What an organizing session really looks like....

Organizing or "playing" with one Buffalo's finest marketing professional, Neil Carrol of Nickel City Graphics

Doughnuts...

Doughnuts... For some reason, the Special K commercial with the adorable little girl selling doughnuts door to door, makes me want to have a doughnut instead of the Special K product. So far, I have been able to resist indulging in the tasty treat but I have not been able to resist the temptation of comparing a doughnut to clutter. I hope I can effectively translate my thoughts into words and since there is no "try" only "do", I am doing. I think of the typical fried doughnut with white sugary frosting and brightly colored sprinkles topping a cake-like ring full of processed complex carbohydrates, fat and sugar. Yum! Yes, that's what I want. Just like when I'm chilling out in front of the TV or reading a magazine, the latest and greatest, newest "toy" suddenly appears, the luxury car, the coolest yoga clothes, a home makeover. Yes, that's what I want. But, what is "it" that I really want? Is my true fulfillment, a peace, a happiness actually in the hole of the doughnut, in the clear space on the wall or on the shelf? Is the reward of a doughnut less than the reward of the hole? Do I bring myself more angst when eating foods that don't fit in my diet, more angst when making purchase that don't fit into my budget? Do I think "Yum! That thing or food will bring me happiness" when in fact, what brings me true happiness or sense of peace is the hole or space in the middle? The place where there is no empty calories, no clutter, no unnecessary stuff, the space where there is just "me" or "us" or "you"? Yes, I resist the doughnut and focus on the hole, the “me”, I don’t need to eat the doughnut to get to the happiness I seek. I resist the lure of toys because they will not bring me the long term peace I seek. So in the end, the value of empty space is more than the value of full space. (Posts like this come about when you grow up with a mom that hands you a piece of Swiss cheese and tells you not to eat the holes.)

Where to start...

Apparently, my small glass of wine last night prompted a large list of things that I want to accomplish by week's end. Waking to the list proudly displayed on my coffee table has caused me to stop and wonder how to tackle a list with a wide variety of importance and urgency levels.

Since it's Sunday morning, I can't ignore my cleaning duties and don't want to ignore my family but I am excited by the momentum created by "the list". I have a full week coming up and have a realistic view of what I can accomplish between appointments.

My plan of attack? I am going to do the tasks that I am looking forward to doing (yes, that means the fun and creative ones) and leave the ones that need higher levels of quiet and focus for the week. This evening I will schedule the uncompleted tasks as appointments in my calendar so I don't have to constantly review the list throughout the week.

My comfort zone is to evaluate due dates or goals and tackle the list in that order but that will have to wait and come into play when scheduling the remaining tasks!

"Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it." Leonardo Da Vinci

PHOTO MANAGEMENT

Yeaaahhh! Summer is here and whether you are going on a vacation or a staycation, cameras will be clicking! When the chillier months arrive (yes, I am trying to feel the cool of fall amidst this July heat!), you will want to snuggle up with friends and family to enjoy the warmth of summer past, right? And, of course, the best way is to flip through your beautifully crafted photo album…but where to begin? Don’t let the guilt of all the photos in shoe boxes and on CD’s and stored on you computer way you down. The first thing you need to do is make a decision-how do you want to categorize your photos?

Of all organizing projects, this is one with the most options-chronologically, child or person, holidays/special occasions-to list just a few. Chronological can be the easiest but separating by child or person allows you to pass that album on to them. Once that is decided, begin by sorting the photos into piles on a large flat surface. Be sure to label. In between periods of sorting, do not leave the photos out where the piles can get mixed up again, store the photos with the labels in a box or container that will not only protect them but also keep them sorted. You should schedule time on a regular basis to keep the momentum going. You might even consider creating a system where you easily access small quantities of the photos to be organized and add them to the sorted ones. This would allow you to do a little at a time. This is about setting yourself up for success. Enlisting help is not a bad idea but I must offer a word of caution-stay focused on the sorting process and don’t get caught up in reminiscing and telling stories. There will be time for that when the project is complete.

Once the sorting process is complete but before putting them in a photo album, search on line for companies that will scan your photos and send them back to you thus keeping a protected copy aside from your scrapbook or photo album. This is especially good if you live in an environment where a natural disaster could strike.

Evaluate your options for albums. Consider where you will keep them. Most people like to keep them on book shelves where the largest of albums may not fit. Luckily, there are scrapbook stores, direct marketing consultants, and craft stores that can educate you about your options. Most importantly, enjoy the process and have fun! As long as you moving forward on the project, don’t let the size and scale of it discourage you.