Guilt

Posted on June 26, 2025 by msw blog

Prioritize & set boundaries—even when guilt arises. You might feel guilty for saying no or pulling back, especially if you’re used to being the one who “handles everything.” Guilt is often a sign that you care deeply, but it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Instead of letting guilt drive your decisions, acknowledge it and ask yourself: Am I saying yes because I want to or because I feel obligated? Prioritizing what truly matters allows you to be present in a way that feels steady for you and your relationships. One of my mentors says this often, “If it’s not an immediate yes, then it’s a no.”

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Insurance

Posted on June 25, 2025 by msw blog
  1. Take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

    Let’s just say that insurers aren’t always eager to settle claims. Stalling is sometimes part of their business plan. That makes it important to have the strongest possible case to get them to deal with you. And that means having evidence of what you owned, and what you lost. Photos and videos will help. Open every closet and drawer and pull out anything of value—silverware, jewelry, etc.—and take a clear photo. Do this in every room, including the basement and garage if you have either. (This applies to renters as well. Renter’s insurance covers your possessions.)

    And make a record of all your clothes. It’s so hard to remember everything when you are dealing with the emotions of a major loss. Those photos are just as much for you as they are for evidence to present to your insurer.

    Once you’re done with the inside of the house, those of you with outdoor space (a yard, a garden, etc.) should do the same exercise to document the trees, decks, landscaping etc.
  2. Create a written inventory of every item you would claim in a loss.

    Using your photos/videos you next need a written inventory of all your possessions. Insurers will expect this list when you file a claim. Hopefully, you have saved receipts for many items. If so, attach a photo of these as well.
  3. Share your photos and inventory.

    I am a big fan of having a fireproof briefcase/box you can take with you if you have to flee your home. In addition to all the evidence for an insurance claim, it should be where you store documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, any title to valuable assets, etc.

    But it’s equally important to have copies of those documents available elsewhere. What happens if a natural disaster hits when you aren’t home and thus can’t grab your get-away case/box?

    One of the best steps is to upload digital copies of everything to the cloud. This allows you to access your documents literally from anywhere in the world
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Money Wise

Posted on June 25, 2025 by msw blog

“One thing that you can do is make it easier on your heirs and close family to find your financial information if you become disabled mentally or upon your death. This could be the log-in credentials to access your computer and (in my case), a spreadsheet of all my accounts, usernames, passwords, etc. Nobody knows for sure when their time is up. And in addition to a will, this is a worthwhile thing to have.”

 “Before you shred any old tax records, make sure the Social Security people are in sync with your earnings data. When I checked my retirement information with them, they had me listed as having no income for three years, although I had clearly worked those years. I’m talking about salary from past jobs over 13 years ago. Of course, they wouldn’t contact the IRS for that data. I had to fish out my old W2s. I still had to prove to them that I did have income for those years. I asked them why they don’t coordinate with each other, and they just looked at me like I was an idiot. Thank goodness I still had those old files.” 

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Red Flags:Moralistic statements

Posted on June 24, 2025 by msw blog

Moralistic statements thatMoralistic statements diagnose or label

Examples:

  • “You spoil him way too much, because your mother spoiled you.”
  • “You’re so selfish.”
  • “That’s a narcissistic thing to say.”
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Express Yourself

Posted on June 24, 2025 by msw blog

Indulge in a creative act—paint, write, cook something new—express yourself through something beautiful.

Positively Purging–I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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