Welcome to It's Just Stuff's #whatsonyourmindwednesday guest blogs. Every week #TeamIJSis inviting one of our Preferred Partners to share what is on their minds as it relates to the services they provide and the connection to helping anyone struggling with organizing and executive functioning skills.
This week, however, I am "taking over" the blog to make a very special announcement that ties into It's Just Stuff's commitment to promoting Mental Health Awareness Month. I hope you will read the information that follows and if you or someone you know might be interested in what I believe to be a great opportunity for someone in the Denver/Boulder/Ft Collins area please be sure to fill out and/or share the intake form mentioned at the end.
So what's the big announcement?
It's Just Stuff is having a contest for THE MOST COMPELLING clutter/disorganization story along the Front Range. We want to hear about your BIGGEST organizing pain points and why you or someone you may want to nominate is struggling with their STUFF!
What will the winner of the MOST COMPELLING story get?
GRAND PRIZE: 10 hours of It's Just Stuff in-home organizing services.!
(* Please Note: You must live within the Greater Denver/Boulder/Ft Collins areas to be eligible for this prize)
FIRST RUNNER-UP: 5 hours of virtual organizing coaching so anyone in the world is eligible for that prize. Hey, clutter is not just a problem in the U.S. but there is no doubt we are a country with a ridiculous amount of conspicuous consumption
I understand that this is a very emotional process for so many people so your stories will all remain confidential unless you consent to have your identity revealed. Some clients want people to know their struggles because they understand that it helps remove the stigma our society attaches to it. But I respect everyone's privacy and, therefore, if you don't even want to consent to your before photos being online it is fine.
As I discussed in my blog at the beginning of this month to launch Mental Health Awareness Month...our STUFF is external clutter and that external clutter is usually the result of our internal clutter or our mental stability and executive functioning capabilities. And as I have also said repeatedly, it isn't something anyone should ever feel ashamed, embarrassed or guilty for being that way. Unfortunately, though, our society is prone to attaching a stigma to anyone with any degree of mental illness so the people that often need a service like It's Just Stuff the most don't ask for it or can't afford it because it is not something covered by insurance. I plan to change that in the future and will be advocating on behalf of anyone that can't fight that fight themselves so stay tuned for Beth Blacker vs. The World 😊
In the meantime, I can't think of a better way to raise awareness for this very important cause that doesn't get nearly enough attention. Again, this is an opportunity to receive several extra set of eyes, ears and hands and tackle the chaos in your home and provide a true sense of calm. There will be just one grand prize winner but thanks to a few of our Preferred Partners we have some runner-up prizes as well. And the first 20 people that fill out the intake form will automatically receive a FREE 30-minute virtual consult with me to give you some suggestions on how to tackle your STUFF on your own so don't delay...put paper to pen or fingers to keyboard as the case shall be and start putting together all of the reasons why you need what I consider a necessity and not a luxury.
Remember...this is a contest only for an individual or family with a proven financial need and we will be working with one of our amazing Preferred Partners, Mental Health Partners Boulder to assess the financial, emotional, and physical need to determine all of the winners.
All contest entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday May 28th and the winners will be announced in our blog on May 30th.
I also encourage you to join us for the virtual event we are collaborating on with Mental Health Partners in support of Mental Health Awareness Month Wednesday, May 26th at 1:30 ET/12:30 CT/11:30 MT/10:30 PT entitled Cluttered Home, Cluttered Mind: Exploring the Connection between Mental Health & Physical Space. I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding this connection and its overall impact on so many clients that I have the privilege to help overcome all of the clutter in their lives.
I want to personally thank Mental Health Partners for not only collaborating on this event but also being such a valuable resource for anyone struggling with mental health in Colorado, especially the Boulder Community they have been helping to cope with and process the King Sooper's mass shooting that took place here less than two months ago.
I also want to thank the other IJS Partners that have graciously offered the following runner-up prizes...
Cindy Goldrich of PTS Coaching
Free access to an upcoming Calm and Connected workshop, value $490
Brook Borup of My Clone Solution
5 hours of virtual admin tasks, value $275
Noah Goldstein of Heartseed Health
1 hour acupuncture treatment, value $120
Mitten Lowe of Journey To Wellness
Wellness gift box including herbal tea, 2 essential oils and a lip balm, value $99
30 minute in-person consult, value $75
Arezou Zafrashan, Call Emmy
3 hours of light cleaning and laundry (wash/dry/fold), value $90
The 2nd runner-up will be able to choose from the above list which runner-up prize they want and each subsequent runner up will as well except for obviously the last one but all of the winners can transfer their prize to someone else if they do not feel they can use it except for the Grand Prise, 10 hours of IJS home organizing services.
If you or someone you know is interested in entering the contest, please click HERE
On behalf of #TeamIJS and all of our Partners, we are looking forward to reading all of the stories and help as many people as we can go from chaos to calm.
Beth
Founder/COCTC aka Chief of Chaos To Calm @ It's Just Stuff