Tune In! AO featured on TLC's "Hoarding: Buried Alive"

Media Contact:
Jennifer Kresl
804-869-5131
P.O. BOX 17603, Richmond VA, 23226
jennifer@abundanceorganizing.com
www.abundanceorganizing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, VA- January 27, 2012- Abundance Organizing is excited to announce it will be featured on TLC's "Hoarding: Buried Alive." Mindy Godding, Cathy LeHew, and Suzanne Shultz are the featured organizers. The episode, titled "This is Romantic," airs this Sunday, January 29th at 9:00 eastern/8 central.

Godding, who was also the project leader, said, "We are thrilled to be a part of this show. We had a great time working with this family, everyone at Discovery and TLC, as well as our friends at Junk Shuttle. Shows like this have opened up people's eyes to the real issues of hoarding while providing information and support. We hope that it continues to encourage those who suffer from this disorder to get help."

LeHew said, "It was a privilege to work with this family as it is with all of our clients. We are honored that our clients trust us with the most personal aspects of their lives."

"They were such nice people and truly ready to make this change," Godding said. "They made great strides during filming, but when the cameras leave, they are still in the process of change. Almost nothing was salvageable, so we found them some items like furniture and paint. Since filming ended, we've been in touch and we want to help give them a healthy household again."

Filming of this episode took place in Central Virginia late last year. This is season 3 of "Hoarding: Buried Alive."

About Abundance Organizing
Abundance Organizing is a privately held, woman-owned company providing organizing and relocation services, training and public speaking. Founded in 2010 by Sara Bereika, Mindy Godding and Cathy LeHew, Abundance Organizing is headquartered in Richmond, VA. For more information, visit www.abundanceorganizing.com or call 804-212-2160.

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Another Reason To Reuse and Recycle

I recently spoke to a group of moms who are members of the Johnson County, Kansas chapter of Mothers and More. A lot of the questions I received pertained to their kids toys and how and when to get rid of things One Johnson County mom compared the task of purging her children's toys to watching Woody in Toy Story 2 get tossed in the donation box. She felt so guilty tossing those stuffed animals when those little plastic eyes were looking up at her! Another wise JoCo mom shared a perfect way to clean out your kids stuff and pay forward some kindness as well.

She told us about this terrific organization called Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE).
SAFE is a 14-year-old non-profit organization run completely by volunteers. There are 14 chapters of SAFE across the United States. They collect various items such as stuffed animals, toys, books and baby blankets to benefit children during emergency situations such as fires, illness, accidents, neglect, abuse, homelessness and even weather emergencies such as tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. SAFE also donates the items to other childrens organizations, military organizations, libraries and even nursing homes. They accept new and gently used items for donation. What a great way to reuse and recycle stuffed animals, toys, books and baby blankets that so many us have in our homes.

It can be difficult to part with items that belonged to our kids when we think they just end up in the trash. SAFE gives you the opportunity to clear out the clutter and help a child in a difficult situation. After the Moms and More meeting, I went home and talked to my kids about SAFE. We filled a couple of boxes full of stuffed animals and books. We felt great about giving to kids who really needed a reason to smile.

Check out http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/ if you have items to donate. There is a SAFE chapter in Kansas City, Missouri.

Abundance Organizing is Expanding

Here's news you don't hear every day: our company is expanding! Richmond-based Abundance Organizing has hired two new employees in the Richmond office and is expanding nationally with a new location which has just opened in Kansas City. Below, please find the press release with all the details.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Kresl
804-212-2160
P.O. BOX 17603, Richmond VA, 23226
jennifer@abundanceorganizing.com
www.abundanceorganizing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, VA- October 24, 2011- Abundance Organizing is proud to announce the opening of a new corporate location in Olathe, Kansas which will serve greater Kansas City and the surrounding area. Patty Hoyt, Principle Organizing Consultant, will lead the Kansas office.

Mindy Godding, Owner, said, "We have been very pleased with the success we've experienced in our first year of business, and we couldn't be more excited to expand our company and our vision beyond the Central Virginia area. This is the first step on the path to being nationwide."

Cathy Lehew, Owner, said, "Our growth means we have more hands on deck, and that means we can truly help more clients. Patty is a fantastic addition to our team, and we're so pleased to have her on board."

Hoyt will offer home and office organizing and specializes in working with adults and children with ADHD and other special needs. She has been organizing professionally for 3 years. Hoyt said, "I am thrilled to be a part of Abundance Organizing and to bring their unique approach to the people of Kansas."

