Being Chill not Shrill


Meet Larry, a bigger-than-life framed photo my grandson once had hanging in his bedroom. I told him I’d keep Larry—maybe one day they will share a dorm room or an apartment. Until then, Larry watches over me in our large garage. We have a lot of things like Larry. Stuff that means something to someone. It’s just a matter of where it all goes. That can be hard for someone like me. Larry looks like I do when confronting a mess—stressed and a bit panicked.

 

Ben Franklin succinctly declared: “A place for everything, everything in its place.”  That’s totally me. I put things where they belong. I confess, it borders on compulsion—you can ask my family. I’ve gotten in trouble putting other people’s things away where I think they belong. If I get a call from my grandson, it’s not just to say hello, it’s to ask me where I put something he’s looking for.

 

Yes, I’m one of those neat freaks. My family gives me more grace than I deserve. They roll their eyes as I flit around keeping things tidy. I insist that everything must go somewhere. That’s why you’ll find me organizing things, making room for things, or (gasp) getting rid of things.

 

I don’t think I’m alone. Walk into any Walmart in January and they have plastic storage bins on sale. Nothing screams “Get Organized” more than stacked, color-coded bins. I know my people are out there—you lovers of neat and tidy. Walmart knows us well. For all those folks pledging to get organized in the New Year, Walmart is there for you. 




But I’ve made my own New Year’s pledge: chill out. I’m hoping to keep my Ben Franklin attitude to myself this year. Does it really matter if everything has a place in the house if love is there?  I’ll take love over tidy stacks of storage bins. 

 

Ben Franklin created some unrealistic expectations for 21st Century Americans. In our fast-paced world, where children seemingly grow up in a couple years, why stress over the things that have so much less value than those we love? Did my kids really need my daily nagging to clean up? I’m finally learning it’s better to be chill than shrill. 

 

So, the first test of my New Year’s resolve will be how I handle the stuff we save. I certainly don’t want to look like Larry. Maybe that’s why I have him staring at me—a vivid reminder. 

 

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