Solutions: Organize a bit at a time
There’s a lot to love about my home and I do, even after more than 20 years together. Not a day goes by without my appreciation for a unique design feature or architectural detail. What doesn’t thrill me, however, is the current state of disarray and I have no one to blame but myself.
When it comes to organization, I always have the best intentions. The implementation is where everything falls apart.
In my head, I envision my environment having reached its full potential. But in my heart, I know the reality is nowhere near what I imagine.
Recently, I reached a point where I could no longer handle the piles of paper and other miscellaneous items around me.
But every time I start to work my way through it, something comes along to throw me off course like the arthritis in my knee that put my recent efforts on hold.
Despite the pain that made it impossible to go up and down the stairs, I stopped feeling sorry for myself when remembering my dear friend and former next-door neighbor who was one of the most productive people I’ve ever known. With major health issues, she still managed to clean her house every day, one room at a time, and keep it neat and tidy too.
She would start the process early in the morning and read and nap in the afternoon, which happen to be two of my favorite pastimes that can be satisfying rewards for a job well done.
For me, I knew there was only one way to proceed, which reminds me of some of the great advice from one of my favorite books on writing called “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. The title was inspired by a story about the author’s father who suggests breaking down the writing process into smaller, more manageable chunks.
As a former colleague of mine always said when someone asked how her day was going, she just kept plugging along, which is what I need to do to get some semblance of my house back.
In the meantime, it’s been driving me bonkers that I can’t find a simple gift I put aside for the theater teacher at my daughter’s school. After their last production, I told her I had a little something for her that I hope to locate before the end of the school year.
So far, I’ve tackled one of the most visible areas of the home where the mail and newspapers collide. It’s amazing how much I was able to recycle and how little time it took to complete the relatively painless process, done during commercial breaks of “The Voice” that gave me a great sense of accomplishment.
One problem that is a result of the process is that I can’t seem to find the pieces that I keep when I give them a new spot. From now on, I plan to make a list of items that have found a new home. I just hope I can find the list.
Jeanine Matlow is a Metro Detroit interior decorator turned freelance writer specializing in stories about interior design. You can reach her at [email protected].