Messy Me

I'm messy. That's not an apology. I don't feel it is my fault. Entirely. Yes, I make the mess, yes I have trouble throwing things away. I make piles. And piles and piles! I lose things. Why is this not my fault? Well, when my son came along, he started to show signs of neatness. In inherent orderliness that he positively did not get from me. Weird! So it is my conclusion that orderliness and disorderliness, at least to some degree, in inborn. Therefore and thus, I can't help it! Though I do try. In fact it is a struggle for me day after day after mess-filled day. I hate it. But while I'm cleaning and organizing one area, another is getting messier. Shoot. My kind peers say it is because I have children. Really, what's that got to do with it? Do they encourage me to pile random pieces of paper and mail around the house? It's all me. So...what's my point? I guess just to say that. I know this about myself. It's upsetting when we plan to have people over. Then I need to crisis clean and organize, and that's not fun. It's upsetting when hubby complains about the house. That sucks. But is it that I never do any housework or organizing? Quite the contrary! I feel that I never stop! So how come nothing seems to change? I don't know! I guess I really need to purge. For example, when I ask my kids to clean up the playroom and they can't -( and I really mean they can't. They become paralyzed, as I do, but the task awaiting them, as I do, they try. They pick up a couple of things, then do something else. I understand that! I can't expect them to do more than they understand and can make sense of. DING! There's my lightbulb flashing so bright it makes a sound. Hello????!!!! REDUCE. Make it doable by taking away the vastness of the task. OK! SO! That's the place to start. Phew. So! As I like lists, I shall make a list for myself. Every month for the new year, I will add a task. While attempting to continue the task of the former month. Wow. Ok. So, task one, make a list of tasks!

I want to add something quickly here. I think people SHOULD make a mess. I think we should clean it up afterwards, but it's FUN to make a mess, and really, what harm is done? So GET MESSY! Then clean it up. Do it! ;)

My month-by-month REDUCE plan for 2010!

1. Get rid of all reading material that is not currently loved.
2. Kitchen purge #1 Get rid of all cooking items that aren't currently being used (pots/pans/small appliances).
3. Linen purge
4. Kitchen purge #2 Glass purge
5. kitchen purge #3 mugs and silverware
6. Cabinet cleansing (I'll pick a really messy one when the time comes)
7. CDs and videos
8. One-a-day plan (get one unused item OUT of the house per day, all month)
9. Clothes
10. Cabinet cleansing #2
11. Toys
12. One-a-day plan

So there it is. I'll post each month with the task of the month, and with the green task for the month. Let's see if I can do this!

Holistic balance through feng shui? - Update

I am not a neat person. Repeat. It does not come naturally to me to keep things tiny or to get rid of thing. I am terrific at making piles, though! I am fantastic at cluttering every surface! You get the point. So following the idea that a neat space will help create a calm and relaxing environment, I have given myself two tasks to complete today. The first was to neaten up the shelf over the fireplace. I did that one early. The shelf had two ornamental rabbits, a Christmassy moose doll, a stuffed animal frog, some fireplace paperwork, a Precious Moments bride and groom, three framed photos, two unframed photos, and dust. (Am I forgetting anything?!) Now the shelf has the PM bride and groom, two unframed photos, and the fireplace paperwork. Wow! My mother's picture hangs right above the shelf and she is smiling her approval. I am smiling, too. =)

Oh, the other task? To fold and PUT AWAY all of the laundry. I have been trying to follow Flylady (flylady.com) in order to try to get more organized, and she says to do a load of laundry each day. (How awfully UNgreen....babysteps....) So I have been. And the laundry goes from the drier to the couch, to the baskets, upstairs to the bedroom.....and eventually put away. SO, there is laundry on the couch, there are various piles of folded laundry, there's a basket or two of folded laundry in the living room, and there are several in the bedroom. I attempted, at one point, to delegate the putting away task, but that failed. SOOOO.....it is my task today to fold and put it ALL away. Today. We'll see about tomorrow!!

I'm putting this picture in here to embarrass myself into completing this task. (grin)

Holistic balance through feng shui?

To live in a holistic way is to live in a balanced way. Live your life in balance with nature. Balance all aspects of your life - emotional health, physical health, diet, exercise, non-toxic environment, yadayada. As I head down the path towards a more balanced life and self, I put my focus on one area one day, another area another day.... making small changes here and there. I am finding that as I make adjustments that make me feel good, or better, other areas present themselves and are suddenly so obviously out of balance that I am taken aback. For example, today I visited a home that was so.....orderly....that it was instantly unsettling to me. One of the owners of this home has been to my home, which is, well, DISorderly. I was instantly flooded with several emotions, including awe (her home is lovely), and embarrassment. Basically, in order to feel peaceful in your own environment, the first step is to create a peaceful environment. Having stuff piled everywhere does not create a calm mood. Why are some of us naturals at creating a clutter-free, peaceful space and others (me) are not? I do not know. But this part of my journey will never be easy for me. As with all of this, it's a process. I have no plan for the "perfect" space for us, just one that one that is nice to be in.