Get Organized! Go Early!! Save Time!!!

 

My husband Terry and I love to go to the Oregon Symphony Pops concerts. Last time we went, I talked him into going to the Heathman Hotel which is next door to the theater, for dinner afterward. 

I had appealed to his logic by explaining that we could enjoy a nice dinner and avoid the exhaust-filled
exodus from the six-story parking garage like we always have had to do in the past. (We seem to get to Portland within minutes before performance time and end up on the roof of the parking garage because those are the only spaces left. Then, after the show, we always have to crawl, bumper-to-bumper to get out, woozy from asphyxiation.)

After the concert, we hurried out to avoid the rush of fellow, hungry symphony goers that would ensue. Next door, we settled into our seats at a table for two. The Heathman Restaurant has great food and I was excited to be there. It’s swanky. The silverware is very heavy and the linen tablecloth was starched and as white as a baby’s first tooth.

I had to go to the bathroom (I’d vetoed going at intermission), so I told Terry, “I’m going to go powder my nose,” and hustled off to the Women’s Restroom. I don’t know why I said that. I wasn’t going to powder my nose and I didn’t have any powder in my purse; I don’t even use powder at home! I guess when I get in a fancy place I want to be ladylike. Oh well. Anyway, the restroom was as classy as the restaurant. The long door handle into the “powder” room was gold and silver and the door was heavy like the silverware. The restroom was empty, and there were just three stalls that had the kind of doors that go all the way to the floor so I couldn’t see feet, to know if there were women in any of them.

Being very careful, not to open the door on someone, I took hold of one of the beautiful door handles (identical to the silver and gold door handle on the door going into the restroom). I pulled ever so slightly and it opened. The stall was vacant. While I was in there I noticed the gorgeous marble flooring and the polished fixture that housed the toilet paper. It made me want to refurbish our bathroom.

When I came out of my stall, the restroom was full of women in various stages of “powdering their noses.” I squeezed through the crush of post-concert ladies to the elegant marble sink and washed my hands, while more crammed themselves in. I dried my hands, eager to get back to our table and headed out behind a tall woman who was obviously leading the way. As she opened the door and headed out, I was right behind her, but instead of continuing out into the lobby, she stopped abruptly and I gently bumped into her. Then without giving me any space at all, she turned around with a loud, “OH My God!” Now, we were face to face and if she’d not been so tall, we’d have touched noses!

It was only when I leaned a little to try to get around her that I saw it!

Spring Cleaning? Start at the Entryway

Usually when we think of spring cleaning we think of getting out the buckets, brushes, rags and cleaners and cleaning the inside of the house. If you want to learn more about that, Google it. My blog this week is about sprucing up the place just before you go inside, your home. You’ll have to go outside for this spring cleaning.

Your entryway is the gateway to your domestic life. It gives guests their first impression of your home life and quite frankly a little peek into who you are. After your guest rings the doorbell there’s what I call, “wait time,” and it’s a rather private period of scrutiny and judging.

Have you had it?

Have you ever said, "I'm done! I've HAD it! It’s OVER! I wash my hands of it! I give up! UNCLE?"

 

That’s how you can feel living in a disorganized lifestyle. It's like living in a continual storm. When you hit bottom with words like the declarations above, you're in the perfect place to change. Someone said, “The bottom is a great place to be because there’s nowhere to go but up.” Not until you hit bottom can you surrender to your situation and ask for the guidance that’s available 24/7. That’s when miracles happen. In that moment of surrender you'll be reminded that even though you're in a mess, you're in the right place with the right people and the timing is right. The only element you lack is direction.

DIRECTION! You can deal with that! Direction involves choices! You just need a map to follow and you'll be fine! For me it was the 3x5 card file system my sister and I came up with and became known as The Slob Sisters.

When my sister and I had had it with our home organization skills, that’s the first time we considered the word “direction” in reference to our problem. We weren’t lazy? Come to think of it, we worked harder than those BOs (Born Organized) who refuse to make work for themselves by being disorganized.

I knew I wasn't crazy? I'd been able to maintain a high level of creativity within my messy lifestyle, have three happy children, continually adjust to the personality of a very unhappy mate and remain stable.

I wasn’t stupid? Come to think of it, NO! I was very smart though my disorganized habits sabotaged my schooling so my grades didn’t reflect my intellect.

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?”

As Carolyn Myss would say, “If I can talk Angel 101 to you for a moment, consider this.” Let’s pretend I'm one of your guardian angels and you have prayed to get organized. I've been assigned to work your case. I love the assignment because I’ve always loved you and to work with you personally in an answer to your prayer, is exciting to me!

 

 

Your Angel is With You