I‘m not exactly sure how this happened. I mean, seriously.

I avoided the obligatory End-of-the-Year-Self-Assessment post, the Impossible Resolutions post, and even the Big-Plans-For-This-Next-Year post. And yet somehow? Here I am, writing about a THEME for the New Year.

I didn’t even know years could HAVE a theme. But it seems they do, that I have one, and that this year’s theme is “Places, Everyone!”

“Places, Everyone!?”
What the heck does that even mean?

Actually, it makes a good bit of sense if you’re inside of my head. But since you aren’t…

Yelling “Places, Everyone!” is just just my wacky way of making a New Year’s resolution about getting organized, without making myself get organized, and without making a resolution.

See, I have a thing about organization. I love the supplies, the tools, the concepts, and the ideas.

I just never use them.

The actual get-busy-with-it process of organizing makes my brain short out.

And yet, the goal is, somehow, to wind up with everything having a place, and being in it. In other words, to get organized without the pain and intimidation factor of GETTING ORGANIZED.

Why is this such a big deal? Well…

My brain isn’t structured like a normal person’s. Trust me on this one. My thoughts have wills of their own, and they like to jump around and in a dozen simultaneous directions.

The idea of forcing them into boxes and files? Yeah… it doesn’t work. I’ve tried. They jump out of their designated places, try to file themselves by hair color, turn the boxes into building blocks, take off their labels and use them for collage projects.

Seriously. They do all of that and more. If I could TIVO what goes on in my head, you’d see what I mean.

But anyway.

Instead of forcing them into an organizational system that they’re going to rebel against, I’m just yelling out “Places, Everyone!” and wait for them to fall into line.

Its my way of telling all of those thoughts and ideas and needs and functions and STUFF to find a place, dammit, and get in it.

It’s not nearly as wacky as it sounds, I swear.

It’s just a little trick to turn the organizational process over to the subconscious. All I need to do, consciously, is to remember to yell out “Places, Everyone!” under my breath every so often (which is pretty easy, because there is SO much in my life that’s out of place). With any luck, the phrase will become embedded in my mental circuitry.

And when I start to put something down haphazardly, shove it into a corner, or notice something just laying around, staring balefully at me, I’ll hear “Places, Everyone!” in my head, and naturally remember to put whatever-it-is away.

And maybe more importantly, I’ll slowly figure out exactly where “Away” is.

It could work, right?

By putting the emphasis on the Things finding their own Places, I take the pressure off of myself about finding places FOR them.

It’s all about making the Things in my life take responsibility for themselves.

Ok, you’re right, it IS as wacky as it sounds.

Wack-factor aside, the core concept is about finding places and space for all of the things and stuff in my life, and putting the stuff there. That includes stuff-stuff, like clothes and paperwork and countertop appliances and craft supplies and that old carburetor that Mr.Tweak insists he’s going to turn into a lamp. (eww) It also includes:

• People-stuff: friends, clients, family, community.
• Mental stuff, like moods, energy, ideas, neuroses.
• Semi-tangible stuff like finances, income, and debt.
• Scheduling-stuff, like to-do lists and action items.

So “Everyone” really means “Everything”. I actually tried yelling “Places, every Thing!” but the Things ignored me - but when I yell out “Places, Everyone!” they line up and salute.

It’s kind of cute.

In a perverse, wacky way.

And yes, it’s weird, but anthromorphing things helps me to relate to them better and stop stressing. I quit asking why a long time ago - I never got much more of an answer, though the China Hutch did roll its eyes at me once.

I do have some theories about why this anthromorphing thing works, and they aren’t woo filled theories, either.

This isn’t the place for explaining that, though.

See, I’m learning already!

Here’s some of the actual actionable stuff:

1.
Whenever I touch something, move it, shift it, finish it, or scoot it over, repeat “Places, Everyone!”. It’s a way of anchoring the whole idea in my head - the idea that Things need to *belong* somewhere.

2.
In order for every Thing to have a place, I need to Make Room. It means cleaning closets, drawers, and shelves, shuffling and throwing out things, recycling and eBaying.. It means filing systems, paper shredders and maybe even calendars.

3.
If I can’t find or make a place for a Thing, that Thing needs to find a place with someone else. No matter how wonderfully cool and full of potential the Thing is, it needs to find a home..

There. Not so tough, really, is it? *cough* And yes, I promise to stop with the wacky capitalization now.

So. What do you think?

Are you amused? Inspired? Headed to the store in search of mousetraps? And have you got a theme for 2010?