A BLESSING IN ORGANIZATION

This past week has been a blessing.  Not only for the person we helped organize, but for ourselves as well.  And frankly, isn't that the way it should be?

Here's a little recap of the situation:

We got a call the previous week from a young lady needing immediate help.  It seems she needed quick attention to her home surroundings and she needed it right away.  Like, right away.  So we jumped right in.  Three straight days of  labor provided changes....not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but from a perspective of hope that a lifestyle of hoarding might just have come to an end.   Who was blessed the most?  I'd say it was pretty much a toss-up.

So what is an organizer?  Vicki Norris has been one for ten years now.  She gives a very astute critique from her point of view.

From my very first appointment over 10 years ago, I learned that organizing is about so much more than rearranging our stuff or having a home that looks like Martha Stewart's.  From that first client couple, I learned so much just from observing and I haven't stopped observing and learning since!  From the wife I learned (for her) it's about letting go of  times gone by so she can enjoy the present and from her husband I learned (for him) it's about taking back lost real estate for his hobbies.  So, organizing is a means to and end for each of us and it helps us clear the way for living.  

We will rarely ever be motivated to get or stay organized by any other reason that the things that matter to us individually.  Our spouse, boss, kids or friends can't make us get organized.  Since organizing is in fact a change process, we will usually get organized for one of two reasons: we are either in pain or we are inspired by what is possible.  If we've dropped the ball and experienced some negative consequences for our disorganization (financial or relational, usually), then we might be motivated to undertake the organizing process.  Typically, however, like most things in life, we will abandon our efforts to organize once the pain has dissipated.  When we are just organizing for "damage control", we just get past the pain and then continue living in the same manner.  Yet, you can envision the way your life could operate, the good habits you could develop in your children, the rich relationships you could recapture, the re-fueling activities you could enjoy, the spiritual development you could pursue. if you can envision these things, then you can be motivated by your true life priorities.  And it's those priorities that will motivate you to dig out and set up new systems.  Once you've created this "baseline", then you can continue to use your priorities as a catalyst to remain organized, protecting your space and your time for the enjoyment of those very priorities.

 Now that Vicki Norris has explained what an organizer is, let's take a look at a before picture of a toy room before clutter was removed.  This would be a typical before picture ripe for an organizer's creativity.

Toy Room (Before)

  

And now for the after picture.  Note the toy room is now inviting not only to young children, but to mom and dad as well!!
 

Toy Room (After)

Until next time along the organizing trail.  
Peace,


John and Joanne   

IN THE BEGINNING.....

Do you have too much "stuff" and it's driving you nuts?  Or is your home too dirty to invite people in?  Are you:
Moving
Listing your home for sale

Down Sizing

Sending kids off to college

Having to go through a loved one's belongings

Re-modeling in your home

A senior citizen needing help in your home

A parent with kids that have too much 'stuff'

A 'Pack Rat'

To much stuff  and/or dirt steals not only space but your energy as well. It can be overwhelming and exhausting to look at, let alone deal with.  Or maybe it's not even your stuff and dirt, maybe it's a relative or elderly parents who are looking for you to help them.

We have a heart for helping folks climb out of literal messes. Anything from cleaning to sorting, pitching, donating, and organizing.  We have decluttered, cleaned, organized garages, basements, kitchens, bedrooms, closets, even entire homes (including new construction).

This business started in 2001 with just myself, Joanne, cleaning a few houses. I have always had an eye for good use of space and re-arranging things in a visually pleasing way. I began having clients ask me to organize for them and also to take their own belongings and give them a new look through re-arrangement. Over the years I have gained more clients strictly by word of mouth. And, over the years my experience has led me to realize the NEED out there for organization and less clutter as well as regular cleaning. People are incredibly busy and either don't have the time to keep organized or they don't have the knack for it. Some folks are literally drowning in their stuff with no where left to put anything. 

As I saw this need, I began asking my husband to come along with me to the bigger jobs, and so we started to work together. This led us into another area of clean-up, new construction. My husband looked at me one day and said, "This part-time business of yours has potential to become full-time." My response was,"Want to be my partner in grime and clutter?!" And so you have it, that's who we are and where we've been with this business. 

So now what? Now we work together on most jobs and are taking on new clients! If you have a need and would like to talk to either one of us please get in touch to see if we can help you. We are happy to provide references if you'd like, although we have never yet been asked to! We work with passion, integrity, commitment and honesty. We choose our clients carefully and respect them deeply. We meet with them one on one before the date is set to begin work. We believe you, our client, as well as us, both need to feel good about each other as we work together as PARTNERS IN GRIME AND CLUTTER!

For information or a personal meeting together contact us:

Joanne:
mjoannekelling@gmail.com 

John:
johnekelling@gmail.com