To The Space Between Projects: I Currently Hate You.

Hate's strong.  I use it when I am fearful.  I've noticed others do too.  When we are maxed out uncomfortable and pushed to our edges, there is hate.  When there is resistance (for whatever the reason) to incorporate something into our life stories, there is hate.  It's reactionary.  It is born of fear. 

I've talked a lot about finishing stuff recently.  Like, BEFORE I take on new shit.  Radical, isn't it?  (Yes, that's rhetorical, somewhat).  

I am a push-forward-always-driven-isn't-she-manic-but-ohsotogether type of person.  

So being without something on the horizon is TERRIFYING. And when I say that I really mean it.  I mean the kind of heart in your chest and fight or flight fear. How's that for radical honesty?  

So right now I have given myself a task that brings up hate and fear.  Oh my.  Biting off a lot.  

So I sit here with the clean slate, the tabula rasa. 

So I sit here with the feelings that arise. 

So I sit here, in between. 

Just This Shelf.

There is a space, somewhere.

It waits for you.

It might be hidden by single socks, snow melt, crinkled wrapping paper, old water glasses.  But underneath that all

It waits for you.

There are a few places it is not.  It is not at your friend's house (hello, envy).  It is not at the end of a long day of cleaning (hello, avoidance).

It is in the middle of your messes, it is at the top of your list.  It is yours alone.  Without reason, without perfection.  Without perfection.  Without perfection.

Carve it.  Right now.  Make yourself space.  Make yourself space.  GIFT yourself this space.  It frees your brain.  It frees your brain. Make yourself space.  (Click HERE to Tweet).

This is our second skin. 

This outside that reflects our in.  Maybe not everyday.  Maybe not always.  Maybe not the mess in the sink.  Maybe not the unfolded laundry.  But somewhere, there is a space.  It's not on Pinterest.  It is not tomorrow.  It won't wait till the New Year.  It won't wait at all.  It is there right now. All along.  Clear the debris.  

Claim it.  

                                                 Where is yours?

Knowing When To Say When

Knowing to say... This is not a blog day.  It is 91 degrees and I am a lot, very much, pregnant.  Knowing to say, it's okay, I need to do what I need to do.

What do you need today?  Can you breathe and and give yourself at least a little of what you need?

It was HARD and it was GOOD

The time I spent with the organizer was both.  I wanted to cry a bit (luckily he had big shoulders to cry on).  And, my husband was there helping too (and he ALSO has big shoulders).   

Things I learned: 

1) People are different.  My husband, my assistant and I all were around for this and we were all immediately diagnosed as ADHA, OCD & pregnant, respectively.  Totally nailed it.  We all have such different styles of what to do with stuff and HOW to deal with it.

2) When everything from one closet is out on the floor in piles you will probably want to give up.  If you are really lucky and have someone there to help, they won't let you.

3) You might not finish in a day.  These projects can take some tweaking over time.  Be hopeful, but flexible. 

4) You have more shit than you ever thought possible. 

5) Trash day doesn't happen nearly as often as one might like. So, remember to plan in advance for the throwing stuff out portion of the process.  I didn't plan well enough for this.  So, a few days later we still have a section of crap to deal with...

6) Old paint smells really, really bad.

7) Drink a lot of water. 

THIS LINK:  DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF TIDY FAMILIES really reminded me that LESS STUFF is GOOD.

THIS LINK: MAKING SPACE CLEANSE  sounds like a great way to begin and set intentions for some serious process.