SANDRA DEMPSEY POST
Some people are born organized; others spend considerable time and energy trying to get organized. Is there a gene for that, or medical or psychological assistance? If so, please do your kind deed for the day and let me know how to get started. Not that I haven’t tried in the past. I have, but to no avail. Like starting a diet, only more difficult I find.
I’m stellar in my resolve to conquer this beast for the last time, but I haven’t reached any level of success. Now I feel like I’m running out of time, and I cannot leave this earth with chaos and keepsakes tossed about. I need to be an example to my seven grandchildren. They cannot know Grammie was messy and disorganized. They might already have an inkling about my shortcomings, but I want to leave my possessions in pristine order as an example to them. It’s been somewhat subtly suggested I leave them neatly arranged articles and items, and I’ve not succeeded along those lines just yet. I’m not ready to give up so I’m at it again.
When I begin a serious project — and putting my possessions in order is about as serious as I get — I typically have a rather convoluted way of deciding when to begin. It’s three months, which translates into 92 days, depending on how you count before the New Year. Perfect timing, I say! My niece is laughing as she’s been down this road with me before. She thinks my “systems” (I use that word lightly), are humorous, but if you start counting on October 1 — my start date — I should wake up on New Year’s Day like a new woman with “new” or almost new possessions. I can feel the excitement.
My niece, Lynne is her name, doesn’t have a clue about such feelings because if she has two pieces of paper on her desk, she begins immediately putting things in order. My way is much slower.
Just a few words here to help my cause. I don’t know if not being organized is hereditary, but if so, I’ll have a tougher time based on some of my parents’ and older sister’s habits. As a woman of hope, I’m hoping to overcome obstacles. Numerous articles I’ve read suggest varied ways to get started. The bottom line is: Just start, which I’m doing. I am a collector of papers of all types. Nothing wrong with that, but ones I write on, and I know this, must provide adequate information or they are worthless. Lovely note paper, yes, but it must say more than 2:30 on Thursday or I don’t know what that means. That’s not complicated to grasp, but somehow I struggle to follow through. One of my favorite papers that I’m still holding on to is a reminder to pass on some favorite quotations to a friend. One huge complication, my friend passed away some two years ago and I have no recollection of having sent him the list. Similar situations are on other papers. I excel in good intentions, but poor follow up.
My 92 days to accomplish my goal are going by faster and I fear failure. I think I can … I’ll let you know. Please wish me well. Suggestions welcome.