The benefits of a massive clearout #4

Here at Freedman Towers a massive clearout has been underway for some time. (Unfortunately there is a still a long way to go, but that's another matter. Clearing out means looking at each item of accumulated paperwork and doing one of four things with it:

  • Throwing it in the recycling bin.
  • Scanning it and keeping it.
  • Scanning it and shredding it.
  • Shredding it.

I thought I'd share my thoughts on why this has proven to be a very useful exercise.

Terry's office, August 24

Terry's office, August 24. It’s a lot tidier now! Photo by Terry Freedman.

Another thing I had forgotten was how assertive I could be when I had a mind to. I rediscovered a whole collection of copies of letters I’d sent to councillors, MPs and even the Prime Minister, about my mother’s housing situation. I tend to think of myself of having not become very assertive until I was in my fifties, but the pile of copies of letters I sent to anyone and everyone I thought might listen showed that I was actually pretty assertive in my thirties. I feel quite pleased about that!

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