It was summertime when I got organized. I was 34 years old and I'd hit bottom. Someone said, “The bottom is a great place to be because there’s nowhere to go but up.” Not until I hit bottom did I surrender to my situation and ask for the guidance that’s available 24/7. That’s when miracles happen. In that moment of surrender I was reminded that even though I was in a mess, I was in the right place with the right people, I was just fine and the only element I really lacked was direction. Following a direction is a spiritual issue.
In my 43-year career helping moms get organized I’ve come to one big conclusion about being organized: it’s about mind management, not time management. There are thousands of books giving you direction, but until your mind is changed the direction won’t be followed.
Before you read the 7 things to think about when it comes to getting organized, I’d like you to pretend I’m one of your guardian angels and you've prayed to get organized and I’ve been assigned to work your case. I love the assignment because I’ve always loved you and to work with you personally is exciting to me!
So, I’m sitting on your chest when you wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to see you open your beautiful eyes so we can start our fabulous day together. But you’re so tired, you miss the joy before you. I should have known that’s how it’d be because you played on the computer until 2:00 am and every time I tried to get you to go to bed, you ignored me.
When you finally went to bed, I wished you a wonderful night’s sleep, but you didn’t hear me because you conked out before I was finished talking to you. Anyway, now it’s morning and you stagger to the bathroom, tripping over shoes you left in the pathway to the toilet. (I was able to block your fall.) By the way, I love to hear you swear! We don’t get to do it here in heaven, so it’s fun to hear (sort of like when you first tried out a swear word when your mom wasn’t close enough to hear).
As your days progress I try to get a few words in edgewise. Little suggestions like, “Look at your calendar Love,” “Get a drink of water Sweet One,” “That job won’t be that bad, put your timer on for 15 minutes and start Darling,” “Don’t take that comment personally, what he thinks of you is none of your business,” oh and “God loves you,” “I love you,” and “Please be kind to yourself Blessed One.”
Sometimes you listen and take my guidance, but most times you just don’t hear me or you say, “I’m too busy, too tired or I don’t have time. (I really get a kick out of that last one! I wish you knew how funny you are when you say, “I don’t have time.” LOL My Adorable One, you have all the time in the world.)
All day, every day I am there and I’ve watched you struggle with this lack of direction for years and years. Your team of angels has led you to the House Fairy and Club Organized and it’s because of us you read, if or when you read Sidetracked Home Executives, and The Joy of Being Disorganized. But I can’t really help you until you let me. Until then I just have to wait, but remember I have all the time in the world too and there is no pressure.
Mind you, while I wait, I keep myself busy. I’m here to love you and surround you with light which is a fulltime job. Oh, and I’m constantly on the lookout for things that’ll make you laugh, get you to dance, sing and play because when you’re busy enjoying your life you are one with God and that joyful energy lights up the planet.
By the way, you are here to enjoy the ride and I’m like your personal tour guide with wings. Now you can read Pam’s 7 things to think about.
Love,
Your Angel
1. Be Thankful
Be thankful you’re right where you’re supposed to be and before you change one thing about your situation, know that you are just fine. You’re surrounded by light and love and your tour guides with wings await your surrender to them and that’s where the real direction begins.
Be thankful for your guardian angels and know when you surrender to that higher energy you’ll get instant help. Where there was stress, let there be peace and no urgency, where there was fear let there be love, where there was sorrow let there be joy and where there was confusion and chaos let there be clearity and order.
I received an email the other day from a woman who said, “Stress is a choice, I’ll chose prayer.” My best prayers are prayers of thanksgiving, for the instant I am grateful for my life and the blessings I’ve been given, I’m lifted up. It’s like I’ve joined my tour guides with wings.
2. Your Disorder is Genetic
If you are disorganized and easily sidetracked, I believe you were born that way. That means you were meant to be the way you are so accept it. That means you’ve got to love who you are, the way you are because that’s YOU. You don’t beat yourself up because you have brown eyes, so don’t berate yourself because you’re in a mess.
3. All You Need is Direction
When I surrendered to my messy lifestyle, I realized that the only thing I lacked was DIRECTION! I could deal with that! That’s the first time I’d considered the word “direction” in reference to my problem. Direction involved choice! I just needed a map to follow and I’d be fine! For me it was the 3x5 card file system.
4. You’re Not Lazy
You are not lazy. I was accused of being lazy by my angry (first) husband. If you really stop to think about it, if you are disorganized you work harder than those BOPs (Born Organized People) who refuse to make work for themselves by being disorganized.
5. You’re Not Crazy
When I thought deeply about my disorder, I realized I might look crazy, but I wasn’t. I’d been able to maintain a high level of creativity within my messy lifestyle, have three happy children and adjust to the personality of a very unhappy mate . . . and remain stable.
6. You’re Not Stupid
I spent a lot of time feeling as if I were stupid, but in reality I am very smart, though my disorganized habits sabotaged my schooling so my grades didn’t reflect my intellect. I still have educational nightmares where I get to class for a test and I have never been to class or read the books and the test means my grade for the subject.
7. You’re a SLOB
SLOB stands for Spontaneous, Lighthearted, Optimistic and Beloved. Be proud of those attributes.
So I wasn’t lazy, crazy or stupid even though my messy life could certainly have made it look that way. When I look back on the way I used to live, the only question I have today is, “What was I thinking?”
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! If you liked it and found it helpful, I’d love for you to share it with anyone who wants to get organized. To get organized just enough to please you, just tap on my book.
The note from the angel is an excerpt from "The Joy of Being Disorganized." I wrote the book to uplift my sister SLOBS!
Love,
