If you lose everything you own just before Christmas, I imagine it makes you think long and hard about what’s really valuable in your life. I think for most people, it’s the loss of their memorabilia — photos, letters, momentoes — that would be the most painful.
This is what happened last week to the assistant of a professional organizer in my industry association. Sherri Papich, CPO-CD of Organize Your Life LLC in Springville, NY recently shared this story with her fellow organizers:
“On December 5, 2019 my assistant Tonia lost everything in a house fire. Luckily, she and her husband made it out safely. Their belongings, however, were all lost. Pictures, videos, family heirlooms, ALL GONE! Even though most of us deal with “stuff” almost every day, times like these remind us that life is not about the stuff. It’s about making memories, loving and supporting each other, and staying healthy and happy for as long as you can.
In light of this incident, I would like to remind us all, especially in the Christmas season, that “things” and “stuff” can be gone in the blink of an eye. It is important to stress the importance of accumulating memories instead of material possessions. The community, friends and family of my assistant have come together to support them in this sorrow-filled time. Their hearts are overflowing with support!
This giving season, think about gifting smoke detectors and other protectionary devices for Christmas gifts. They may not seem flashy or cool, but they can save a life or a home. Also, the gift of digitizing services can protect videos and photographs from devastation.”
In addition to Sherri’s solid advice, I would like to to add that it also might be helpful to hire a professional organizer to help make sure your home is clear enough so that everyone can escape through a door or a window in the event of a fire. A home organizer can also help you make an emergency kit for your car or an emergency stockpile of water, food and supplies for your home.
Sherri shared these great resources to help get everyone prepared. Looking through these, I realize there’s more I could be doing to protect reSPACEd as well as my own home. I’m glad she brought these all to our attention.
• www.irs.gov/businesses/small-
• www.fema.gov/preparedness-
• www.fcc.gov/cyberplanner
Nobody wants to think about a disaster just a few weeks before Christmas. But I think taking steps to be prepared and remembering what your real valuables in life are can be beneficial to us all.
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