Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

November 13, 2019 Issue No. 314

Changing it Up

I love to travel. Anywhere. Paris is great, but I get excited to go to the Jersey Shore, too. I’m writing this in Seattle, where I am visiting friends and attending a Bar Mitzvah.

As you know, I’m a creature of habit. I believe strongly in the power of habit, and I’ve worked hard to develop many of my habits, so it may seem contradictory for me to say that one of the things I love about travel is that it breaks me out of my habits.

At home in New York, I crawl out of bed, make my coffee and then sit on the couch and drink the coffee in the dark. This morning, however, I walked a few blocks as soon as I got up (in order to get good coffee, cause c’mon, I’m in Seattle). It was nice to get my blood going first thing. And it’s good to be reminded that we can change.

In my workshop last Thursday, one of the participants asked me if I was always organized, and I told her, no, I was a totally disorganized child. I admired order, I had an appreciation for beauty, but I was creative, unfocused and messy. I explained that between my mother, my school and my own desire to feel more in control, I changed and learned to be organized.

Her question made me realize that I should start my workshop with this statement:

I believe we are all capable of change.

Because I do believe we are all capable of change. We can become the best version of ourselves, the kindest, healthiest, most organized versions of ourselves, by improving our habits.

Even though I appreciate all the routines in my daily life, it’s great to go on vacation and remember that I can do things differently, because even if I do a lot of things in my life well (unloading the dishwasher, laundry) there are things I’d like to improve (more exercise, more socializing) and going on vacation, getting out of my rut—I mean routine—reminds me that it’s possible.

So change it up: Try breaking up your routines, and think about what you might want to change, and if anyone invites you to an event across the country, definitely say: Yes!