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.
