It's About Time Ruth Wong

Check your progress for 2007

My goal is not just to provide you with something to read, but to make a practical, positive difference in your life. How have you been doing at putting into practice what you've been reading? Let's see how you've been doing!

1. In January I offered 20 ways to "carpe diem" (seize the day) to enhance your quality of life, relationships and personal growth.

Did you, among my suggestions: Follow through on a good intention? Try something new? Finish an incomplete project? Cultivate a new friendship? Share your substance with the needy?

2. I also offered a new perspective to help de-clutter your home. I suggested that instead of asking "How many of these do I need?" or "Is it still good?" that the question could be "If I give this away, will I lack?"

Have you been able to part with excess and still not lack?

3. In February I shared that people have different TLCs (tolerance levels for clutter). If your TLC was reached, did you get busy and lessen the clutter? That helps to keep your mess from giving you stress.

4. To make this year an improvement on the past one, I encouraged you to ask yourself, "If I could live last year over again, what would I do differently?"

By doing so, did you avoid repeating regrettable decisions while increasing satisfying moments? Has this year been more fulfilling than the last?

5. In March I explained my simple system for keeping personal receipts in No. 10 envelopes, one per month.

Have you set up a simple system for receipts that you need to keep? When you need to retrieve one, can you find it easily?

6. I also compared the stages of a butterfly's metamorphosis to people's struggle with clutter and bad habits.

Have your gone through your own transformation? Have you emerged free to live less hindered by clutter or bad habits?

7. In April I encouraged you to "Do TWT," my shortcut for "Do Today's Work Today."

By doing today's work today, have you experienced the positive difference it makes to wrap up today's loose ends today?

8. I also shared another of my acronyms, "DIP" (Do It Promptly).

Are you getting things done in a timely manner? Isn't it nice to avoid the time crunch?

If you've acted on what you've been reading, good for you! If not, there's still time -- take action today!

See you in two weeks!