Into the land of organization

Yesterday, I went on a journey of a different sort. A trip to organization land. It's a place I don't feel like I visit often enough, yet from what others tell me, I stop by more than most.

It started while browsing at Target with a friend during yesterday's day-after-Christmas sales. (I know, browsing at Target never leads to anything more than an empty wallet and a full shopping cart of things you didn't know you needed.)

Anyway, I found some super-cool plastic storage boxes that snap together. I thought they'd be perfect to hold some of my smaller gift-wrapping supplies. Then I got an ornament storage box. I figured it was about time I did something other than wrap them in newspaper and stuff them into bags when the original boxes disappeared.

Back home, inspired by my new organizational tools, I tackled the after-Christmas mess of gift tags, bows, half-empty reams of wrapping paper and miscellaneous cards and clutter.

When I was done, I got that strange feeling of peace that comes over me whenever I put things in order. I know, I know, I'm a freak. It's just that I don't function well in the midst of mess. For me, it makes stressful moments even more so and creates unnecessary hassles.

I know, it's true, life is messy. You can't always put things into neat boxes and store them away until you feel like thinking about them again. But it's almost a new year -- time to clear away the cobwebs and prepare for fresh starts. So hopefully you can relate to my organizational urges.

Now, if I could just get the energy to tackle my filing cabinet, or my closet, or....