Holy smokes! I just learned that yesterday, Monday, Jan. 14, 2014, was National Clean Off Your Desk Day. I’m excited and amazed because I actually did it without knowing I was supposed to. Perhaps I was feeling the vibe. Here’s the after picture:

 

 

Had I known I was celebrating a momentous occasion, I would have taken a before picture.

Yes, I’m aware my desk is still loaded with “stuff.” But to put that into perspective, you need to know I filled one and a half Glad Flex full-size garbage bags with the CRAP that was on my desk. I suppose one day I’ll discover there’s a National Find Appropriate Storage Day, and perhaps the following Tuesday, I’ll pop over to the Container Store and figure out what I need. Until then, I shall have neat piles.

The crazy thing is, I’m not a hoarder (nor am I in denial).

I think I suffer from something many women suffer, HOEES: holder-of-everyone-else’s-shit-itis, or maybe it’s an “-osis.” Regardless, symptoms include:

1. A purse littered with items that belong (or belonged) to other family members.
2. A car in a similar state.
3. Ditto regarding “your” spaces at home (craft room, office, or even laundry area).
4. Likewise, with your desk.

Usually, when I go on a rampage and clean something, and I mean thoroughly clean something, all my family members become afraid, very very afraid. As I take on the cathartic job of clearing and organizing, anger builds within me. I go from feeling put-upon to overwhelmed by all the expectations forced on me to being resentful that nobody else in the house can even throw away a freaking crumpled receipt! Why the hell am I the one who has to find it encased in lint behind the dryer and throw it away? I’m pretty sure everyone has arms in this *#$%^ house!

The expletives fly. Blame is burned into their souls. Vows to go on strike or even pull a Marie Osmond and walk away if things should ever end up like this again. I’ve even threatened to carve those promises into the back door.

But not yesterday. One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to stop telling everyone there’s a positive in everything and, instead, find it. Which may be why I hadn’t cleaned off my desk in over two weeks; I had to work long and hard to find that positive.

But I did.

Within the litter on my desk were some really nice things: a letter from the high school alerting me to the fact that my son qualifies for their Gifted and Talented program; the copy requirements for and ad in the program bill listing my daughter in her first “cast” role of a theater performance, the cutest photo ever of my dog. Those are some of the good things I found that made it easy to make lemonade: cleaning your desk reminds you of some the better moments in life.

However, there were also plenty of things I needed to take care of: insurance changes regarding my daughter’s diabetes, reminders to make my dog’s vet appointment, annual doctor appointments, bills that needed to be paid, etc. that made it a little hard to make lemonade. But relatively easy to make bile.

But, again, I did.

Why am I the one who takes on all this shit? Because I can and I do it well. So frankly, instead of feeling put-upon, I should feel empowered, capable, grateful I’m smart enough to handle it. Is it really a sign of disrespect that everyone seems to think my desk, purse, and personal areas are their dumping ground? Not necessarily. Maybe it’s a sign of appreciation — thank God we have Mom/Lisa to deal with it. Should I be resentful that no one even volunteers to take on some of the responsibilities? No. Maybe they know I’d get my nose in their business and tell them how they’re doing it wrong and how to do it better.

Ouch.

Yeah, sometimes lemonade is bitter. But that’s OK. It’s a reminder to yourself that you are a power horse. Take the reigns with appreciation instead of complaining about it.