Kate Emmerson - Clear Your Clutter: Live Light, Live Large

As I finalise this book, I am sitting in the bush in the beautiful Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa. Viki my friend since we were 12 years old and her partner call this magnificent place home and it has gifted me the rare opportunity to be still and to focus. I feel deep gratitude to be here at this time, away from the craziness that my city life often epitomizes.

I am indebted, too, to my Mastermind group having my book in print and selling was the goal that I brought to the space. Mastermind has been both a challenge and an enormous source of inspiration to ensure my commitment to my own goals.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of working with Metz Press and the team to whom I was introduced through a series of interesting unfoldings. My gratitude also to Sean for immaculate editing and for our lovely connection right from the start.

To my incredible assistant Nicole, my VA (virtual assistant) and researcher par excellence ! Working with her has been an enlightening journey to increased effectiveness, helping me to stick to what I know and love best as she weaves her magic through my life and work.

Thanks to all my incredible staff who have accompanied me on jobs as we get deep and personal inside homes and offices. It is a blessing to do this work. And a special note of thanks to Prayer!

My dear friend Nick Williams, best-selling author and mentor, who always believed that there was a book in me and who got me started on the process.

And a thank you to all my friends and family around the world who make my life as full and interesting as it is you all know who you are. A special note goes out to my brave and courageous mum, Lesley, who continues to be a source of great inspiration to me.

Finally, and most importantly, I dedicate this book to all the brave, bold and courageous souls who have invited me into their lives to help shift them and their clutter. Whether supporting them in physically clearing out their homes, via cyberspace through my e-courses, inspiring them when invited to talk at functions, through written articles or Skype sessions with your permission, it is your stories that are woven through this text, because I know you will inspire others with your courage to let go.

Clutter clearing is not easy, and requires the tenacity of a bulldog, but the delight and freedom of living light that is waiting just on the other side of the process, will have you skipping for joy as you learn how to live light, live large .

With blessings,

The Quick Shift Deva

1. Introduction

It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.

Bertrand Russell

Age 7. One trunk. One term. A system that was designed to work.

Boarding school provided me with a system for life that I feel privileged to be able to share with you, no matter where you are on your personal clutter journey.

In my memory of that time, my two elder brothers were sent to boarding school. Being the youngest, and the only girl, I decided that fair was fair and that I wanted to go too, aged 7. Seriously. It was a bit of a personal wail in terms of, If they can go, why cant I? While most other kids shudder at the thought of boarding school, my independent nature would not allow me to let go of the idea. And, in retrospect, I honestly think it boded well for my future, allowing me to learn to live by the rules that still serve me to this day.

I had no choice but to abide by the military-like precision of green knickers living with green knickers, towels folded neatly, bed made before showering, keeping toiletries in one small bag, nothing lurking under the steel-framed bed, evening wear hanging with evening wear, for example. It was all about like with like and it had to be neat. Precision neat. Each of us had half a cupboard and a small bedside table. Every morning as we left the dorm area we had to polish our shoes at the end of the passage. It was a simple system that worked. Pocket money was fastidiously controlled by Mama Matron in her little black book and we had to request funds every week for sweets from the tuck shop. We even had a knickers, hair, nail and hemline check. Eek!