The Richmond office also welcomes two new employees. Suzanne Shultz joins the team as an Organizing Consultant, and Jennifer Kresl will support the company with administrative services.

About Abundance Organizing
Abundance Organizing is a privately held, woman-owned company providing organizing and relocation services, training and public speaking. Founded in 2010 by Sara Bereika, Mindy Godding and Cathy LeHew, Abundance Organizing is located in Richmond, VA. For more information, visit www.abundanceorganizing.com or call 804-212-2160.

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AO Contributes to Industry Book and Conference

Media Contact:

Jennifer Kresl

804-212-2160

P.O. BOX 17603, Richmond VA, 23226

jennifer@abundanceorganizing.com

www.abundanceorganizing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, VA- November 14, 2011- Abundance Organizing is proud to announce two of its founding partners, Sara Bereika and Mindy Godding, are contributing to a forthcoming book and have been selected as speakers for the 2012 NAPO conference.

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) will release "The ICD Guide to Challenging Disorganization: For Professional Organizers" on January 1, 2012. This softcover, 400 page book will be printed and distributed by Lightning Source, a division of Ingram Publications. Find more information and submit book orders at http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/content/cd-textbook.

Editor Kate Varness says, "'The ICD Guide to Challenging Disorganization: For Professional Organizers' is the first book to bring together the knowledge of so many organizing experts. This book will no doubt be the book that all organizers want to have in their arsenal for understanding and working with clients."

Bereika says, "This book goes beyond traditional organizing methods to examine disorganization complicated by co-existing conditions such as ADHD, depression, hoarding and physical limitations. Until now there have been very few resources that support an organizer so thoroughly in their day-to-day work."

Godding and Bereika have also been chosen to speak at the next annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers. NAPO is a membership organization of over 4,000 professional organizers. The conference will be held in Baltimore, MD, March 21 - 24, 2012.

Godding says, "We are honored to be chosen and look forward to sharing our experiences with the conference attendees."

"Education is vital to our industry and central to the mission of Abundance Organizing," says Bereika. "We strive to help clients, the public and other professional organizers every chance we get."

About Abundance Organizing
Abundance Organizing is a privately held, woman-owned company providing organizing and relocation services, training and public speaking. Founded in 2010 by Sara Bereika, Mindy Godding and Cathy LeHew, Abundance Organizing is located in Richmond, VA. For more information, visit www.abundanceorganizing.com or call 804-212-2160.

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Catalog Overload! Stop the Madness!!

I opened my mailbox other day, not knowing that I would need a wheelbarrow to get my mail from the driveway to the front door. I was bombarded with catalogs and junk mail that immediately went into my recycling basket. I usually get a few more catalogs when it gets close to the holidays, but this was ridiculous! The catalogs were from companies I had never heard of with products I would never buy. It's a frustration most of us have. We order an item online with a company, who puts us on their mailing list, who passes the list on to another company, and so on and so on . . .

Not only have the companies wasted resources on creating catalogs that I don't want. But, they create more clutter in my home. If you have this same frustration, check out www.catalogchoice.org. Through this site you can contact all the companies at one time to get off their mailing lists. Trust, me I've tried calling each company individually, this is so much easier and less expensive. The service is free, and you save a few trees in the process. It may take up to 60 days to stop getting catalogs. So, if you do it now, you could start 2012 with a lot less mail. For a small fee, Catalog Choice will help you stop other junk mail as well.

We all get enough paper daily without being overloaded with junk mail. Catalog Choice is just one option to help get rid of those unwanted catalogs and keep your home clutter free.

Mindy Godding Wins ICD Volunteer of the Year Award

Media Contact:
Jennifer Kresl
804-212-2160
P.O. BOX 17603, Richmond VA, 23226
jennifer@abundanceorganizing.com
www.abundanceorganizing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, VA- October 31, 2011- Abundance Organizing congratulates Mindy Godding, Owner and Founder, for receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). The award was presented to Godding at the ICD annual conference on September 17th in Raleigh, NC.

Incorporated in 2001, ICD is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to benefit people affected by chronic disorganization. Its members are professional organizers and related professionals.

Godding's award recognizes her work with the organization's Speakers Bureau, whose presenters educate other professionals and the public on Chronic Disorganization (CD) and its challenges.

