Well, by now Ordelle Daily has packed away her size four summer shorts and pulled out the wool sweaters, scarves and coats. If you're at all like Iona Hovel, you've zippity doo dahed out into the cold without a coat and been shocked by the nip in the air. In case you haven't noticed, it's November. This month, we are focusing on two very important parts of our home: our mailbox and our front door.
The Mailbox
We all have a mailbox. Whether it's at the post office, down a long country driveway, connected to the outside of the house, or if the mail is slipped through a slot in the door and ends up on the floor inside the house, the place our mail comes is a very important spot. It's even more important this time of year, because the holidays are on their way.You mailbox assignment has four parts.
Stop for a moment and be thankful you get mail and can send it. Just think, you live in America and your address is yours and even if you rent, you still own your address. E-mail and faxes cannot compare with getting a nice letter or card from a friend or loved one.
Every time you see your mailbox, have it remind you of something wonderful. Think about a time when you were excited to get the mail. Maybe you were expecting a love letter or a big check. Get in the habit of thinking positively about the mail. A good way to do that is to write more letters. Remember, if you want to receive happy mail, you have to send out happy mail.
Do something nice for your mail carrier. If you wait until December, you'll most likely forget or run out of time or money or both.
Replace your mailbox if it's an eyesore. Go on a neighborhood walk and notice the diversity in the styles of mailboxes. Each box reflects in a very subtle way, the personality (or lack of it) of the people at the address. What does your box say about you?
Some simple rules for handling mail:
Walk past your recycling center from the mailbox. Dump junk mail before you ever get in the house.
Handle mail only once and ALWAYS in the same place. It's important to have a desk or at least a place with pens, paper, stamps and envelopes. Have a file for bills to be paid. Pay them regularly. If you tend to be afraid of your mailbox, it's our guess your finances are a little out of whack. To get your finances in whack, establish a Desk Day once a week. You'll be surprised what an hour a week will do to smooth out your financial life.
Write short letters. Because of our creative natures, we tend to write sagas when we actually do sit down to write to a dear friend or relative. Consequently we have it set in our minds that writing a letter will take a great chunk of time... which it has in the past. Buy note cards which will help curb your long-windedness on paper.
The Front Door
Our front door is more important than our business card. It introduces our home to everyone who comes there. What does your front door say about you? Is it strong and sound? Does it keep out the cold and leave you and your family with a sense of security? Is there a mat in front of it that tells visitors they're welcome? Our assignment at the front door is to:
Stand at your front door and pretend you are a guest. As you look around you'll be able to see with new eyes what needs to be improved.
If anything needs to be polished, polish it.
If there is a window, wash it.
Look up and around to check for spiderwebs and mysterious cocoons filled with the next generation of bugs. Get 'em.
Put an evergreen plant by the door as a touch of love.
If the welcome mat needs to be replaced, replace it.
It's time to take the screen off. Store it in the garage.
Next time, we'll step through the front door into the entry. It is the threshold of our entire home and it's the perfect opportunity to entice all of the five senses.