Getting Organized

Last week, I lamented my distinct lack of motivation in approaching our hand-washing backlog (see last week’s blog). 

Well, I’m very pleased to report that I conquered that mountain. Feeling of smug satisfation setting in…

Technically, there should now be room in the washing basket. But it’s full to the brim. Again! (Although, at least there aren’t any hand-wash items in there.) I heard a great quote a few years ago, attributed to Phyllis Diller: “Clearing up after kids before they stop growing is like clearing the walk before it stops snowing”. I’m pretty sure this applies to washing, too.

So I think I shall have to be all philosophical about it, and give in to the fact that the washing loop will never end. I don’t mind the ordinary washing; it’s just those fiddly bits that require “special attention” – maybe I’ll approach them as a way of fitting in some meditation time… Or I could stop buying those fiddly items. 

Before the virtuous glow from finalising the hand-washing wore off, I decided to attack our entrance-way bookshelf, which had been threatening to drown guests at the front door. There were simply way too many books, and they’d ended up flowing out from the shelves. I’d taken to closing my eyes when I headed for the front door.

So, emboldened by my hand-washing triumphs, I became somewhat ruthless, culling books I knew I’d never want to read again. Such as some of my old English Lit novels from university/college (I mean, really, who reads Camus or Kafka for pleasure?). I remembered a good book I bought a few years ago called Living the Simple Life, by Elaine St. James, and one of Elaine’s tips for simplifying your life is: if you buy a new book, give one away. It’s something I’ve tried to live by, but, being a bookaholic, it’s pretty darned hard. However, I made myself do it. See the stunning result in the pic. Pretty neat, huh?

I still have another stacked bookshelf in my office, and shelves full of books in our bedroom cupboard, so I’m sure there are more books that could go. (We periodically tackle the girls’ book cupboard, trying to cull their books, yet they have the same “but we can’t give that one away” gene as their mum).

I will get there. This is the final frontier. If only I could stop ordering EIGHT books at a time from Amazon… 

Am I the only one with book-hoarding issues? Surely not!

Related posts:

• Wash-day Blues You know, I have it pretty “together” in most areas of my life. Most of...