Last weekend, I had a ton of things to get done. Things on my list included creating back-up files for my taxes, finally finishing those New Year’s cards and actually mailing them, cleaning the disaster zones commonly referred to as bathrooms in other homes, meal planning and baking for the upcoming week, and a lot more. I was so swamped, though, that I didn’t know where to begin – even though organizing and coordination is what I do for a living.
Why do I have such a block when it comes to applying all the things I know to my own life?
I had to go into my attic to put away some Christmas stuff I still had sitting around (yeah, it’s pretty bad) and I instantly knew the answer to that question. It’s always nice when common sense gets through this thick skull of mine.
Sometimes when it comes to our own lives, we are so deep into the situation that we don’t feel the necessary space to maneuver or the directions we need to take. A big reason why I can go into a client’s office and restructure the space to create an improved work flow is because I am coming into someone else’s life with no real investment other than getting the job done for them. The principles of organizing and planning are always the same, but the emotional attachments we place on our own stuff create some pretty substantial barriers to getting us motivated.
No matter how much we want to change something, will power won’t get us going until we unload the heavy weight we’ve attached to the clutter and start seeing what we have to work with.
So, I emptied my entire attic. I brought out everything I had shoved in there and have it all over the house. I knew that I was using my attic to keep things out of sight – memories, items I don’t get rid of because I might want it later or need it some day, stuff I don’t know what to do with or feel compelled to keep hold of so I don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I have half-finished paintings, books yet to read and my antique tea set I never use because I never entertain.
My attic was as cluttered as my brain feels these days and the only way I will be able to begin making any progress is to get it all out in the open. Just as my house right now is a complete disaster and quite the obstacle course, I feel a sense of relief in seeing what I am dealing with upfront. I am going through the bits and pieces of what I my life has become. The piles are evolving from being my negative baggage into neatly labeled, packed and more positive ‘valuables’. Both make up what and who I am – they just need put where they belong.
Taking stock of who I am and what I am carrying around in my head these days will be just as messy and equally as hazardous. Yet, the relief I will feel as I see things put into their place will give me more room to explore and open up a clearer path to where I want to go. To ensure that I’ll stay on track, I’m going to pay myself so that I can walk into this ‘job’ as I would a client’s: by not investing so much into the clutter and being more personally committed to getting the job done well. Even though it will be more emotionally involved, my goal remains in following through.
January is known for resolutions. This month, I’m focusing on my heart. I will be exercising it through lifting, stair climbing and skipping down memory lane. I’ll also be paying more attention to rediscovering some of those passions that have kept hidden for too long. Clearing out the attic, figuratively and literally, will keep the heart of my home free of unwanted clutter. What a great way to head into this new year.
