Shedd Speak

So, I’ve always known that people can have different organizational styles.  However, I never thought about the consequences of having two different styles living under the same roof.

Let’s first review my organizational style.  I am organized when A.) I have to be and/or B.) when time allows it.  I admit that there are times when I don’t have time to fold my laundry.  Therefore, it may sit in a laundry basket (or two) for an unspecified period of time.  I also don’t always go through my mail in a timely manner.  That’s because I only receive junk mail that I have to throw away and bills that I have to file.  My files are all the way upstairs.  It’s simply too much work.

But, it does get to a point where enough is enough.  I get tired of looking at the piles of mail and frustrated when I can’t find my clothes.  So, my OCD surfaces and I end up putting things away.  When I put my clothes away, I fold them and place each item in its home.  I pair socks together and whites go in one drawer, while colored pairs go in the neighboring drawer.  When I hang things up, I try to keep items separated.  For example, pants go all the way on the right; black and gray are together, and brown and khaki are together.  Short sleeves and long sleeves are separated.  One time, I even sorted my clothes by color…but only once.

My husband, on the other hand, has a completely different organizational style.  He loves the appearance of tidiness.  It’s bothersome to him that I leave my flat iron out on the bathroom counter.  But, it’s ok to shove lotto tickets and receipts in the bathroom drawers.  One time I even found a large glass dish in the study closet.

I guess it’s “out of sight, out of mind”…for most.  But, I know what are in those closets and drawers.  I know there are bills, expired licenses, laptops, books, candles and medicine shoved in, in a mountain of disarray.  And THAT drives me crazy.

So what are my options?

I could continue on complaining and blogging about the matter.  Or, I could try a little communication and compromise.  I can talk to my husband and explain that I would rather have organized drawers than temporarily messy surfaces.  Perhaps he’ll be willing to sit down with me and determine which items can be discarded.  He’s actually a pretty willing participator when we’re doing things together (aawww).

I’ll even put my flat iron away…as long as it’s had enough time to cool down.

Lesson five.