Badass organizing - wazz that?
A client nicknamed me a “Badass Organizer” and I liked the moniker so much, I decided to title my book Badass Organizing. So what’s the difference between and organizer and a BADASS organizer (besides the fact that one may just have, ahem, a propensity to swear words)?
I’m so glad you asked. I’ve been organizing for over 3 decades. I earned my chops by helping friends and sometimes rallying groups of people to come in and help overwhelmed seniors who were moving into a retirement apartment. I have pissed off a few folks along the way as my style was, well, I just wanted them to throw out stuff. I mean - isn’t that ultimately the solution to clutter? Just throw it out?
Um. No. Make that a HELL no. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot working with friends and clients. And while I still leans towards “Pitch it!” I am far more gracious and always remind clients that those decisions are THEIR decision.
For change that is SUSTAINABLE, a client, a person, must have complete buy-in with the process of what goes and what stays. I learned this from a precious client whom I worked with. We decluttered through her home room by room and by the time we were finished, she had resumed shopping senior discount day at Goodwill and began filling the newly emptied spaces in her home with more items,
A wise person once said, “If someone can talk you into it, someone can talk you out of it.” So yeah, I can talk someone into pitching things but they will very likely feel remorse and resentment for having had their hand forced.
As a Badass Organizer, I help a client discover the reasons for the clutter in the first place. It can be a surprising journey as clients recognize unprocessed grief from the death of a loved one. Or the grief of “a life not lived” (Hello, fly fishing gear that has sat in the garage for 35 years. Or a the crib where your now estranged 30-year-old son used to sleep.) This is HARD stuff people!
Do you struggle parting with a roomful or even a storage unit full of items you already know is not serving you well, It’s just taking up space and costing you emotional energy every time you think of it?
I encourage you to look at it as an invitation to consider - what is the emotional hook? Guilt? Grief? Unfulfilled promises? It is an invitation to HEALING. To WHOLENESS. To a HAPPIER LIFE.
It takes great courage. And that is why I consider what I do a deeply spiritual work. You are WORTHY of a life that is free from clutter - both physical, emotional and spiritual clutter.
Have a questions about decluttering? I would love to hear from you! Email me thezanysage@gmail.com or use the contact page.
