Tuesday, June 16, 2009

All The Right Moves

Some of you may have noticed in my recent videos a few empty bookshelves in the background. No, I haven’t lost my mind and sold off my book collection (though my wife might find the idea intriguing) or have I been clearing space to add more books to my always-growing collection (an idea my wife finds far from intriguing). No, the reason for the emptiness on my bookshelves is that dreaded paradox, that desire to change scenery while battling the urge to lie down in traffic, that why-are-we-doing-this?/how-can-we-not-do-this? conundrum otherwise known as MOVING!

This is the blog post that informs you wonderful readers of this blog and viewers at livelife365.com that I have an official excuse to not post as much as I’d like to due to the arduous and hair-pulling (for some people, that is, who actually have hair; unlike me) process of selling one home then buying another and then, gulp, gasp, belch…MOVING!

I called moving a paradox—

No, actually, Mike, you called it “that dreaded paradox.”

Thanks for pointing that out. Let me start again: I called moving a dreaded paradox because while you may be thrilled to be changing habitats, excited to be able to buy (or rent, let, lease, beg, borrow, steal) a new and different living space, the actual procedure of packing, lugging, driving, hauling, dragging, sweating, screaming, crying, unpacking, rearranging, gasping, begging, praying, settling, crumbling into a heap of exhaustion is, well, exhausting. And headache-inducing. And frustrating. And demanding. And chaotic. And…

That’s a lot of “ands.”


Yes, it is.

And a bunch of negatives. How about some positives?


Told you it was a paradox.

I gotta go pack a few boxes. Here’s a video that explains it all a lot better:

The Paradox of Moving



Okay, I have a lot to do—anyone who has ever packed a box, hauled it to and loaded in into a truck, then unloaded it and unpacked it knows what this ordeal entails. So, how does one make the moving process less of an ordeal?

1. Get organized (this, by the way, is an essential asset for all aspects of your life)
2. Make lists (even if you’re not a list-maker, make an exception)
3. Pack like the pros (purchase good boxes, tape, paper and pack each box solid)
4. Manage your time (see “get organized”)
5. Stay calm (always)
6. Stay cool (of course, one has to already be cool to stay cool)
7. Have fun (it’s better than having the alternative)
8. Enjoy the process (hey, it’s your life, even if it’s moving; make the best of it!)

Amidst the chaos and avalanche of boxes, I somehow found time to produce this video that may help with your next move:

How to...Make a Smooth Move



Over the past several weeks, I’ve found myself battling mixed emotions about our pending move. I’ve been at time anxious, nervous, excited, happy, frightened, frustrated, impatient, tired and exhilarated. Why? Because moving is one of the most challenging ordeals any of us have to go through in our lives. And while the excitement of changing locations is something to look forward to, the disruption and chaos of packing and living surrounded by boxes and disorder can tax even the best of us.

The solution is to stay calm and cool, enjoy the process, and make the best of it.

Like I often say: Your Life is a Novel; Make It a Good One

Good or bad, moving is something we all must do at one time or another, a part of our lives. If your life is, indeed a novel, you wouldn’t want to read a bad one, right? No need to make moving a bad experience. Leading me to a new quote:

“Look for the good and it will find you.



Until next time…


peace,

Mike

25 comments:

Anna said...

I have moved more times than I can remember in my life, though only three in my 22 years of marriage. Needless to say, I'm a pro at it. However, dear husband and I are hoping that the housing market will improve in the next year so that when our "baby" graduates next year, we can move for maybe (?) the last time to a smaller, cozier home!

Anna said...

Oh and best of luck in your move! It is both a joy and a pain to move!

Jennifer said...

Ahh. Moving. We were lucky with our move from one coast to the other in May of 2007 -- it was paid for, packing included. The only downside was that it was the second move we had made in less than six months. I never want to move again, but we probably will in the next year.

I'll be thinking positive moving thoughts for you.

Anonymous said...

Moving is exhaustng, both physically and mentally. I moved from Florida to Georgia 3.5 years ago. So much to think about and plan. Closing accounts and shut-offs to schedule on one end, and opening accounts and shceduling turn ons on the other. Lucklily, I AM a list-maker. Lists are necessary for as stress-free a move as possible.

