Article - How to Have the Best Books Inside Out Design Coaching


	By Alison Marks Henry Miller said, “A book lying idle on a shelf is wasted ammunition. Like money, books must be kept in constant circulation. Lend and borrow to the maximum -- of both books and money! But especially books, for books represent infinitely more than money. A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.” I may not agree with him that it’s a great idea to borrow lots of money, but I think he’s onto something with the idea that books have power when they’re shared. Our homes should be living, breathing environments that support us in living our lives well today, and shelves of books that never get touched don’t help us with that at all. Could it really, truly, be that less is more? If you want to make room for new growth in your life, try clearing out some of your old books. - Make a plan. o What will you do with the books you clear off your bookshelf? Here are some ideas: § Sell them to a used bookstore for cash or store credit. § Sell them online, for example, on eBay or amazon.com. § Select a few to give to friends who might enjoy or use them, especially if it’s a book you’ve loved. § Sell them at a garage sale or flea market. § Donate them to a local thrift shop or library sale. In San Francisco I recommend Community Thrift on Valencia Street. Most libraries accept book donations of books to sell to raise funds for operations; books donated to libraries are rarely included in their circulating collections. - Get out your supplies. o If your books are going to different places, have different boxes for each destination and mark the boxes clearly. o If you will be giving books to friends and family members, have one box for this and put sticky notes on each book in this box with the name of the person you intend to give the book to. - Get started! Begin with just one shelf – you’ll probably get energized and want to continue. Pick up each book and ask yourself: - When I first look at this book, how does it make me feel? o We have an energetic connection with everything in our lives, and each item in our homes either contributes to our energy or diminishes it. The best gauge is how we feel – for any reason, does this book bring us down, even subtly? If so, put it in a box. - Am I holding onto this book in case I might need it in the future? o Is there really any information in there that you couldn’t access relatively quickly on the internet? o Even if the book has unique information, are you really likely to need that information in the next two years? If not, put it in a box. - Am I holding onto this book because it reminds me of something in the past? o Having reminders of people we love and great times in the past is great, but if it is not serving us in any way today, then consider chucking it! Letting go of things that we aren’t actively using, especially books, gives us the opportunity to live more fully in the flow of life, to trust that the world will give us what we need when we need it. Read more articles.
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