Godding said, "I am honored to be recognized by ICD, an organization that I truly respect. I look forward to continuing to work with the Speakers Bureau to educate as many people as possible about CD. Help for those struggling with CD begins with understanding."

About Abundance Organizing
Abundance Organizing is a privately held, woman-owned company providing organizing and relocation services, training and public speaking. Founded in 2010 by Sara Bereika, Mindy Godding and Cathy LeHew, Abundance Organizing is located in Richmond, VA. For more information, visit www.abundanceorganizing.com or call 804-212-2160.

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How Many Organizers Does it Take to Change a Tire?

Even the most thorough planners experience an occasional bump in the road. Flights get cancelled, special orders get lost, and, as was the case this past Saturday, tires go flat. But wait-- there are four organizers in this car! We should be ready for anything, right?

Uh, wrong.

As we analyzed our situation (while unsuccessfully pulling the tire iron with our full body weight) we accepted some basic facts. Fact One: We are not able to change the tire ourselves. Fact Two: We will have to wait for help to arrive. Fact Three: We cannot drive 150 miles on a spare. Fact Four: Since we will not make it to our conference in time, we will miss educational programming and therefore lose some of our investment. And, Fact Five: This situation is a major pain in the hiney.

We could have gotten frustrated, upset and impatient. But instead, we laughed. We reminded ourselves that our situation could have been drastically worse (considering we were going about 70 mph on I-95 when the tire blew), we took a deep breath, we charmed the Rescue Ranger who changed our tire, and we put some silly pictures on Facebook.

I believe that part of being organized and feeling in control is recognizing when something is out of your control-- and rolling with the punches. The best lesson I have learned from my work with clients and my own experiences as a business owner is that a little patience and self-compassion goes a long way. When situations go wrong, and the plan falls to pieces, remember that there is usually a bright side. If nothing else, you might end up with a new tire, a good story, and some new material for your blog.

The Legacy of Hoarding

Most of us have had the opportunity to tune in to an episode or two of the popular television shows that focus on Hoarding. As intrigued as I am to hear someone else’s thoughts on this topic I find so fascinating, I have learned to avoid the public message boards. I find that the comments of outrage frequently hurled at the participants on these programs usually fall on the spectrum between insensitive and offensive.

Parents who hoard in particular are subject to unbelievable vitriol. The same viewers who rip these individuals to shreds often express sympathy for their children. Sometimes I desperately want to join the fray, saying in my mind: Hold on a minute-- did you ever take a moment to consider how that individual grew up? And did you stop to wonder what kind of habits and behaviors those children may eventually exhibit?

I wish I could encourage everyone to see it from a different perspective.

Ask your favorite organizer how frequently they hear the statement, “My parents were packrats,” and you might think twice about the individuals you are judging. Our team has recently started working with yet another client who is the quintessential product of grief, loss, and hoarding. This individual grew up in a hoarding home-- in fact, still resides in the house that has now sustained three generations of hoarding. This person has watched every other member of the family pass, one by one, leaving behind a lifetime of possessions, and a legacy of chaos. I wish I could say this situation is rare; but, this individual could be a carbon copy of so many others who we have tried to support over the years.

In my professional opinion, this client never had a chance at having a healthy relationship with the space and the stuff. First of all, at it’s core, the house still feels like someone else’s home. Usually, the original decor and furniture are still intact-- entombed by layers of everyday possessions (and trash) accumulated over decades. Efforts to introduce “new” items simply exacerbate the extreme clutter that already persists. When uncovered, any attempts to remove these original items are often viewed as an offense against that mother, aunt, grandfather, who is now long gone. Those of us who have experienced a family estate can relate to the emotional charge that can be associated with even the most mundane of items-- simply because they once belonged to a loved one who has been lost. Imagine if you inherited several generations of accumulated possessions-- with no history of a clean out.

Secondly, I often wonder how profoundly an individual is impacted by a childhood in a hoarded environment. How is he or she shaped when extreme clutter is the fabric of the family narrative. The chances that they learned basic organizing skills and efficient systems are slim. Picture your childhood home. What values did you learn from the condition of that home? Now, imagine if every image of hearth, home, and family was associated with extreme clutter and hoarding. How do you cleave the two? Many of these clients have never known anything different. A clutter-free existence might even feel unnatural or stark.

I am glad that the shows are leading these people to people like me and my team. I am happy that so many of you are taking notice and joining the conversation. And if, in the near future, you find yourself on one of the message boards-- a little sensitivity and perspective, please.