Best wishes to you on your moving process, Mike!

betchai said...

wish you well on your moving. just thinking of moving alone makes me exhausted already :) maybe i am just lazy, for yes, too many stuffs to move.

Sagan said...

have fun with moving! Good luck! My secret is to really prepare by thinking about it beforehand a lot and organizing stuff in my head- and writing down LOTS of lists.

Unknown said...

anna: moving is one of those "ends justifying the means" things, but it still stinks...

jennifer: we had one of those moves where our company moved us, did everything...i think they even packed a loaf a bread..."hey, when we say we pack everything, we ain't lying!"

barb: i was getting stressed out just reading your comment...

betchai: we get settled into our environment and to change is always difficult...i mean, i agree with what you said: just getting lazy

sagan: agreed, lots of prep and lists do help...


peace,

mike

Unknown said...

Hi try moving to another continent it leaves you with no desire to move ever again.lol
Will.

Rod said...

I'm fortune to have family members who live so close, I have helped them many times to pack and move. My payment is always the same, beer and pizza after wards, might as well make a party out if it. Good luck with the move Mike!

kRiZcPEc said...

moving can be a big headache...thanks goodness I don't have to go thru that process....yet.

Unknown said...

will: now that sounds like a move

rod: i have the pizza and beer, what time can you be here, huh?

faisal: join the club...

kriz: a large headache, but once you're settled in, well worth it...


peace,

mike

Unknown said...

Oh Mike, I know your pain, although I have learned to embrace my moves and actually look forward to the next adventure in our lives. For us is a little different because we don't exactly choose to move nor where we go, that's what we have the US Navy for. However, we do follow your advice "The solution is to stay calm and cool, enjoy the process, and make the best of it."

Thank you and have a safe and pleasant move..is that even possible?

redkathy said...

Just be sure to unpack the kitchen first... moving is strenuous, you will be hungry for sure, and good food fixes everything! Hope your move is smooth and speedy.

LisaNewton said...

I've found moving to be a very "cleansing" experience. We often buy too many things, collect too many things, and just have a lot of clutter.

I wish you luck with your move. :)

Unknown said...

yira: I grew up in a navy family, traveling from base to base for years until finally settling down in one spot. This may be why moving seems as common to me as breathing...

redkathy: good food does, indeed, fix lots of things...thanks for the tip

lisa: it's amazing the things I've saved in boxes that have not been opened in years...


peace,

mike

Maude Lynn said...

Moving is a novel . . . a horror novel!

Good luck!

Cascia Talbert said...

Great moving tips. I can't stand moving but we are going to be doing that once again about a year from now. Good luck with your move!

Amy said...

I am one of those sad people who actually loves to move. I love the purging of crud, I love packing it all up, I love rediscovering it when I get there. I get itchy feet about every 18 months (much to my husbands horror, he loathes moving!). The only time I got tired of it was when we moved 6 times in 2 years (not our choice).

Best of luck with the move and we'll see you when you get there :)

Barry said...

We have lived so long now in the same place and have collected so much stuff, I suspect we are anchored here for life. Any attempt to move us would result in the Earth wobbling on its axis.

kRiZcPEc said...

still busy in that?

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

Moving is the most exhausting thing I've ever done and it's a big hassle getting your utilities switched and a new phone and address that you need to let all your friends and family know about. I'm surprised you found the time to make this video and write this post!

Unknown said...

mama zen: you are so right, it has been like a stephen king book...but getting less scary every day

cascia: we survived, just smoothing out the mess now

vegetation: purging crud is a good thing...

barry: sometimes being anchored ain't bad...

kriz: take a peek at my garage...

karen: i wrote that post two weeks ago...and now have just found the time to write these comments...


peace,

mike

Jackie said...

I don't envy you. I have lived in 10 towns in 4 countries and in each moved around a bit. Even with moving so frequently it is amazing how much clutter one gathers in such short periods.

Robin said...

Aargh - moving - we still call the anniversary of when we moved in Here "Black Tuesday" - which isn't very romantic because it was the day we moved in together. Hope all is well and it wasn't too painful - Robin

Unknown said...

jackie: the inside of our house already seems full, yet there remain dozens and dozens of unopened boxes in the garage...huh?

robin: moving day started at 7:00 am and didn't end until 3:00 am, when my wife and I scarfed down some very unappetizing fast food...


peace,

mike