You might hear the somber notes of #Taps played at a #Memorial Day observance in the next week. The two are connected, according to the Memorial Day Foundation: Memorial Day grew out of the Civil War, which took as many as 600,000 American lives; Taps was first played by Pvt. Oliver Willcox Norton, brigade bugler for the Army of the Potomac, in July 1862 after Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield — unhappy with the sound of his nightly “lights out” bugle alert — asked him to replay a tune he whistled. The melancholy yet peaceful Taps eventually became the official soundtrack to military burials and #remembrances. #MemorialDay
Tag: donations
Memorial Day Is a Testament to Service
Memorial Day — celebrated this year on Monday, May 25 — is a holiday dedicated to #honoring U.S. military personnel who died in service. Observe it with a moment of silence during the National Moment of #Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time, a visit to a local #memorial or cemetery, or by learning about the fallen at the National Archives. You may wish to #donate to a military or veteran service organization such as the Vietnam Veterans of America directly or through ClothingDonations.org. But don’t wish people a “Happy” Memorial Day since it is meant to be a solemn occasion. #MemorialDay
Donate Clothing, Get a Tax Deduction
Did you know that when you #donate good-quality used #clothing and household items to ClothingDonations.org, you are likely eligible for a #tax #deduction? You must determine the fair market value (FMV) of the items you donate, “based on desirability, use, condition, scarcity and market demand for that property,” says IRS Publication 561. In the case of clothing #donations, for example, FMV is based on the item’s condition and what a typical buyer would actually pay for clothing of that “age, condition, style and use.” Fortunately, many tax-preparation software applications include a #donation calculator. #LastMinuteTaxDeduction
No Fooling: April Is the Best Month to Declutter
Pranksters throughout the world like to kick off April with a deception that makes a “fool” out of gullible believers. From schoolchildren slapping paper fish on their friends’ backs to news reports that the Eiffel Tower is being dismantled, pranks big and small have tricked and amused many a person over the years.
But all fooling aside, April just might be the best month of the year to #declutter and #organize.
April is a month of rebirth. Flowers start to bloom and the weather gets more pleasant. And yet, it’s still too early in the year to be chockablock with social occasions, deadlines and all of the other things that tend to crowd a schedule. It’s the perfect time to spend a few hours or days sorting through your #stuff.
A great place to start is in your #clothes closets. You’ll be swapping out heavy coats and sweaters for breezier garments soon, if you haven’t already; why not make April the month you take a complete inventory of your #clothing? #Store whatever you want to keep, and #donate anything that just isn’t being worn to ClothingDonations.org.
#Spring #cleaning will unearth even more #household items that you no longer want or need, and April gives you the chance to throw open the windows and make a fresh start. As you #declutter, #clean and #organize, decide if you want to stage a #garage or #yard sale at some point in the near future, says Simplify 101; early-season sales tend to be a big draw.
#Clutter itself can make #fools of otherwise rational people. “#Clutter is a master of deception, tricking us into believing that it enhances productivity, comfort and creativity when it does the opposite,” says Miss Organized. “By unveiling the illusion of clutter and taking proactive steps to #declutter our lives, we can cultivate a sense of clarity, purpose and serenity.”
Don’t be the butt of your own joke or waste another minute of your April. Start #decluttering, #cleaning and #organizing now, and you’ll get the last laugh.
Spring Cleaning Has Lasting Impacts
If you’ve ever participated in the ritual known as #spring #cleaning, you know the effect that a #cleaner, #tidier and more #organized space can have. But while the concept has long been tied to the warmer temperatures and sense of renewal that spring brings, it can have benefits that last throughout the year.
Psychologists explain the penchant for seasonal cleaning as a “fresh start” effect. Fresh starts are often related to a temporal landmark that motivates people to make a change, set a new goal or initiate a new project. The new year and birthdays are classic examples, and many people start their diets or on Mondays. The change of seasons is a similar marker.
“People are not automatically, by default, thinking of spring as a time to start new habits,” says Wharton Professor Katherine Milkman. “It’s going to depend on the person and what resonates with them, but spring is a more natural fresh start for people than winter — spring is the season of rebirth and Easter, and everything is green.”
Spring cleaning is literally a fresh start in terms of #dirt and #grime. These build up when a home is closed against winter’s inclement weather, and a good spring cleaning can get rid of the dust and dirt that household surfaces such as shelves, floors and linens have collected during the dark and dreary winter months.
But spring cleaning is also a fresh start for the psyche. Clean spaces reduce stress and anxiety, boost productivity, help prevent respiratory issues and improve sleep, according to St. Joseph Hospital. The act of #cleaning and #decluttering itself burns calories, making it a healthy part of your routine.
A #decluttered life is a calm and effective one. “We can calm the inside by bringing order to the outer,” Zen Organizer Regina Leeds told CNN. “The average person lives in an environment that sabotages his or her best efforts at every turn. You can accomplish more, quicker and with ease if your environment nurtures and supports you.”
Get a fresh start this season. Start with a single room, sorting everything you don’t #trash immediately into #keep and #donate piles. Clean the space, #organize and store the keepers, and contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #donation #pickup. We’ll get that extra stuff out of your way fast — and you’ll be on the way to living your best life.