#21: The Art of Letting Go (Friday, May 25)

The black stillettos with a hole in one toe and a tear on the top of the other shoe; The red leather pants that I bought back in '98 that can't go past my knee anymore; the work clothes that I know I'll never wear again; the salmon pink designer suit that I'll never wear (not even once); an extra copy of Memoirs of a Geisha; an extra copy of Strunk & White; the yards of leather I've kept since 2004 that I've been meaning to use; clothes I bought and forgot to return; the list is endless.

These are all things that I've kept long after I should've either thrown them out, or given them away to someone else. Why have I held on to them? I haven't the foggiest idea. (Well, the stillettos are just really, really comfortable because they're broken in.)

The Idea: Go through your living space and make a list of all the things you no longer need. If you haven't used or thought about it in a year or more, chances are you don't need it. Divide the list into two categories: Things to Throw Away and Things to Give Away. (If you're a little more enterprising, you can also add a third category: Things to Sell).

Start with the easiest category first: Things to Throw Away. Just dump 'em. Go ahead...I know it might be difficult, but take the plunge. I'm committing to dumping those stillettos today.

There are a few options for giving away your stuff. You can:

• Email the list to your friends and give stuff away on a first-come, first-served basis;
• Post your list in the "Free" section of Craigslist (select your city from the menu); or
  
• Take it to the local thrift shop, Salvation Army or shelter.

I plan to give some of mine to the man on the corner who collects knick-knacks and resells them. Hopefully the books can be donated to a library.

If your stuff is valuable, you can:

• Sell it on eBay;
• Sell it or barter it for something else you might need on Craigslist;
• Or have a garage/sidewalk sale.

(You can even supersize the idea by donating a portion of your proceeds to charity.)

The Cost: Possibly the cost of transporting the items to their final destination.

The Benefit: More space! Think of all the space you'll have once you declutter your home. You'll also be able to help someone else. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so something that is worth nothing to you might be invaluable to someone else.

#20: Many Happy Returns (Friday, May 18)

The other day I was looking for one of my favorite articles of clothing, remembering that I hadn't worn it in ages. I searched high and low; dug up boxes that I hadn't looked through in years; and generally ransacked my apartment. Then I remembered I'd loaned it to a friend and she'd never returned it.

I'll admit it, I was a little annoyed...ok, a lot annoyed. But without that incident, I wouldn't have had the brilliant Good Friday idea I came up with.

The Idea: Create your own Return Day. Go through your apartment/house and identify things you borrowed from friends and family and never returned. Make a genuine effort to give the item back to its owner.

Supersize The Idea: Pay off an old outstanding bill/debt that you might have neglected, such as a library card balance.

The Cost: Nothing...well, maybe a little embarassment if you've had the item for a really long time.

The Benefit: You'll contribute to restoring balance to the universe. Also, if you send this idea along to your friends, you might even get back some of your things you thought you'd lost! Finally, people will be more likely to lend you things if they believe you'll be more responsible about giving it back.

#19: Make Your Surroundings Beautiful (Friday, May 11)

When you think of NYC taxi cabs you probably think drivers cutting you off in traffic, the inability to get one if you're going to Brooklyn (or if it's New Year's Eve), and convenience. With their bright yellow color, they're certainly distinctive, yet few people would go as far as saying they're beautiful. I recently got involved with a project that might help New Yorkers to appreciate the beauty of NYC taxicabs.

Garden in Transit is an art project that paints flowers on New York City taxicabs. The majority of the painting will be done by children through youth networks such as schools, hospitals, and churches. Not only will it give participating children a creative outlet, but it will also provide an opportunity for them redefine their immediate surroundings through art.

The Idea: Make your surroundings beautiful. Sign up for an open paint-in session at Garden in Transit studio. If you are not in the New York City area, find out what similar "social art" projects are going on in your city and volunteer to help make it come to fruition.

The Cost: A few hours of your time.

The Benefit: You'll get to see the impact of your efforts on the community, and you'll get a valuable lesson in how to make the best of your surroundings.

Testimonial: I'll be hosting an open paint-in session on Saturday, May 19. You're welcome to come along!

(P.S. The pictures from "Roll Up Your Sleeves" [Good Friday #15] and "Celebrating Mother Earth" [Good Friday #16] are now available.

#18: Be Happy (Friday, May 4)

The Idea: Be happy.

Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Yet it's the hardest thing for a lot of people to do, because it's difficult to even acknowledge that one might be unhappy. It's also difficult to realize how our individual unhappiness affects those around us.

If you're like me, you grew up with the "count your blessings/it could always be worse" philosophy. You were taught that it was ungrateful to complain when many others have greater troubles. And it's partly true, but I also think complaining (i.e. voicing distress/unhappiness) is the first step on the path to happiness...if you use your complaint as the impetus to changing your distress.

Whether you're unhappy because you hate your job, or you're overweight, or you're in an unfulfilling relationship, the first step is acknowledging it (i.e. complaining). The second step is actively working on changing your circumstance for a more favorable position.

The Cost: Introspection and the willingness to work hard to change the things that make you unhappy.

The Benefit: You'll be happier, and by default, so will the people around you!