Simplify–What Does That Mean?
December 15th, 2007I have a friend with the sign Simplify above her kitchen sink. Another friend said she has signs all over her home that say Simplify. Her husband asked her, “What does Simplify mean to you?” We all laughed about that and the sign that used to say “Simplify, Simplify” with the second one crossed off.
As a professional home and office organizer I got to thinking what does Simplify mean to me? Does it mean only having as much food in the house as we eat in a week, does it mean only having only so many cleaning products on hand, does it mean only so many clothes, so many decorations for holidays or for the home? You get the idea.
No, that is not what it means to me. To me it is having a place for everything and everything living neatly in its place. Or having the right tool for the project we are working on and being able to access that readily. What got me to thinking about this is I had to reach up on a closet shelf and I got my stool to stand on. Later I needed to check an ingredient in the cupboard and I got my stool.
I am 5’3” and can’t reach very many high places without dragging up a chair or ‘stretching my gizzard’ as my mother used to say. (I know we don’t have gizzards). And grumping and growling on some days. I finally bought a small, very portable, sturdy stool to climb on, and then I got the bright idea of having one upstairs and one downstairs. I have to tell you it has made my life so much easier. To me that is what Simplify means.