Learning to Let Go of The Beatles
(among other things)

     I remember the day that changed my attitude about my stuff.

     I returned from a weekend away to find that a freak "100 year storm" (the first of four in five years, as it turned out) had backed water up into my basement, lifted the boxes from a recent move, and scattered them throughout the basement as it drained away, leaving everything soaked through.

     I know.  It's not a good idea to keep irreplaceable stuff in the basement in Wisconsin.  I don't do it any more. But, I want to say that I considered myself lucky.  Many people had rain come up into their living area that summer; many of them were still trying to pump it out days later. Some people lost their entire house.  My basement was mostly unfinished, so there was no carpeting or furniture to deal with.
     But...my stuff!  The next day, I stood, bewildered, on the driveway, where I was attempting to dry some things.  In the 98 degree 99% humidity typical post-storm Wisconsin day, it wasn't going well.  Some of it could be saved, and some would be easy to replace.  But also scattered in front of me were photo albums from my time in Australia, funny notes that my friends and I had written to each other in high school (really!), Beatle photos, posters and trading cards personally autographed by me in a forged version of each Beatle's handwriting, scrap books, diaries, journals --I began journaling when I was 7 years old--, ticket stubs (including one to the Beatles concert in Milwaukee priced at $4.50) and mementos...you get the idea.  I had painstakingly saved all of this stuff over the years and through numerous moves, including to Australia and back.
     If anyone had tried to persuade me to let go of all that before the storm, there's no way I would have done so.  ALL of it fell into the category of "I need it AND I love it".  I guess I thought I needed it to remember all of the fun times and good friends that I've had over the years, because if I don't have the stuff, I might not remember, and if I don't remember, maybe it didn't really happen.
     Of course, I had no choice.  It all had to go.  I was pretty upset for about five minutes.  Then I realized NOTHING WOULD CHANGE without the stuff.  Maybe I wouldn't be able to open the box and wander down memory lane about once every five or ten years, but for the most part, I wouldn't notice its absence.  And there would be extra space where the boxes had been.
      I really believe all experiences are sent to bring us lessons (although I have learned people don't appreciate hearing this when they are in the midst of a particularly difficult lesson).  When my basement flooded, I learned the value of letting go, being unattached to possessions and, by extension, to outcome.    It's made my life happier, easier and simpler.  As it turns out, those great memories were not in the boxes after all--they were in my heart, and still are.  At least I think they are.  If they're not, I don't miss them!
   

Create Order

Home organizing and de-materializing service

Serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin greater metro area.

Call to or email to schedule an appointment or have a conversation about your organizing needs

262-784-3957

email:  createorder1@gmail.com

createorder.org

Facebook:  Linda Palmer/ Create Order Organizing Service

One Simple Thing
(that can make you feel and look as if you've got it all under control.)

         As a teacher, like most, I struggled mightily with the organizational aspects of classroom teaching.  So many things to keep track of and so little time to do it all!  During 32 years as a classroom teacher I invented system after system to deal with records, materials, supplies, data,  and equipment, not to mention as many as 35 kids in a room at one time. 

         But a few years ago, one of my colleagues told me that she'd read in a book that there is one thing you can to do trick yourself (and others) into thinking you're organized.   I tried it and it worked!  I used it every single day after that.  The trick is simple--if not always easy--and here it is:

         Clear your desk off completely every night.  

COMPLETELY.  

EVERY night.

     I was thinking the same thing you are right now. That's crazy! Where in the heck are all these piles of papers, office supplies, manila folders, to-do lists and sticky notes supposed to go?

     Short answer:  Not on the desk. 

     I had a counter with shelves next to the desk.  A table in front of the desk.  A big ugly gray cabinet with shelves behind the desk, and a student desk next to the desk.  Every single one of those pieces was crammed, piled  and stuffed with any number of books, papers, in baskets, out baskets, duplicated papers, papers to be duplicated, student work, student portfolios, and reams of professional development material.

     You get the picture.  Sometimes there was even stuff under the desk! At night, a lot of the stuff would come home with me. The rest of it was reproducing while I was gone, I think.

     But when I walked into the room in the morning, the desk itself was a clear, uncluttered expanse of work space. What a great way to start the day!  I took one look at that desk and knew the person who worked there must be  competent, capable, and in complete control of their entire life. Sometimes I even sat down and waited for that person to show up!

     Even better, when someone else came into my room, the desk would be the first thing they'd see.  Their eyes would widen in disbelief. "How do you do that?" they'd ask. They didn't even notice the ever-growing piles all around the desk, because their eyes were riveted to the rare sight of a clean desk top.   In the interests of collaboration, I would always tell them my trick.  When principal or parent or visitor came into the room, I liked to imagine I saw a little glimmer of respect or admiration for my nice clear desktop ( I have a good imagination).

     Of course, as the day went on, the desk top became more cluttered and by noon was mostly covered up. That's OK, because at the end of the day I knew I would take a little time (usually no more than 5-10 minutes) to take everything off and put it on another pile somewhere--anywhere else. Including: coffee cup, stapler, paper clips--EVERYTHING.  In later years, I allowed the computer to stay.

      The next day, my nice clear desk would be sitting there serenely inviting me to begin my day in a calm and orderly way.

     This doesn't only work in the workplace.  You could do this anywhere at home too.  That kitchen counter that draws every single thing someone is taking into or out of the house.  The table where you drop keys, mail, burnt out light bulbs and old newspapers.  Pick just one spot and clear if off once a day.  You'll be amazed at the lift it can give you to see even one clear surface!
  

          WARNING: This behavior may be highly addictive.  After awhile you can get hooked and want to clear off other spaces.  Go for it! If you need help, your friendly professional organizer is always at the ready.

To Schedule a FREE consultation,

or have a conversation about your organizing needs,

 call or email:

262-784-3957

createorder1@gmail.com
On the web:  createorder.org

Linda Palmer

Create Order
Home organizing and de-materializing service
Serving the Milwaukee, Wisconsin greater metro and surrounding areas.