The Illusion of Neat

My landlady came by one day to collect our rent. In reference to some recent Facebook pictures I had posted we got talking about the "art" of organizing. Recently the organizing bug had gotten the best of me... I posted pictures of glass food storage containers nicely labeled with chalkboard labels and written on with overpriced writing tools. I had also posted pics of my newly reorganized kitchen cupboards never really considering how much people must hate me for being, as I've been called before, a "show off". Screw that. It has nothing to do with showing off! But what does it have to do with? A good conversation with my landlady who is more friend than business associate, filled in those blanks. Organizing isn't about family or friends. It isn't about showing off your lovely (albeit inexpensive) dishware to your in-laws or the random education fund salesperson who has invaded your home. (Although sometimes it wouldn't be so horrible of them to notice!) It certainly isn't about getting recognition from your family. Your husband probably doesn't give too shits that you've just spent the entire day ignoring your preschooler to crazily align your dishes like so. Not to mention that you are now too tired to have sex so that impromptu organizing spree is pure evil in his eyes. No organizing is all about bringing back control. Bringing sanity into a completely insane and upside down world that you affectionately call "life". It's about being able to look your cupboards in the eye and say, "screw you, I won today". It's not sane. It maybe isn't even that smart. But it does give you a sense or normalcy and that sir, is sometimes all we can hope for! Carry on.