Like the sign says…
Hands down, the hardest part of tackling a big project is getting started. Months and sometimes years go into stewing about it. For me, it’s always organizational issues like overstuffed closets or a jammed garage. I read somewhere, “Clutter is the result of indecision.” It’s true; I’d rather set something aside and think about it later. The only problem, setting it aside is putting it out of sight and out of my mind. Next thing I know, my mountains of indecisiveness becomes so big, I just want to shut the door and forget about it.
Tons of books and experts are out there for people like me. I’ve read two de-cluttering books now, the latest is the Japanese version, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo. I got really pumped up after reading it, armed to tackle my closet. The gist of her strategy, if you don’t LOVE it, let it go after properly thanking it for its service. Wow. I could finally stopping thinking about my mom’s mantra, “it’s still good.”
Around fourth grade, I remember wanting a new pair of girl jeans, not the boy jeans from Sears, tough-skins with built in knee patches to hold up under rough play like climbing trees and digging in the dirt. I couldn’t get new jeans until the old ones were worn out. I scooted around the yard on my knees trying to break through those indestructible patches. My only other option was a pair of pink floral pants from my older sister, the pattern was five years out of date but they were “still good.” No wonder I have clothing oozing out of my shelves, drawers, and closets. Moms make great scapegoats.
At the end of summer, I tried a little bit of the Japanese strategy. I told my husband I was getting really brutal as some nice things were getting dismissed. “You should take those to a consignment store!” So I started yet another pile where I must decide where to take it and should I leave it on hangers. It was working, but then, life got in the way and I realized I need A LOT of time to make this happen. To do it properly, I want to put everything on those super skinny hangers. (I could keep more things.) I want a rolling rack to hang everything on as the Japanese lady said EVERYTHING must come out of the closet. Now I need to find the cheapest place to buy these “necessities” and that means going on to Amazon or hitting up the Container Store. I must make decisions I don’t feel like making and I’m right back where I started, in a state of indecision, the clutter swallowing me whole.
I need a “National Clean Out Your Closet Month” like there is for writers of every type. I set my alarm and drank a whole pot of coffee so I could write my post before I make the sandwiches for school. I’m that committed to my “National Blog Posting Month” or NaBloPoMo. People are watching. After ten days, I’m breaking my bad habit of not writing every day. I think I’m on to something.
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