Very excited this morning, as it is now time to pack and otherwise get ready for our trip. I can drive myself (and by extension, Jack) crazy when I get packing, as, in fact, I want ALL my stuff with me... And yet, one of the last times we went to the Cape, I completely forgot to pack underwear or socks for myself..... actually had to go to a Target store to get some very basic supplies.
About being fascinated with "organizing"----
First, did you notice that the Hebrew OR means light? And is the first part or our words ORder, ORganizing, ORdinance (like in laws and regulations), ORdinate (like in numbers).......... Found that interesting.
Second, I have been interested in organizing also. Also simplicity. They go together well. In fact, I know some good websites. If you can, check out one for LIVING PEACE. This is a professional organizing business (local), founded by someone who went to seminary, and found this to be her ministry, as well as her business. Her name is Erin Wells.
For me, this was an off shoot of things happening "out there" that my agency NSES (North Shore Elder Services) has been increasingly dealing with and which has become a HUGE national issue: HOARDING. Local police departments have had to become involved, local public health departments, councils on aging, family services, veterans services..... and Protective Services. People who hoard are a danger to themselves and to others.
It is not only a problem for the individual and/or family involved, but for the neighborhood and community. It has to do with mental health, public health, safety..... It's not always just stuff, but can be animals.... quantities of dogs, cats, birds..... Increasing there have been task forces and collaborations to try to deal with this problem.
In addition to hoarding, there is an increasing problem with cluttering. Clutterers are not quite to the hoarding stage, but are more and more disorganized and overwhelmed.... at a point where an intervention may also be prevention.
To start with, in our country, our society, our culture---- WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF! And it is how we feel about stuff, how we deal with our stuff, including what to do with old stuff when we get new stuff. And so on and so forth.
Back in the day, many of my parents' generation had a "Depression Era Mentality" that prompted them to buy necessities in quantity and store them against future shortages. So, for instance, when we went through their house to downsize to their "cottage" at the CCRC (continuing care retirement community) their attic was over-filled with toilet paper, paper towels, soap, underwear..... I don't know it's the same thing today. Most of our generation have not had to deal with shortages so much as "overages".
MEANDERING again. Organization, I believe is a good thing. Our Lord is orderly, both in His creation and His plans and purposes and the working of these out in our lives, and in His continuing creations through Time and Space--- and whatever other dimensions He has created that we don't know about and may never know about!
And some folks, like my DIL Melissa, have a real gift for it.
Simplicity will be my next topic. But right now, I'm getting that sense that this is too much fun, and may be turning into procrastination. Packing for a trip, after all, is a practice of one type of organizing, n'est-ce pas?
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