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Living Upside-Down
My house was torn apart, not by a tornado or a natural
disaster but by new carpet. Everything (and I do mean
everything) from upstairs had to come downstairs or be
crammed into the teeny laundry room or two bathrooms. For
such a small home, we were shocked by the way our stuff
took on a life of its own.
And the way my husband "groups" items when he brings them
downstairs reveals that he has never been through the
Restoring Order training program! In short, most of my
belongings are spread high, low, long, and wide throughout
my house. Yesterday I wore the same clothes from the prior
day because my dressers were blocked by piles of furniture
and boxes. I wore my glasses all day because I couldn't
get to my contacts. Isn't it good to know that an
organizing expert sometimes deals with disorder, too?!
This state of chaos, even though I knew it would be very
temporary, has been extremely painful for me. I haven't
known what to do next, I've been tired to the point of
retreating to my bed (which one night was square in the
middle of my office!), and I've been crabby with everyone
around me. I've even shed some tears of overwhelm as I've
surveyed the unfamiliar and haphazard scene. This
uncomfortable state of affairs has even has affected my
ability to work! I had a big proposal due yesterday and
had to carve out enough surface space to work, trying hard
not to look around me. There is exactly one place to sit
in my living room and my dog found it, too.
Yet, I am thankful for this life interruption. And not
just because now I have a squishy new carpet pad and furry
threads underfoot . This experience has given me another
reminder about the physical, mental, and spiritual
connection between order and quality of life.
Mind you, I don't have a militaristically organized home;
I don't believe order is about perfection or having all
the latest household fashions. Yet, it IS orderly and
comfortable and pleasant (although dusty at times, which
is why I have dimmers on my light switches!) At any time I
can invite people in, even if the couch pillows are
rumpled or if new stuff has temporarily assaulted my
kitchen counters or if the Radio Flyer tricycle is
illegally parked in the hallway. I have systems and
destinations for things, so that when new paper and stuff
arrives, things get cleared daily. It's a home that works
and is a joy to live in.
Thanks to my carpet, I have another reminder about what it
feels like to be disorganized. Folks tell me all the time
that they feel like they're drowning or suffocating
because of their out-of-control space. They report that
it's hard to function on a daily basis and focus on what
they need to do. This is no way to live.
My upside-down state of affairs at home is thankfully
short-lived. But sadly, for many people this search for
belongings, this nonsensical jumble, this feeling of being
helplessly stuck underground, is a way of life. To you, I
say "there is hope!" Disorganization IS recoverable. With
dedicated time and a commitment to "go the distance" to
whatever it takes to dig out, you CAN reclaim your space
and all that you lost in the jumble.
If you're disorganized, may you be encouraged to take back
lost territory. You may have to launch a full-frontal
attack, but you will get it back with time and resolve. If
you're organized, may you relish the order in your home,
which protects your daily routine, your priorities, and
even your sanity! And remember to take those life
interruptions in stride (I'm learning, too!). Tonight I'll
be dusting and folding laundry (now that I can get to my
washing machine) and putting back drawers into dressers
thinking of all of you, wishing you right-side-up living.
~Vicki Norris
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