All Psyched Up: Intention

By Linda Hancock on March 29, 2025.

In June it will be four years since I moved to Calgary from Medicine Hat. This was a huge project involving three separate moving trucks!

First, we moved furniture that was sold from the condo to the office for easy pickup. Then we moved my personal goods to Calgary. A month later, the third truck brought over 3,000 client files from my office to rented storage.

Family was wonderful and helped with the transition. Unfortunately, because I was working the whole time and am only five feet tall, I didn’t make any effort to downsize properly or organize my living space, so it was of utmost convenience.

In November, a friend commented on the fact that my kitchen counter was cluttered with items that I used to “survive.” This motivated me to set up a plan. Little did I know that my intention would take more than three months, several thousand dollars and assistance from several people to get to the end result. But it was worth it!

My original intention was to make my living space efficient. In high school, the Home Economics teacher would repeatedly say “Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place”. The problem was that I had way too much of everything! I had moved from a 1300 square foot office and 1100 square foot condo with storage into a new condo of about 1000 square feet.

Fortunately, I have a strong faith and good supports. I began by viewing the neighbours’ Shelf Genie renovations which seemed like a good option. My friend and I met with the representative to make a plan and set a timeline. Now I needed to do the downsizing! This was going to be way to big a job for me but after just one prayer request, I got the idea to hire professional organizers. Amazing!

In six hours, they had gone through everything and hauled bags of donations and garbage out of the condo. A couple of days later, they attacked my closets and in just three hours they were done! They took the culled clothing to the Dress for Success charity.

Next was the installation of the new shelving in bathrooms, closets, kitchen and hallways. This took a day and a half! Fortunately, because I was booked for surgery at the same time, a friend coordinated the project. Then the professional organizers returned and refilled the shelves and cupboards.

This began during the Christmas season and my neighbour lent her husband to me to hang new lights on the patio, put up the reindeer/sleigh decorations and order proper storage for them so they won’t be so dirty next year.

My friend and I had already re-organized the upright freezer, putting different meats in labelled baskets but now it was time to do the fridge. A little research and ordering resulted in a finished product, a photo of which could have been used to create a wonderful fridge brochure!

The neighbour and I next tackled the lights. He got on the ladder and replaced the yellow bulbs with daylight ones while I washed the shades. (We donated the bulbs that were removed). Then we installed new dimmer switches, and my son helped to set them up so that they are voice activated. What a blessing! Now, with full hands I can just speak my wishes and turn them on, off or dimmed!

Finally, due to concerns about security and the number of people who had been in and out of the condo, I ordered a new lock for the main door and had it installed.

During the whole process, I invited family to choose and take items home with them. No point in keeping things that they could use and treasure now! You don’t have to die to pass on the heirlooms you know!

The only things that I have left are my office and one of the storage cages in the basement. I kind of dread these projects but know that they too will give me a sense of accomplishment and make life much easier.

Do you have some good intentions? Have you put your plans on paper and started taking action?

No better time than today!

Dr. Linda Hancock, the author of “Life is An Adventure…every step of the way” and “Open for Business Success” is a Registered Psychologist who has a private practice in Calgary. She can be reached by email at office@drlindahancock.com

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