Dear Friends,

I often quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when I am answering emails. Here is his exact quote that we usually paraphrase.

“To take the first step in faith, you don’t have to see the whole staircase: just take the first step.”

We get emails wanting us to adapt our messages for Payroll FlyBabies, FLY Guys, Retired members, Stay At Home Moms, Work at home Moms, Single members, Single parents, people with MS, children . . . . . . The list could go on forever. Every one is an individual, each person believes that their situation is different and therefore our messages are not geared toward them. I get pretty tough with them, because I see their perfectionism rearing its ugly head. “I need everything  laid out in the perfect order for me to see the whole picture, before I can start!” Well this is not only whining but hog wash as we say in the south. Here is where we paraphrase Dr. King’s statement; You don’t have to see the top of the staircase to take the first step!

Many of you are new members and already feel behind. If you haven’t ever read the bottom of all of our messages, please take the time to do this right now.

You are not behind! I don’t want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?

We get questions that say when do I start doing a home blessing hour and should I be doing my zones yet? Now listen very closely. There is no timetable for this system. We all advance at our own pace. All we ask is that you do these things when you start!

1. Shine your sink! That means now! Not next week or never. If you have not done this yet then why are you even reading my message: This is your very first homework assignment. If you are going to ignore this, then go ahead and unsubscribe, because you are not ready to try something different. We will still be here when you are willing to take this first step up the staircase to peace. I don’t care if you can’t see how shining your sink is going to help clean up your messy house. Just quit thinking and start doing! Step out in faith and do something for a change instead of arguing with the computer or your phone! You all  got our welcome letter. That is if you bothered to read them.

2. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow! What is so tough about this? I put them on a hook in the bathroom or folded up on the shelf. This keeps you from procrastinating about “what am I going to wear”. You don’t even have to think.

3. Then when you get up in the morning; get dressed all the way to shoes as soon as your feet hit the floor. Now this does not mean you can go make coffee first. When you get into the kitchen, I want you fully dressed ready to greet your day and your shiny sink!

4. The only other thing we ask you to do is to declutter for 15 minutes a day. Yes we can do anything for 15 minute. We have lots of fun ways to do this; 27 fling boogie, Hot spot fire prevention or just set a timer and start gathering up the junk mail and trash. This is not rocket science. Did you know that you can do anything for 15 minute. Oh you don’t have 15 minutes! Yes you do if you break it down into 5 minute segments. Keep in mind that you cannot organize clutter! All you can do is get rid of it. So start flinging it out your door. Remember one of our 11 commandments; Do not pull out more  than you can put back in an hour.

These are your only requirements when you join our little cyber-family. As you start building your routines upon this foundation, you will be taking one step at a time toward the peace that we have found. You don’t have to see the top of the staircase to take the first step! Follow our lead and you will be FLYing before you know it. Oh and quit jumping three steps at a time. It took me nine months to establish a full routine. I felt that it was like giving birth to a new life. Your routines are always evolving too. Get a
binder/notebook and write out a simple routine for your before bedtime and another simple one for your morning. Use a pencil! Put it in a sheet protector. As your routines grow, you will be building  your control journal one sheet at a time. Do not obsess about this.  It is just a binder to hold your routines.

So take those babysteps up our little staircase! It is so peaceful at the top! With each step you will be sprouting your wings.

Are you ready to take the first step?

FlyLady

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