me that the header for the newsletter, “Unpacking With Pat Snyder,” also needed some downsizing.

“The fact that this newsletter is not about me but about the importance of YOUR downsizing stories – had me up and in the office emailing the person who designed it and asking for a change.  From now on, the header will simply say “Unpacking Your Stories.”

Fortunately, the designer is in Albania, where the time is six hours later than here, and she is very patient.  As I hope you will be.  If you haven’t had a chance to subscribe, there’s still time. There’s a subscription link here on the web page. And you will get your first newsletter with the revised header.  Whew!

Next Balancing Act: Unpacking

There’s nothing like back-to-back summer vacations followed by two weeks in Central Europe followed by Covid (ugh) to throw life – and book promotions – off balance.  Thanks to those who have continued to read – and recommend – Best of Balancing Act as a quick read for crazy times.

Anyone who’s working on a holiday gift list and knows someone who’d benefit from a break from the news (who wouldn’t?) can still find it here on Amazon.

Meanwhile, I’m excited now to start speaking and writing about how downsizing can unlock the important stories of your life, as it has mine.  I hope you’ll learn more about searching for your own stories in those packing boxes by subscribing to my new Unpacking newsletter here on my web page.  Welcome aboard!!

Calling All Morning People

OK. Here’s one more gripe about the heat. With apologies to those who put up with more intense temps or focus on more serious issues like climate change, let me just say:  It’s tough to be a morning person when there’s so much to fit into a morning.

Even for the happily retired, there was already breakfast and journaling and reading the morning paper before 9 AM.  But now there’s weeding before it’s too hot, walking or cycling before it’s too hot, and if there wasn’t a severe thunderstorm the night before, watering. This morning, one more thing.  The no-wait time for an oil change at Valvoline was 8 AM, when they open.

The only solution seems to be rising at 5 AM and – if there’s not a power outage – starting with the inside stuff and then sneaking outdoors at sunrise.

Any other morning people with this problem?  How are you dealing?