The possibilities are tremendous when we help each other. Great accomplishments and changes can occur. Who knew that one pair of shoes could make such a difference? I am so excited to share an eco-friendly opportunity, which helps people in need and saves the environment by collecting, distributing, and recycling new or gently worn shoes. You can declutter and do some good at the same time.

Oh, So Organized! is participating in the NAPO Challenge, which is the result of a partnering effort with Soles4Souls (“S4S”), a Nashville-based charity that provides shoes to adults and children in need. Since 2005, S4S has given away over 14 million pairs of shoes to people in over 127 countries, including the United States. “With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous need elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.

Oh, So Organized! is sponsoring a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls through November 11, 2011. We are collecting gently worn shoes. So far, several Oh, So Organized! clients have edited their shoe collections, increased their closet space, and felt good that they donated to this worthy cause. Tax-deductible receipts are available. Would you like to participate? There are several options below:

Shoe Donation Opportunities

• Oh, So Organized! Clients: Linda Samuels will pick-up shoes you want to donate during all organizing appointments and supply you with a tax-deductible receipt

• Westchester Residents: On Sunday, November 6, 2011 from 10am-2pm, you can drop off your shoes at 202 Cleveland Drive in Croton on Hudson, NY

• Special Arrangements: To make alternate arrangements, contact Linda Samuels at linda@ohsoorganized.com

Shoe Donation Update

• Oh, So Organized! has collected 537 pairs of shoes as of 11/11/11

Organizing Tip 101: Shoes

• Follow the link for helpful shoe organizing & decluttering tips from professional organizer, Linda Samuels

My deepest gratitude to all those that already have donated or will donate. Please join our conversation and leave a comment about shoes, donating or decluttering. What is your favorite organizing or donating story? 

Linda Samuels at shoe drive - November 6, 2011

Organizing isn’t just about sorting papers, editing closets, and decluttering junk drawers. It’s also about having the level of order that’s comfortable for you. Getting organized will reduce the stress of life’s details, enable you to accomplish larger goals and give you more time to embrace your passions. Dreaming is an essential part of the organizing process. There are several ways to encourage the dream juices to flow.

Dream small. If you had an extra 30 minutes free each day, how would you use that time? Would you read a book, take a walk or have coffee with a friend? If 30 extra minutes a day seems like a tremendous gift, begin here. Once you’ve managed to secure those minutes, think about moving on to bigger goals. Life can be overwhelming. Sometimes we just need time to re-energize so that we can go through the rest of our days being present. I regularly have to remind myself to just stop and take that needed break.

Dream moderately. If there are 52 weekends per year and you reserved just four of them to complete a short-term project, what would it be? Sometimes we think about “projects” we’d like to do and never schedule the time to get them done. With a little advance planning and commitment, it is possible to accomplish some of these dreams. I don’t quite know how it’s happened again, but our garage is in need of organizing. Since I’m not excited to get in there and do it, I know it won’t get done unless my husband and I block out the time to do so. Guess what I’ll be doing one of these fall or spring weekends?

Dream big. If time, money or circumstance weren’t challenges, what would you want to accomplish? Let your mind dream without criticism or judgment. Often we tend to discourage ourselves before even taking our first steps forward. Try to suspend all negativity; there is no harm in dreaming and wishing. Identifying what you’d like comes before any action can occur. Each New Year’s eve our family reflects about the past year and future thinks about goals and wishes for the coming year. We know that not all of our dreams will be accomplished, but also realize how important it is to record them. The act of taking that one step puts these ideas into motion. When we come back the next year to review, we are amazed by how many of our hopes were realized.

The possibilities are there for you. Whether you need time to rejuvenate, accomplish projects, or push the envelope of your comfort zone, setting aside time to put some of these dreams into place through thought and action can make all the difference for the life balance and satisfaction you seek.

Stop by and join in the conversation. What dream phase are you in? What are you thinking about? If you join the conversation and leave a comment on this post, you will be automatically entered to win a very cool "To-Do Tattoo" by Fred and Friends. One lucky winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 16, 2011.

It’s a new month and season. October and fall have arrived, bringing shorter, cooler days. As the leaves begin to change color and drop from their branches, the scene is set for the possibilities of what might come next.

I came across one of Oprah Winfrey’s recent writings, which beautifully captured the ideas of change, possibilities and growth. She said, “The inevitable truth is that everything changes. We’re not meant to look the same or act the same year in and year out. Growth brings new potential. And I know for sure that when you’re open to receiving them, the possibilities just keep on coming.”

Having just returned from a business trip to Las Vegas, I was particularly struck by the energy and feeling of possibilities in that city. Particularly at night on the Strip, there was so much going on. There was a sense that all things real or imaginary were possible. There were masses of people checking out the sights, street performers singing, dancing, or acting like statues, glitter, sparkle and lights everywhere, live and recorded music bellowing from storefronts, water fountains dancing to music, volcanoes erupting on the hour, reproductions of landmark buildings from Paris, New York and Venice accentuating the landscape. The buzz of excitement permeated the streets.

On the top of the MGM Grand hotel and casino was a sign that read, “Alter Your Reality.” I guess that about sums it up. When you think about the possibilities of what might come next for you, it allows you the opportunity to continue on your current path or move in new directions.

What is possible for you in the coming months? How will this season be different from the last?

For those that love to dress-up for Halloween, thinking about the possibilities of what you might be is exciting. Whether you prefer to be Gumby, Buzz Lightyear or Princess Jasmine, there is an element of fantasy as you imagine which persona you will temporarily embody.  Perhaps you no longer dress-up.  Maybe instead you’re helping your kids to select special costumes. For the Halloween celebrators, the days leading up to wearing our costumes and Trick or Treating are filled with possibilities.

We just returned from visiting our daughter in Boston. We took a walk to the iParty store to find some things for her Halloween costume. She was in search of lollipops and a yellow tablecloth. On the way there, I saw Gumby standing on the street corner, waving to people as they passed by. You never know what will inspire you. As it turns out, Gumby did.

There was so much to look at in the store. It was a visual feast with colorful costume accessories like wigs, gloves, stockings, glitter, boas and hats. There were also complete outfits of pre-packaged costumes such as superheroes, ghosts and witches. The choices were almost overwhelming. I watched as people shopped and talked energetically with their friends about what they wanted to be. Dreaming and discussing was an essential first step in the decision-making process.

What if we used our Halloween frame of mind that’s infused with creativity, fantasy and fun to imagine the possibilities in our lives? What if we allowed ourselves to let go of our excuses and to instead envision where we’d like to be tomorrow, next month or next year? Unleash your unedited thoughts. Once they’ve been recorded, begin to sort them into groups such as pursue “Now,”  “Later,” or “Never.” But before editing or sorting, give yourself the freedom and space to capture your ideas.

In the spirit of creativity, whether your inspiration comes in the form of Gumby or a purple boa, I hope that you set aside some time this fall to imagine the possibilities for the next phase of your life.