 |
 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
NABBW Columnist - Organizational Skills
| Name: | Regina Leeds |
| Title: | Author, Teacher, Seminar Leader |
| Expertise: | Organizational Skills |
| Web Site: |
http://www.reginaleeds.com |
| Email: | zenorg1@aol.com |
| Bio: |  New York City native Regina Leeds has brought order to home and work environments across the United States since 1988 when she started her company, Get Organized! by REGINA. Currently based in Los Angeles, her clientele run the gamut from movie stars to business people and housewives. Regina regularly travels throughout the United States to assist her clients.
Regina is the author of two books: The Zen of Organizing; Creating Order and Peace in Your Home, Career and Life and Creating a Place Without Losing Your Space: a Couples Guide to Blending Homes, Lives and Clutter. A one-hour TV special called ?The Zen of Organizing' was created for the Fine Living Cable Network and began airing on Mother's Day, 2003. Regina is one of the approved expert guests for ?Soap Talk' on the Soap Opera Network. She is currently developing an idea for a TV series with Film Garden, a Los Angeles production company, The ?Zen Organizer' has been featured in national magazines, including Bon Appetit, Redbook, Delta Airlines' Shuttle Sheet, The Utne Reader, New Age Magazine, In Style and Los Angeles Magazine among others. The latter named her the Best Organizer in LA. Regina was featured this year in the Home section of the Los Angeles Times. In addition, she was the resident expert for the Home and Garden Channel at iVillage.com for over 4 years. Regina had the honor of representing Sears Grand in the media for their opening in Rancho Cucamonga. Regina's first career as a professional actress (she received a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Hunter College in Manhattan) has made the transition to teacher and seminar leader an easy one. Regina's credits as a professional actress include national commercials, guest spots on TV, theatre roles and three happy years recurring on The Young & the Restless. The ?Zen Organizer' has taught classes and delivered speeches on the art of ?Zen Organizing' to diverse groups around the country. Her audiences have included: Conde Nast, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Offices, the Mile Hi Church of Religious Science in Denver, the Unity Church of Christianity in Houston, The University Club and Doubles in New York City and the City of Hope in Los Angeles. Regina is a spokesperson for the National Search and Rescue Dog Foundation in Ojai. |
The Loss of a Pet
By Regina Leeds
A dear friend asked me what I would write about this month. Since I
truly believe a writer is most effective when he shares from his own
life experience, this month my organizing skills are focused on coping
with the loss of a treasured animal companion.
My wonderful golden retriever, who is acknowledged in both of my books,
appears at my web site and is mentioned at all of my lectures, passed
away on April 19th. Although she was 13 1⁄2 and I certainly realized
Kate’s time was limited, her vet and I believed that Miss Katie would
make it to 15. Her presence, however, was requested in the halls of
heaven and she left after a mercifully brief illness.
When I returned home from the animal hospital, I looked at my home with
new eyes. Toys were scattered everywhere. Dog biscuits lived on my
kitchen counter in glass jars. My cupboards were full of her designer
dog food and countless supplements and medications. Everywhere I looked
I saw her things and I was overwhelmed with a wave of grief I could not
ever describe in words.
Friends urged me not to touch anything for weeks. Her death was a shock
and they wanted me to have time to adjust. Thinking like an organizer,
here are the decisions I made. I offer them not as a blue print for the
right way to handle such a profound loss but rather as a guideline for
a time when clarity of thought is at a premium.
By the way, if you don’t own a dog, cat or any other companion animal,
you might want to keep these ideas in mind so that you can help your
friends and family cope in their hour of need.
First, I decided to take Katie’s food to her vet. She does rescue work
with pugs and I wanted to help those dear, frightened creatures have at
least one good meal.
Katie had a boundless supply of supplements and medications and these were donated as well.
My best friend Susie has a wonderful mutt named Max. He inherited
Katie’s dog biscuits. Another friend, Debbie, has two dogs, Rocky and
Dolly, and they got Katie’s supply of what we dog owners lovingly call
poop bags.
There were some things I just had to leave in place: Katie’s dog bed
and the toys and tennis balls that habitually graced my floor. These I
decided to keep and I couldn’t tell you why. I was also moved to keep
out her food stand with her food and water bowls.
Two days after she died, I suddenly understood why those items had to
stay with me. My dear friend Tanya, who had come with me to the animal
hospital, brought her golden retriever to visit. Abby played with
Katie’s toys, she rolled on her bed and refreshed herself with a drink.
It was as if Katie was reminding me to be gracious to all the animals
who would come to visit.
Well, that’s what I know so far. If you’d like to read the eulogy I
wrote in Kate’s honor, please visit my website www.reginaleeds.com.
It’s in the newsletter.
Visit Regina at
http://www.reginaleeds.com