---
title: Young@Heart - Love Comes First
---

# [Young@Heart - Love Comes First](https://blog.cluborganized.com/youngheart-15)

I am a reformed slob. I made the decision to get organized on June 16, 1977. I was 35. I learned a lot through that transformation. The most important of which was to understand that before I did one thing to organize my chaotic life, I was alright just the way I was. That backed-up laundry didn’t make me a bad person. That an unmade bed and a sink full of dirty dishes didn’t mean I didn’t love my family or my home. That having to re-inoculate the children because I couldn’t find their medical records when we moved to a new town didn’t mean I was a bad mother.

My challenge to change my ways came from a deep desire to have more fun; to be able to play guilt-free and to feel the freedom of taking care of the routine and mundane tasks that make a household run smoothly, so my family and I could really enjoy this delicious thing called life. My motive to get organized was to have more free time to play.

I think being organized or disorganized is ultimately a choice but I also think we each have a natural proclivity to be either. My mom was born organized. My dad was the donor of my disorganized gene. I had three children and two received my penchant for mess and one was washing her toys when she was 18 months old. Once I asked her if she wanted a doll house for Christmas and she replied, “Oh Mom, it would just be one more thing to keep clean.”

You know where you fall on the scale of order: one is a Martha Stewart without a staff and ten is the person who can’t dust or vacuum because she doesn’t have surfaces.

I discovered a little organization goes a long way. My mom used a Girl Scout calendar that she looked at every day and a watch that she looked at every hour and a clean 8x11 inch sheet of paper daily for her “to do” list. Everything ran smoothly and I remember her saying, “If we get our chores done by 10:00 we can go play.” And play we did. Mom made being organized look so easy; which it was because she never let anything pile up. She had a natural ethic that she didn’t get to have fun until her work was done. She let the “carrot” of fun hang over her.

For me as a wife and mother I got overwhelmed and buried as the responsibilities of motherhood and a bad marriage sapped my energy. My husband (we divorced when I got organized) and I fought every day over the mess. I felt like a loser, a failure and an embarrassment to my family until it struck me that feeling like a failure was not the truth about me, and that until I turned that thought around I was stuck. I knew better, but in the chaos I had just forgotten. That was my turning point.

Don’t allow anyone to cause you to doubt your ability to succeed. If you’ve made a decision to get organized keep it a secret so you don’t get negative feedback you don’t need.

Get to know your inner child for she is that part of you that needs your love and attention. She’s the part of you that wants to play and if you can set a rule that you don’t get to play until _____________ is done and seek the cooperation of your inner child, you’ll find that you will make progress at being organized.

One of the beer commercials I just watched during the Super Bowl has a motto: Have fun, be responsible. I’d like to change that (since I don’t drink beer) to: Have fun being responsible.

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

### Subscribe to Pam's Blog!

### Recommended Posts

### Posts by Month

- [July 2022 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2022/07)
- [March 2022 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2022/03)
- [February 2022 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2022/02)
- [January 2022 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2022/01)
- [December 2021 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/12)
- [October 2021 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/10)
- [September 2021 (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/09)
- [August 2021 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/08)
- [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/07)
- [June 2021 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/06)
- [May 2021 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/05)
- [March 2021 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/03)
- [February 2021 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/02)
- [January 2021 (15)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2021/01)
- [November 2020 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/11)
- [October 2020 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/10)
- [September 2020 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/09)
- [August 2020 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/08)
- [July 2020 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/07)
- [June 2020 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/06)
- [May 2020 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/05)
- [April 2020 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2020/01)
- [December 2019 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/12)
- [November 2019 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/06)
- [May 2019 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/05)
- [April 2019 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/04)
- [March 2019 (17)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/03)
- [February 2019 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/02)
- [January 2019 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2019/01)
- [December 2018 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (10)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/04)
- [March 2018 (10)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (10)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (19)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (15)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (16)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (16)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/06)
- [May 2016 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/05)
- [April 2016 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/04)
- [March 2016 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/03)
- [February 2016 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/02)
- [January 2016 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/10)
- [September 2015 (9)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/09)
- [August 2015 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/08)
- [July 2015 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/06)
- [May 2015 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/05)
- [April 2015 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (11)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (12)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (15)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (14)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (10)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/10)
- [August 2014 (9)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/08)
- [July 2014 (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/07)
- [June 2014 (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/03)
- [February 2014 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2014/02)
- [August 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/08)
- [July 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/07)
- [June 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2013/01)
- [December 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/12)
- [November 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/11)
- [October 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/10)
- [September 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/09)
- [August 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/08)
- [July 2012 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/07)
- [June 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/06)
- [May 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/05)
- [April 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/04)
- [March 2012 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/03)
- [February 2012 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/02)
- [January 2012 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2012/01)
- [December 2011 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/12)
- [November 2011 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/11)
- [October 2011 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/10)
- [September 2011 (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/09)
- [August 2011 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/08)
- [July 2011 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/07)
- [May 2011 (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/05)
- [April 2011 (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/04)
- [March 2011 (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/archive/2011/03)

[see all](https://blog.cluborganized.com/youngheart-15#)

### Posts by Topic

- [Happiness (122)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/happiness)
- [Young@Heart Articles (112)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/youngheart-articles)
- [Featured (83)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/featured)
- [Young@Heart Videos (71)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/youngheart-videos)
- [Recipes (64)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/recipes)
- [On Being Organized / Disorganized (61)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/on-being-organized-disorganized)
- [Cooking Videos (59)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/cooking-videos)
- [Organization (53)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/organization)
- [De-Cluttering (46)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/de-cluttering)
- [Being a Mom (44)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/being-a-mom)
- [Habits (42)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/habits)
- [Tools for Moms (36)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/tools-for-moms)
- [Fitness (31)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/fitness)
- [Health (28)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/health)
- [Relationships (26)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/relationships)
- [family (23)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/family)
- [succeed (20)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/succeed)
- [Raising Children (19)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/raising-children)
- [get organized (19)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/get-organized)
- [Articles (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/articles)
- [Family Games (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/family-games)
- [Playing with Kids (13)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/playing-with-kids)
- [Daily Thought, (9)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/daily-thought)
- [Daily Thoughts (8)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/daily-thoughts)
- [Cleaning (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/cleaning)
- [How to Clean Videos (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/how-to-clean-videos)
- [Monday Morning for Moms (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/monday-morning-for-moms)
- [de-junking (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/de-junking)
- [holidays (7)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/holidays)
- [recipes, cooking, low carb (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/recipes-cooking-low-carb)
- [stay at home mom (6)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/stay-at-home-mom)
- [Entertainment for Mom (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/entertainment-for-mom)
- [inner child (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/inner-child)
- [peace of mind (5)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/peace-of-mind)
- [Manners and Children (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/manners-and-children)
- [christmas (4)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/christmas)
- [Children's Rooms (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/childrens-rooms)
- [food (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/food)
- [organizing clothes closet (3)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/organizing-clothes-closet)
- [House Fairy Videos (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/house-fairy-videos)
- [being debt-free (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/being-debt-free)
- [belated thank you notes (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/belated-thank-you-notes)
- [gardening (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/gardening)
- [money (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/money)
- [procrastination (2)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/procrastination)
- [The Cleaner Guy (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/the-cleaner-guy)
- [faith (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/faith)
- [forgiveness (1)](https://blog.cluborganized.com/topic/forgiveness)

[see all](https://blog.cluborganized.com/youngheart-15#)

© 2014, Pamela I. Young, All Rights Reserved