If you have been following my blog you know that the past several months have not been typical for me. I was diagnosed with cancer in May, had surgery in June, and have been recovering slowly but surely. Being very blessed to not need chemotherapy or radiation, I still have not regained my energy or stamina which I allowed to prevent me from doing certain things. That being said, I decided that I needed to downsize expectations of myself until my energy is at my former level (assuming it will be someday).
My tendency to be a pack rat was exacerbated during my time of illness when I was just stashing things wherever I found a space which caused me to not be able to find things. Although there have been many times in my life when I could clean closets, dressers, chests, desks, and cupboards in a day..............not so now...............instead I had to break down each project into smaller segments. I have taken one side of a closet to clean one day and the other side on another day. I have cleaned several drawers in a day and then several more on subsequent days. I can happily report that my desks, armoire, closets, dressers, nightstands, and some cupboards are now clean and reorganized (of course, lots of the things removed have been carried out to my garage for future handling when the temperatures are no longer in excess of 100 degrees).
The point of this blog post is to tell you that even when we are unable to do things the way they have always been done, we can find other ways to do them albeit more slowly. The results are just as rewarding as it is a wonderful feeling to open a drawer or closet and immediately see the item(s) I need. When the organization experts tell us to make three piles (things to keep, things to discard, things to donate) they are absolutely right. I also followed their advice and turned all of the hangers in my bedroom closet so the hooks face outward. As items are worn, laundered or dry cleaned and rehung, the hooks are turned to face the back of the closet indicating that the garments have been worn. At the end of a season or a year the items on hangers with hooks still facing outward will become things to donate (although I sometimes delude myself thinking that things which no longer fit me will someday by magic again fit me).
Now I am spending less time searching for things. I am going to give books to the local library; I am going to deliver clothing and household items to local charities; and I am going to tackle kitchen cabinets and drawers in the coming weeks. By the time I finish those it should be cool enough to tackle cleaning out the garage.............I will try very hard to discipline myself to keep everything organized, but I make no promises.
My tendency to be a pack rat was exacerbated during my time of illness when I was just stashing things wherever I found a space which caused me to not be able to find things. Although there have been many times in my life when I could clean closets, dressers, chests, desks, and cupboards in a day..............not so now...............instead I had to break down each project into smaller segments. I have taken one side of a closet to clean one day and the other side on another day. I have cleaned several drawers in a day and then several more on subsequent days. I can happily report that my desks, armoire, closets, dressers, nightstands, and some cupboards are now clean and reorganized (of course, lots of the things removed have been carried out to my garage for future handling when the temperatures are no longer in excess of 100 degrees).
The point of this blog post is to tell you that even when we are unable to do things the way they have always been done, we can find other ways to do them albeit more slowly. The results are just as rewarding as it is a wonderful feeling to open a drawer or closet and immediately see the item(s) I need. When the organization experts tell us to make three piles (things to keep, things to discard, things to donate) they are absolutely right. I also followed their advice and turned all of the hangers in my bedroom closet so the hooks face outward. As items are worn, laundered or dry cleaned and rehung, the hooks are turned to face the back of the closet indicating that the garments have been worn. At the end of a season or a year the items on hangers with hooks still facing outward will become things to donate (although I sometimes delude myself thinking that things which no longer fit me will someday by magic again fit me).
Now I am spending less time searching for things. I am going to give books to the local library; I am going to deliver clothing and household items to local charities; and I am going to tackle kitchen cabinets and drawers in the coming weeks. By the time I finish those it should be cool enough to tackle cleaning out the garage.............I will try very hard to discipline myself to keep everything organized, but I make no promises.
