#washingtoncoast

Why do we save things?  And what do we keep?

I admire people who can let go of things without hesitating.️ My husband & I both packrats, but I think we’re driven by different reasons. We recycle, ♻️ but keep a lot, too

It seems like saving possessions boils down to reasons like:

Necessity
Usefulness
Sentiment
Value 
You “might” need it someday
You’re a hoarder!

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to save things because space is limited. As my friend Suzanne used to say, “If in doubt, throw it out.” When she moved from Seattle to Portland, she gave me her Christmas ornaments. She told me she wouldn’t need them. (She never bought another Christmas tree.)

In the US,  people sometimes downsize & have less space when they move to a new home️. So all the extra stuff that won’t fit in their new place goes into a storage unit. I wasn’t surprised to learn more than 10% of households in the US rent a storage unit. We know a lot of people who have them.

Is renting a place to store your extra belongings a worldwide trend? Here, the average storage unit costs $89/mo. (79e / 10,285y).

Our youngest son moved in with us during the pandemic & has since moved out, but he left behind a bunch of his bags,  boxes & belongings! We also have things that belong to our older son who moved out in 2002! ‍‍‍

I’m a fine one to talk. My sister lives in our childhood home & I moved out decades ago. There are still boxes of MY stuff in the basement!

Many things I keep because they have sentimental value. ♥️ My husband is more of the “I might need this someday” school of thought. ‍♀️ I admit, he’s proven time & again the logic of keeping things that we’ve ended up needing.

Marie Kondo asks the question, “Does an object spark joy?”

Are you a hoarder? What are the reasons you save things you don’t use or need? ‍♂️
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PHOTOS: Maybe we love #Copalisbeach because it’s clean & devoid of unnecessary stuff! #oceanbeach #sandflats #lowtide #naturepatterns #sandpatterns #beachsunset #oceansunset #clamdiggers #Washingtoncoast #clouds☁️ #sentimental #sentimentalcircus #packrat #sparkjoy #storageunit #hoarder
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(at Ocean Shores, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CabvGN9rXb6/?utm_medium=tumblr

How does a business win your heart? 

This year my husband & I celebrated Valentine’s Day two days late. We drove to the ocean to go razor clam digging. As we were leaving Seattle, ️ we stopped at a sporting goods store to buy shellfish licenses. 

But before selling us licenses, the cashier asked many questions, including our social security numbers,  (strange!) then told us there would be a fee for using a credit card.  

After a few more roadblocks,  we had our licenses in hand. It could have been a painless experience, but it was frustrating. I was reminded of one of my digital marketing classes where we studied ‘the customer journey.’ ️ 

In marketing, mapping the customer journey️ helps businesses identify pain points & find ways to avoid or minimize them. It can help turn customers into fans. 

One takeaway from the sporting goods store: the way a situation is framed can make a difference.  Simply saying, “It looks like you’re not in the system. No problem!  We just need to add your SSN!” would have removed a pain point. 

If we work for a company‍ or for ourselves‍, it’s important to think about clients & anticipate ways to make their experiences better.  No matter what services or goods we offer, the creation of positive moments will delight customers & create fans. 

Whether you’re a customer, ️ or a business that serves them,  you might enjoy reading the #NewYorkTimesbestseller,  The Power of Moments. It entertains & teaches some great lessons. 

Have you had a great customer experience,  or one that was awful?  How did it make you feel? 
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PHOTOS: Belated #happyvalentinesday❤️#oceanbeach #oceanlife #lowtide #seabirds #clams #razorclams #clamshell #friedclams #clamdigging #Copalisbeach #Washingtoncoast #customerjourney #customerservice #digitalmarketingtip
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Thanks to Bellevue College #digitalmarketing professors @kylecbarber @sraymond44 ‍@maithomas55‍ & the friendships I formed with classmates ‍@emmaoliviab_ ‍@bridge_raftery & others! 
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. (at Copalis Beach, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaJs1nqLmf1/?utm_medium=tumblr

Beach bully! #Attu loving the #WAcoast in his @originalbully #doghoodie ! ❤️
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#pnw #bullylife #goingcoastal #washingtoncoast #pacnw #pacificnorthwest #beachlife #beachvibes #beachdog #bully #longbeachwa #willapabay #explorewashington #ambully #americanbully #bullybreed #beachbody #doglovers #pitbull #dogfashion #dogclothes #ogbully #bullybunch #originalbully #dogoftheday #bulldog #inbullywetrust (at Long Beach, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFci_ZUjP9P/?igshid=1s2ugot5wjp69