Clear Your Space...Clear Your Mind #18

Part 3 ~ It's Practical

Chapter 11 ~ Proble-tunities

          “When written in Chinese,

           the word ‘crisis’ is composed of

          two characters, one represents danger

         and the other represents opportunity.”

                                    John F. Kennedy 

     All disorganized and cluttered homes are the result of life’s situations, large or small, and by the time a Professional Organizer is called in, most folks are generally feeling overwhelmed by the state of affairs.  From the person who grew up in chaos, never having learned organizational skills, to the person who has tragically lost a spouse and is unable to let go of anything, nothing can upset the organizational apple cart more than a major life change, whether it’s a happy circumstance or otherwise.  Marriage, divorce, breakups, illness, birth and death - all of these events can radically affect one’s inner and outer landscape.

     Two factors play a part in why this is so.  First, many of these major life changes are accompanied by more stuff.  A marriage means the joining of two people and the merging of all of their household belongings.  A new baby involves a crib, a swing, a bouncy chair, a car seat and more.  Even the death of a loved one, despite the fact it’s a time of letting go, frequently brings with it an inheritance of property. 

     Secondly, along with the new accumulation of stuff, comes the profound and intense feelings these major life changes engender: worry, anxiety, fear, grief.  You now have a prescription for turmoil, inside and out. 

     Areas that typically become the recipients for this surplus of stuff are your basements, attics, garages, and possibly a spare bedroom.  Basements and attics are acceptable repositories for our junk because they are already deemed warehouses for the unused.  Garages are likely candidates because things transported there are very often on their way out, the way-station to the trash.  Then there are those spare rooms where you can squirrel away your artifacts and just simply shut the door.

      I truly don’t believe situational disorganization can be avoided.  As I said before, life is messy and becomes messier when a major life change is added into the mix.  Overcoming any situation resulting in the destruction of an existing framework has to do with a desire to clean it up.  There is no disorganization that cannot be rectified with time, dedication, and vigilance. 

     Since life is ever-changing, there will always be a new circumstance affecting our space and consequently our orderliness.  Long term solutions require a strong desire to be organized and a determined commitment to see it through.  Pre-planning, behavioral adjustments to forge new habits, time management skills, these are good ways to conquer the turmoil that ensues from life’s ups and downs.  Whenever possible, get assistance from an outside source.  Support will help you conquer the clutter without exhausting your emotional and physical resources.  Navigating through a weighty life-change can be baffling and a blur, but two things are a constant: we live in a world of change and all messes can be cleaned up.

     Practically speaking, the determination to take off on this organizational adventure is a personal decision.  When I concluded the time was right to accomplish my goal of writing a book (an aspiration on my agenda since the age of twelve) it felt like the next logical step.  But no one can determine what the next reasonable course of action for you might be. 

     Whether it’s writing a book, creating a peaceful habitat, or sorting through your papers, there is no wrong way to go about it.  Only you can decide when it’s fitting to actualize those items on your itinerary.  These noteworthy upsets in your life can be a “proble-tunity” (a term my cousin Marlene learned in graduate school that we toss around regularly).  I presume its definition is clear: a predicament that contains the seeds of possibility.

     I don’t much like edicts or commandments, but there are guidelines and systems, and every good organizer knows there are some basic rules of the road.  Since I look for the potential in my clients, knowing them to be uniquely armed with their own idiosyncrasies and styles, I like the methodologies for guiding them to unfold as we uncover their distinctive approach. 

     I will admit however, that I do have some favorite standby philosophies, tools, and strategies.  So if your current problem has turned into an opportunity to tackle your mess and you are looking for some tips and tools of the trade, here you go.

to be continued...