Friday, April 15, 2011

A - Z Challenge: Mess

My name is Stephanie and I'm a messy person.  There.  I've said it and I'm not taking it back.


In one of those conflicted quirks of my mind, I love to look at neat orderly rooms.   My favorite style of furniture is Shaker with its simplicity and spare beauty.

But could I really live this way?   No, I could not.  I look at a tidy room as unused.  It's just a starting point for real life to get started.  And real life, for me, is a messy place.  My desk is a jumble of papers - horizontal storage, it has been called.  My sewing/everything else room is piled with veritable archaological digs of stuff.  My keyboard lives there with stacks of music books.  Rug hooking wool that won't fit into the neatly organized cupboards is in huge Ziploc bags.  The quilt frame is in the middle of the floor.  Projects and patterns are everywhere. 

At least this is how it looks to the untrained eye.  Me?  I can usually put my hand right on whatever I need.  You see, I'm one of those people who forgets where things are if they're put away.  I think I carry a mental snapshot of the mess in question and can probably describe everything accurately.  AS LONG AS NO ONE MOVES IT!!! 

Inertia is the secret to operating in a messy environment.  That and a messy mind to begin with.  I like variety so I do a whole bunch of different things.  My desk is a perfect example.  If you look carefully, you will see a ball of yarn, a rughooking book and a book on sock knitting.  There are bills to be paid - who doesn't have those piled somewhere? - and my voter card.  Pens, pencils and a flashlight.  Are these not important accessories?  A mug of tea is a necessity and passes without question.  Piles of computer paper - natch!  Little frog friends make me smile and Miss Piggy reminds me to relax.  It's all here, trust me.

The other secret to this way of work is being able to cram everything into a small space.  It's an art form.  Yet, I am spatially challenged so I can't do those organizer things because I don't see how everything can fit.  I just push it all in, pile it all up, spread it all out. There's something so comforting about having the walls close in.  No, wait!  I am not a hoarder.  Just messy.

Happy, happy.

 

9 comments:

Paws on the Run said...

Amen! I'm the same. I kind find things in the mess, but I know when it gets too bad as I start forgetting things. That is when I know it is time to tidy.

Rudee said...

Mmmmmme, too!

Cruella Collett said...

This is so me. I haven't worked out a philosophy yet, though, so I haven't yet embraced my messiness. I too love looking at a tidy room, and I actually like having it tidy, but I cannot for the life of me seem to keep it that way - never could - so clearly I do thrive in a messy environment (or a messy environment thrive with me, I'm not sure about the order of components here). Some day I probably either have to decide to accept my messy self (like you apparently have - kudos!), or I'll have to tidy and keep it that way. The in between is what kills me...

Empty Nester said...

You and I must be related! I am the same way. And, if I try to organize like organized people do, I can't find a darn thing!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Very interesting!!! I have to have everything put away and neat because I get claustrophobic looking at mess everywhere. It depresses me. But what I like about this post is where you say that if things are put away, you can't find them. Bingo!!! When they are out making a mess, I have no trouble getting them. Whenever I make room in my drawers and cabinets and get everything all straightened up, havock ensues!! Hubby can't find anything in the kitchen, I don't remember which drawer or tote I put all the crafts in, I'm digging through everything and running all around. So maybe being messy saves time and stress?? Whod'a thunk?

Margo Kelly said...

LOVE the Eyore mug!! :)

Your desk is tidy compared to mine - - but I will not be posting a picture any time soon.

Mimi said...

It's not too bad!
I'm very tidy by nature (my nickname in our family used to be "tidiness"!), but I've chosen a messy family. They leave stuff all over the place.
Up to a point, i go with the flow, but then I reach the point of no return, and a major tidy-up gets under way. Usually this is the night before the cleaning girl comes, cos she's a manic tidyer, and we'll find nothing when she's gone if we haven't put it away.
Interesting to read the comments, I suppose we all have our own way of living, and that's what makes life interesting.

Joanna said...

Yes I can totally relate to this. I don't dare post a photo of my desk though. Waaaay to messy! Sometimes I have to admit to losing things underneath the piles.

Angie said...

I got rid of so much last time I moved but now it seems to have multiplied. "A place for everything & everything in it's place". No way!!!

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