On not being excessively neat

agate · Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject: On not being excessively neat

One problem with people is that we've been brainwashed into thinking we have to be perfectly organized, neat, maximally hygienic. With MS, this is a tough goal to set our sights on. I ran across this article in the New York Times that made me feel better about not being as neat as I'd like to be.

Saying Yes to Mess

ewizabeth · Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Near Chicago

Agate,

I can relate. My office at work is cluttered, but it's organized clutter. If I put everything away, I'm going to miss something important. My desk at home is also slightly cluttered. I try to clean things up, but I'm always surrounded with a certain amount of clutter. It's a sign of a productive person IMO.
_________________
Ewizabeth
DX 01/28/03 RRMS
Formerly Avonex, Rebif & Copaxone
Tysabri 06/07 through 09/09
On Copaxone again since 12/09 and hoping for oral meds to come out!

agate · Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject:

Putting a positive face on clutter is a great idea.

When I look around at the piles surrounding me most of the time--mostly piles of papers, cards, unopened mail--I'm going to remind myself that those are meaningful piles.

ewizabeth · Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Near Chicago

As long as your piles are organized, and you know what's in them, then it's organized clutter. I have known some neat freaks who take it to an extreme and drive everyone around them crazy!
_________________
Ewizabeth
DX 01/28/03 RRMS
Formerly Avonex, Rebif & Copaxone
Tysabri 06/07 through 09/09
On Copaxone again since 12/09 and hoping for oral meds to come out!

agate · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject:

Let's see. Maybe I could label the piles, after stacking them up so neatly that they couldn't possibly topple over.

Maybe I should even use color-coded labels. sunny

ewizabeth · Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Near Chicago

Yes, label your piles of stuff. That is sort of what I do at work. geek

They hate my office. I work with a neatnik, and she always tries to make the rest of us like her. We are not like her. We're disheveled but productive. I might not be with the company much longer. They're trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Maybe I can go to work for a non-profit, helping society.

Soooo, am I drifting off topic? bounce

Can you tell I had a glass of wine? laughing8

_________________
Ewizabeth
DX 01/28/03 RRMS
Formerly Avonex, Rebif & Copaxone
Tysabri 06/07 through 09/09
On Copaxone again since 12/09 and hoping for oral meds to come out!

agate · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:08 am Post subject:

I don't know the situation, of course, but it sounds as if the neatnik has too much time on her hands. Maybe somebody should increase her work load so she'll stop trying to change the way other people do things--??

Waddle · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

i think you can spend a hole bunch of $$ on organizing stuff and then ti all gets juts messed up to.

agate · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject:

You're absolutely right, Waddle. I've seen mail-order catalogs featuring "closet organizing systems" that cost a huge bundle of $$$.

I know that if I bought one of those, it wouldn't be long before my closets were just as cluttered looking as before--except that they'd have these ultra-expensive storage bins and caddies and baskets and shelves.