SANDRA DEMPSEY POST

Organization does not come easily to me. It doesn’t come to me at all except for those times when generous loved ones offer suggestions after I’ve asked their advice. My oldest child told me once I’m a rather unique disorganized person as I pay bills on time, am rarely late in sending greeting cards, and can sometimes immediately find objects or articles someone wants. I don’t remember the exact year he made that statement, but it is no longer true. I’m older now meaning I’ve had additional time to add to my collection of treasures, and my memory short-circuits frequently. I’m planning to improve my situation by minimizing my possessions. I don’t want to leave an arduous job for my children to do after I exit this earth.

For many reasons, mainly geographic, the task of helping me has been taken on by my younger daughter who lives close by and delights in cleaning out, downsizing and repurposing, all while doing her best to respect my tendency to save too much. She and I are both sensitive souls who sometimes over analyze remarks or others’ actions so we pretty much understand each other’s tolerance level.

Challenge number one, where to begin. My house is neither huge nor tiny but holds generous amounts of papers, memorabilia and keepsakes. Some I’ve looked at recently and others years ago. That is particularly evidenced by dust, yellowing of paper or outdated appearances. Too old to be current, too young to be a pricey collectible is an ongoing quandary. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but I’m not savvy about what to keep and what to say goodbye to, so I must rely on intuition, not my strong suit either.

We get along very well for this time-intensive task and share considerable laughter. Some possessions I’m very protective of, defending their charm and worth. Other things I shudder while wondering, “what was I thinking?” I’ve become wiser about what to keep and what not to, and how to decide. Value is important to consider and it’s very subjective. It can be about monetary value, sentimentality, how the item was acquired, and how generous the giver is feeling. Deciding an item needs to move on does not necessarily mean throw it away. Depending on what the item is, it can be donated to a senior center, an agency that serves children, a church that hosts garage sales, or if there are enough things to sell, the owner of the objects can have a sale.

Many items and papers are for keeping but papers particularly must be categorized and organized. Not much reason to keep what can’t be easily accessed. Before such items even hit the “SAVE” tub, they should be dated. Never rely on remembering the item’s significance. Today’s good memory can be negatively affected by a host of ailments or circumstances, leaving things worthless if no one knows what they are or their history. Keep only essentials, not the entire magazine or newspaper.

Enjoy the trip down Memory Lane, but don’t linger too long. Stay productive and be proud of accomplishments. And try very hard to keep what comes in the house to be matched by what goes out. It makes life much simpler and more enjoyable.