Problem was, [...]]]> After my art lesson the other day, I stashed a few checks in my pocket like a usually do. Usually this isn’t a problem, and the checks mingle with odd receipts, and bits of cash, and my cell phone, to become what my sister terms a “pocket wad”. That’s right, we’re ladies!

Problem was, this was a new pair of jeans, and the pockets aren’t as deep as the ones in my old pair. When I went through my pockets today looking for the checks, I couldn’t find them anywhere.

It turns out that as pants get smaller, pockets likewise get smaller. I never had this problem when I was a size 18.

I had to e-mail my clients and tell them to cancel the checks because I’d lost them. This is an inconvenience to them, and I felt bad about that, and to make it worse I just felt like a total idiot. It wouldn’t have taken that much longer to put the checks in my wallet. But of course, I would have had to unzip my bag, and open my wallet, and put the checks inside it, and close the wallet, and then close my bag. That’s FOUR MORE STEPS than just stuffing them in my pocket! Damn, where will I find the time?

I’m trying to talk myself out of feeling like such a jerk. I read somewhere that people with ADHD tend to overemphasize their negative experiences and thoughts in favor of their positive ones. Maybe that’s why I’m having such a hard time telling myself that this kind of thing happens to everyone, and it’s not the end of the world, that my clients won’t suddenly think of me as an incompetent art teacher, and above all that canceling a check is really not that big a deal because banking is done online these days. It takes about 30 seconds to do a transaction, all without leaving your chair, or even picking up the phone.

Sigh.

“I think we should help each other get organized”, she said.

I was stunned. “Get organized? Help each other?” I asked. “How can I be any help to you at all? You’re pretty [...]]]> My organizing journey began in the fall of 2005 when a friend of mine called me with an interesting proposition.

“I think we should help each other get organized”, she said.

I was stunned. “Get organized? Help each other?” I asked. “How can I be any help to you at all? You’re pretty organized already. I’m a chaos demon. I think I just need to come to terms with that.”

“I realize that I know more about organizing than you do,” said my friend. “That’s OK. But I just moved in with my partner, I’ve got a lot of unpacking to do, and two people’s stuff to deal with. I could use the company. And I think I could help you a lot.”

“Look, I’m grateful, I really am. I’m happy to help you get unpacked. I just don’t think I’ll ever be organized. Honestly. I’ve tried EVERYTHING. You wouldn’t believe the money I’ve wasted on containers and drawer organizers. Besides, I’m in grad school, and I have a job … I have no time and no money.”

“Do you have one afternoon a week?” she asked.

“Well, I guess Friday afternoons are free”, I said.

“Great. If I recommend a book, a single, inexpensive book, are you willing to buy it?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’ve read everything and nothing works. Besides, I’ve got a ton of reading to do already.”

“You haven’t read this,” my friend told me. “And it’s easy. It won’t take you any time at all.”

“OK, fine, I’ll buy the book”, I said. “I just don’t want you to feel bad if this doesn’t work.”

“I know you’ve had a lot of bad experiences in the past, but I know you, and I really think this will work.  I wouldn’t be suggesting it otherwise,” my friend said. “Go find that book. And I’ll see you Friday.”

Hmph, I thought to myself after I hung up. We’ll just see about this book.

The book, Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing from the Inside Out, would change my life. Using it, I was actually able to organize my space, starting a cascade of healthy, positive change that has completely transformed the way I see myself.