Where ever you are... throw it out!

Today I extended my reach to my office. Surely there must be 27 things I needed to let go of there?!?

As I sat on a conference call (if it was you, I promise I WAS paying attention!) I opened the top drawer of my desk, pulled the wastebasket close and began to toss. 27 things to let go of in my office? Heck! There were 34 in the top drawer alone. Some tiny, granted. Bent paper clips. Chipped push pins. Pencils without any eraser (who could use those?) Some just old stamps (how much is a Tiffany lamp stamp worth anyway? a penny? Who even knows?)

But I came across a few treasures, too. Things I'd forgotten I had. Like the note my mother wrote me when I was named a finalist for Small Business Person of the Year - only to lose to a man older, wiser and more-connected than I was. A big disappointment for me, but the note from my mom? "Will every one here kindly step to the rear and let a Winner lead the way?" Only a mother, who'd understand that I was still honored to be among the chosen but oh-so-sad not to be the big winner!

If I hadn't been bound and determined to give away my 17 things, I might never have realized that the note was still there.

Giving away can uncover forgotten treasures, too.