Smiles don’t always come easy

I’m not a collector.  I don’t like a lot of clutter around the house (I feel literally overwhelmed when I have too much “stuff” around me) – and I’ve found the easiest way to minimize clutter is to minimize collections (and material possessions in general).

However, there is one item that I can’t seem to get away from; one item that I somehow collect, even against my own will.  That item?  Paper.

Magazine articles, class handouts, newspaper clippings.  Books, cards, binders.  Stationary, journals, envelopes.  If an item is made of thin sheets of wood, somehow, some way, my space begins to become overrun with it.  The dining room table?  Covered in paper.
My office?  Littered with random pieces of paper.

And I just can’t seem to get ahead of the paper madness.  I shred, I file, I recycle, and still, the insidious paper pyramids pile.

Today, enough was enough.  I had reached my limit.  My office felt crazy instead of calm; the dining table was nuts instead of nourishing.  It was time to take action.  Time for me to address – nay, resolve – this whole paper issue.

So.  For four hours today, I wrangled paper.  I typed the information I wanted to keep into computer documents.  I shredded private information.  I recycled old-and-no-longer-interesting reading materials.  I put unused cards and stationary and journals on bookshelves and in desk drawers.  And, four long-yet-productive hours later, I had achieved notable success: a clean office floor, and a clear place setting at the dining room table.

Relief.  Ahhhh.  This new state of order feels so good.  Definitely worth the effort.

(Stef the paper wrangler)

Stef