Saturday Catch-Up - 23rd February 2019

Does it bring you joy?

I'm regularly encouraged to live.. simply. The world outside is increasingly complex, and I simply don't need that in my life any more. I have told that I have everything I need (Psalm 23).

As you may know, we're re-evaluating a number of different things at home, and this year that includes a regular decluttering regime. My son told me about the adage, the simple question noted at the top of this blog entry. It's a simple question, and comes from a book entitled The Life Changing Method of Tidying Up  by a Japanese author, Marie Kondo.

Do I need to keep it, bin it, sell it on, regift it, or recycle it? Far too difficult. Too many options. Too much emotion! So, let's simplify the question. And Marie's initial question in her book is far simpler... popularly known as the KonMari method, there's only one question:

Does it bring you joy?

If you answer yes, you keep it. If you hesitate or say no, you donate it or throw it out.

It's working!

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Saturday Catch-Up - 16th February 2019

What a difference a week can make!

Doug Putman, the head of Canada’s Sunrise Records, has successfully rescued 100 HMV stores from administration, including (thankfully!) my local branch. Hooray! This teaches me that, although things appeared pretty bleak last week, you should never give up hope. You don't know the whole picture... what is happening behind the scenes; what might happen tomorrow. 

In 2017, Sunrise Records took over 70 Canadian HMV stores after that branch of the chain collapsed. They seem to be doing pretty much the same here in the UK.

Putman says that HMV’s problems were due to them being unable to react quickly enough to the decline of CD and DVD sales. Many people have changed to downloading films and music online, but some of us still prefer to browse the shops for that special, rare find for our collection... and were quite vocal about it. And it seems that this public outcry is having an effect. Which teaches me that the voice of the public can influence decisions made by people in authority...

“Where certain stores have closed, our public have really rallied around and I credit that with some of the landlords coming back to us.” Putman said, in a recent article in The Guardian. “They can see how much support we are getting..."

"We are getting away from the corporate mentality where every store is set up the same – we have to move away from that and let each store have its own personality... I want to unlock the passion and creativity.”

Hmmm - individuality. Passion and creativity. That confirms to me something we all need in our lives. :)

Saturday Catch-Up - 9th February 2019

No catch up from last week (everything was delayed by the snow!), so I'm trying to comment on the last fortnight now...

• Maplins
• Toys 'R' Us UK
• ... and now HMV Shop

All stores where I used to frequently shop. Regular trips to each store, just to see what was on offer. Loyalty cards, the works. And these are all stores that I can't use any more because the companies have fallen into administration. They've essentially gone bust...

(sigh)

Things aren't the same. They don't feel the same. However, I know that I can't turn the clock back. I mourn, and then I move on.

So, forward we go. Into an increasingly uncertain future. One where the landscape is changing day by day, month by month. Each news bulletin brings a new complication, a new twist to the story. I can't begin to tell you how it's going to end.

Lord,
I don't know what the future holds, but I know only You hold the future. Bring me to a better tomorrow. Help me and my family. Make the days of my life and the life in my days overflow with love, kindness, gratitude, and appreciation.
Amen

Finding Joy