I am a messy person who likes things to be tidy and organized. Yes, I realize I'm the definition of "oxymoron." Why do you think you need a "moron" to spell the word?
In my house, it's always time for spring cleaning. There's always a closet or cupboard in dire need of a good purging. And, once a closet or cupboard has been purged, it's only a matter of time before Courtney's Second Law of Messiness kicks in: I'm good at organizing and tidying a messy space; but I am terrible at keeping a tidy and organized space clean.
Most recently, the space where we store all of our bathroom/medicine supplies reached the breaking point. It was no longer possible to find the Nyquil or a freaking band-aid. It took ninety minutes, but I conquered and organized the mess. (In the process, I found a package of allergy medication that had expired in 2002. Shameful).
When I was done, I had Organizer's High, which is like runner's high but without the sweat. I felt energized and ready to conquer any mess. I wanted to keep that satisfying feeling of organizing a messy space. What should I organize next? The garage? The basement? I can organize anything!
Fortunately, I've had Organizer's High before and I am familiar with its symptoms - and consequences. Although Organizer's High feels good, it is actually a dangerous condition that should be recognized as a temporary psychological disorder. The high you get from organizing and purging a messy space makes you want to keep organizing and purge more crap. But if you purge too much during a 24 hour period, mistakes get made.
Learn from my mistakes. I have donated bags of old clothes that were ready to go to Goodwill and then, while flying on endorphines/hormones/whatever, I decided to reckon with my shoes. Yes, the Mountain of Shoes needed to be tamed. But I razed the mountain into a sand castle and many good pairs of shoes were lost.
Excuse me while I take a moment to mourn my lost shoes. Oh, my black Uggs with the little black gemstones! So impractical and stupid for a woman who lives in Southern California; and yet, so wonderful and cozy and warm for running errands on a chilly day. Black Uggs, I don't know where you are, but I hope someone is treating you well.
The next time you embark on a spring cleaning project, please, beware the perils of Organizer's High. It might feel good to purge while you are in the moment, but eventually, you will regret recycling your great-grandmother's wedding album.
