LETTING GO & SQUARING UP

In the summer of 1962 my parents bought their first new home.  It looked straight out of a catalogue, or so I was told.  With 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (yes, that would ultimately care for 4 kiddos and 2 adults), I think my parents thought they were stylin'.  Organization started for me in this little house which is my sometimes frustrating (to others) and many times referred to, frustrating character trait.  "Squaring up" is what I call it.  Making certain that my "things" are in place and my life is "squared up."

Placing a strip of masking tape down the middle of the bedroom that I shared with my little sister, Janellie (second from L.) made everything nice and neat.  Being the oldest of the four, I chose the side closest to our closet.  Little did I know that would cause a protest from this 6-year old.  My Mama Rush taught me if you do two things your home would be presentable, even if you didn't agree.  First, always hang up your clothes and second, make your bed.  That has stuck with me to now.  As a little girl, it didn't always keep that 10 x 12 room tidy, but we tried.  If being organized was a character trait in the 60's, I didn't know about it or read about it...my reading was limited to mysteries and teen magazines.  Now maybe if we had Container Stores (why didn't I think of that) it would have been helpful.  In Texas City, we were lucky to have a little Mom and Pop five & dime store, Rock's.  I learned the art of organization from having a small space...it was survival.  A space to read, write and talk on the telephone for all of 15 minutes, my allowed time lest I be in big trouble if I chatted longer.  There was no call waiting or voice mail and my Dad had his own business so no long talks on the phone for me.  Besides, our one phone-house hung on the kitchen wall.  I was always asking "please, Daddy can't I have a phone of my own?"  But it was my space all the same.

A routine of organized cleaning wasn't my mother's cup of tea.  It was, however, her mother's, my Mama Rush, who thought cleanliness was next to godliness.  That being said, Christmas was the time my mother thought we should take a day from school vacation and clean out the closets.  I always looked forward to those school holidays when we woud have a day designated to cleaning out and going to the church thrift shop with our goods.  There were no garage sales or sidewalk sales...you just marched on down to the little shop and handed over your "stuff."  With a clean and organized closet my life was squared up.  Now, when my life feels a bit out of sorts I head to the closets and start the cleaning. Organizing my closets with clothes sorted and color coded...well color me happy!  

Doesn't everybody color code their clothes and hangars?  Okay, so maybe it's okay to just label your shoes for a quick get away in the mornings.  Certainly helps me.  It also helps to wear a lot of the same color...you know, just add a few pieces of color, here and there.  I feel in control if my closets are organized.  Oops, there goes that "control" word and it's not necessarily a "Like" word for me.  I've been identified or labeled as a control freak for most of my adult life. I just happen to think that everthing one owns deserves a home, so...create a home for your "stuff." 

I have a room dedicated for use as my art room.  All my papers, scissors, photos, stamps, glue and glitter.  I love my BABS room as it's name appears over the desk in big black letters.  My stamps are lined up by category, just like at Michael's craft store.  Some women love the aisles of Nordstrom's and Macy's but me...nope, I am happiest at DSW for shoes and Michael's http://www.michael's.com/ or Scrapbook Heaven http://www.scrapbookheaven.com/ for art supplies. Now, if only my mental closet, as pertains to my home, was as organized.  I frequently have talks with myself, as well as a routine game of tug of war, with my heart about do I stay or do I sell?  For some reason I decided that about age 55 (now past that date), I would sell my home and minimize my life.  I was travelling in my job a lot and worrying about home, even more. How were the roses doing?  Was the lawn looking green?  And on, and on, the worry wart goes! 

I see Brock about as often as his social life allows so I've decided "it's a stay" for now. 

When the subject of baggage comes up in a conversation I always declare "I travel lightly!"  A statement I make with pride from raising two wonderful sons who are now independent and successful and who, I just might add, live a minimalist lifestyle.  Both quite organized and not about clutter.  I mean...just look at this garage. Think my son learned the art of organization? 

But with a little soul searching and internal housekeeping, I know way down deep that I, like just about everyone else I know, lug around a bit of emotional baggage.  It's hard to let go and I know my life is filled with emotional "stuff", just like my orderly home may look neat but it's filled with material stuff that I just keep lugging around.  My home is my sanctuary and I know that I hold on to possessions because it is part of my feeling of security.  It's a place I WANT TO BE and a place I feel wants me.  If I say that out loud does that make it okay? 

So, from time to time, I ponder these thoughts.  If I let go of my material "stuff" will that leave empty spaces within me...empty spaces that I might not know how to fill or "square up?"

We've probably all had the sense of letting go and then BOOM, within days, we need the very thing we were thinking of discarding.  But I'm coming to the conclusion that if I don't let go of some of my "stuff" just because they are in their place, how in the world am I going to have room for the new "stuff"
to enter and become a part of my life...NOW?

With that said, my New Year's resolution is to "let go of some of the old in order to allow the new."  Material stuff equals a temporary attachment (although some of my things have been around 35 years) but I want to make certain I have plenty of space new things to come into my life! 

How wonderful would it be if every day we just leave our footprints?  Putting things in their places as soon as they are used...wouldn't your home look nice and orderly?  Would your mind feel a bit more squared up? 

Give it a try...begin putting away everything that you touch today...leave only footprints!

"Take Only Pictures. Leave Only Footprints."  ~ National Forests.