mike has given me this nickname, 'scraps and caps' because i leave bits of myself everywhere. i leave caps and gum wrappers in different places. i write important things on scraps of paper and then loose them. i frantically go looking for the torn part of an envelope that has a phone number i need, which pile did i put that bill? at home, i'm very disorganized. and i will admit, this is one of my bigger flaws- high levels of disorganization. but, i know this- so at work, i compensate. at work i have one notebook with everything in it- not organized- but at least in one spot. at home- i just can't get it together. the real problem is- that i'm actually highly functional despite my disorganization- so there is not a lot of impetus to change. but it drives mike nuts - and it actually drives me nuts too.
it's representative of the way my brain works- i think i function in a systemless world. stuff just floats around up there and the important things are weighted a bit more heavily or colored brightly so they somehow stick out or get noticed and remembered. maybe this is why i make lists- in a grand attempt to order that 'stuff'.
this process of packing up- moving so dramatically- is forcing the organization issue. i can't just shove my life in a box and open it again in africa. i actually have to go through and sort - i have to make decisions- i have to throw out- abandon. i need to make choices and i need to create a system.
but i think it's almost hopeless because as i uncover boxes of scraps i have the fondest memories! the scribbled notes here and there - the subway ticket- the braided straw wrapper from denny's- whatever- it's the randomness that i love re-encountering. or the mystery in it- why was that thing saved- who is that scribbled name. memories hold tremendous value to me- way more than the 'stuff' that holds the memory. i have this necklace made of seeds from a little village in peru- it's one of my treasures- monetarily worth nothing- but it has such value and meaning to me.
so i think instead of getting more organized- i'm just going to have smaller boxes of scraps- it's just what it is and that's OK.
it's representative of the way my brain works- i think i function in a systemless world. stuff just floats around up there and the important things are weighted a bit more heavily or colored brightly so they somehow stick out or get noticed and remembered. maybe this is why i make lists- in a grand attempt to order that 'stuff'.
this process of packing up- moving so dramatically- is forcing the organization issue. i can't just shove my life in a box and open it again in africa. i actually have to go through and sort - i have to make decisions- i have to throw out- abandon. i need to make choices and i need to create a system.
but i think it's almost hopeless because as i uncover boxes of scraps i have the fondest memories! the scribbled notes here and there - the subway ticket- the braided straw wrapper from denny's- whatever- it's the randomness that i love re-encountering. or the mystery in it- why was that thing saved- who is that scribbled name. memories hold tremendous value to me- way more than the 'stuff' that holds the memory. i have this necklace made of seeds from a little village in peru- it's one of my treasures- monetarily worth nothing- but it has such value and meaning to me.
so i think instead of getting more organized- i'm just going to have smaller boxes of scraps- it's just what it is and that's OK.
6 comments:
So glad I am not the only who suffers from this. I'm not quite as bad in some ways but the sentimentalism gets me every time. I still have all of the encouragement notes from every missions trip) all 11 of them. Every hand written thank you note starting from elementary school. I also recently had all birthday and Christmas cards from friends though I did finally start to throw them away in the interest of down sizing......and oh so much more. I think eventually I will scan everything into the computer so i can still see and think about the times I had enjoyed with friends or an event i participated in, but then I think I really enjoy taking a letter out of the envelope and unfolding the note from a friend..... So for now I still have my boxes of stuff up in the attic and never pan on moving from my house if I can help it. :)
thanks for commenting! and getting it-
the scanning would be great- but i'd miss the hands on- maybe when we're old we'll have one shoe box- packed with the most special gems- the ones we just couldn't scan or throw out- glad you have your attic :)
I appreciate this post. When I look at the photos of so many blogs, it looks like I'm viewing model homes. Where are the little nests of junk mail to go through later? Does everyone else's laundry get folded directly from the dryer? Are mine the only counters that get more and more crowded by miscellaneous stuff?
It must be hard having to make decisions on what to throw out if it's so final. I also take pictures of things I know I should throw out but want to hang onto. Then I have the memory stored away but not the material thing weighing me down.
susan welcome!
i know what you mean about the perfect blogger homes!
i do have a massive aversion to 'the piles' so i've gotten much better about sorting, throwing out and then at least stashing the piles into a cute box or folder :)
mwa- thanks for reading! and that suggestion- now if only i could organize my computer pics!xo
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