Introduction to Order

Matching bins with labels make me feel good!

I'm a recovering over-achiever people-pleaser.  I had high expectations for others and even higher ones for myself.  For 30+ years, I worked hard to be the best at everything I did.  I had a plan and followed it – high school valedictorian, 4 year degree, married my high school sweetheart, got a job, then a house, then had a baby, then another, then developed a career.  I was focused on how things should be without a realistic view of what I could handle.  When I came to a point when I felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities, I didn't know how to function.  Over the past couple of years, I've been getting my life in order and truly learning what that means.   I want to share my ongoing journey with you and help you get your own life in order.

You may think of order as being organized and eliminating clutter.  This is definitely part of it (and is a sure-fire way to make me feel a little better – I mean if seeing matching bins in your closet with labels from your label maker doesn’t make you happy, what does?) but there's more that I want us to dive into.  I want to give you real life examples and techniques on how to organize your spaces and stuff, but also your calendar, your email, your time, your relationships, your interests, your dreams, and set boundaries and make decisions that will help you maintain that organization.  I learned about these things the hard way – a lot of sleepless nights, long conversations with my mom (thanks, mom!), many sick-to-my stomach drives to work, hide-in-the bathroom tears, and self-induced guilt trips.  I want you to know that you’re not alone in feeling out of sorts and knowing that you want order but not knowing how to get it. 

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The four parts to an orderly life

If you’re anything like me, you crave routine but want to be spontaneous.  You want a plan, but don’t know how to incorporate those pesky ‘other people’ that inevitably mess with it.  You want things to be black and white, but you wish you were creative.  Or maybe you’re totally the opposite and wish you could be satisfied with routine, not let others who are so interesting alter your focus, and be content with the cut and dry.  Regardless of how you’re made, order is still a means to the end we all want – a joyful life. 

I’m excited (and a little nervous) about sharing what I’ve learned and hope it helps you along the way.  Next week, I’ll start a four part series about the definitions of order.  I hope you’ll look forward to hearing what I have to say, and I hope you’ll share your insights with me, too. 

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