Why Is It More Difficult ?

I like having organization and cleanliness probably more than the average person.  I have some OCD tendencies (don't we all?!) but mostly I just like things to be in order.  Clutter is distracting and decreases efficiency.  This is applicable not just in physical spaces but also in the virtual world as well.  In this post, I am talking specifically about electronic items such as pictures, emails, documents, music, and any other type of file you can conveniently save on your computer or electronic device.

We live in a day and age when the available space for saving electronic information is virtually limitless.  Even our phones (I hear they can actually be used to make calls too now!) have capacity to store documents or files that just a few years ago would have taken a whole hard drive to "keep" around.

I think most everyone de-clutters their physical space reasonably often (Spring Cleaning is in full swing around the office and at home for me), but when was the last time you de-cluttered your "virtual" space(s)?  How many pictures are saved on your computer or phone?  How many emails have you moved over to a folder or a longer storage program like OneNote?  How many Apps have you loaded on your smart phone that haven't been used in months?  How many spreadsheets and presentations and word documents have you saved to a u:drive or w:drive that are collecting "virtual" dust?  For me, the amount of files and documents is staggering and overwhelming.

As I have recently undertaken the effort of clearing the clutter, it has become very apparent to me that I am MUCH better at cleaning physical spaces than virtual ones.  For all the convenience of finding various types of documents on a computer, it is infinitely more time consuming to throw out whole piles of files from the variety of programs they are saved under, than to just toss a stack of papers from a desk file.  It is also not nearly as rewarding afterward because you cannot actually see the progress you made.  And THAT is why I think it is more difficult for me to complete!


Song Of The Day:
I've been a James Taylor fan for many years, especially thanks to my mother's playing his records during our family's "quiet times" each afternoon.  But I cannot recall hearing his version of "Paper Moon" until perhaps a year ago on a local easy listening station.  I immediately loved it!  I chose it for today's post because I think we consider our electronic device storage space to be a bit of make believe although it surely isn't.  Also, I just really dig the relaxing vibe of this tune and after spending hours de-cluttering an "e-space" it brings back my sanity!  :)

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Who Knew It Was A Real Product ?!

A year or two ago, Karen and I watched every episode of Monk on Netflix.  I've already blogged about the show itself, but I recently had an experience that took me back to that show.

If you've never seen it, I certainly recommend it.  The title character has some serious OCD issues, one of which has to do with the kind of bottled water he drinks.  In many episodes he finds himself in situations where bottled water is being offered, and he declines unless they have his favorite (only acceptable) kind available.  The name of that brand: Sierra Springs.

Similar to any television show, I presumed this was a made-up brand name.  That is until I noticed the name on the plastic bottle I use to water some of our many house plants.  Sierra Springs!

Song Of The Day:
Of the many available water themed songs I could have picked, I landed on "Waterfalls" by TLC for this post.
Why?
Because there is a line in the song that goes just stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to.  I think Monk would have liked that lyric.

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Why Won't You Roll Properly ?

Quite a silly post subject, but I want to see if I'm the only one who feels this way.

I have issues when the toilet paper roll doesn't roll smoothly.  It's not crazy OCD, like I have to measure the spin for perfect rotation or anything, but sometimes the roll gets squished or bent and it sort of flops oddly while spinning instead of rolling smoothly.

This bugs me every time it happens!

I have to take the roll off the roller and try to straighten (maybe round out is a more accurate way to describe it) the cardboard roll before using the toilet paper.  This past week, the roll in our master bathroom was severely non-smooth.  Even after I squeezed and pushed and tried to get it to turn properly, it just stayed skeewompus.  I just decided to use another bathroom until the roll was done.


Song Of The Day:
In the early 90's I loved the song "Roll To Me" by Del Amitri.
I'll always remember this song because, at the time, it was the shortest recorded song to make Billboard's Top 20 list.  I think the line "soul so in despair" could easily be replaced in Weird Al fashion with a "roll so in despair."

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Aren't We All Just A Little OCD ?

I recently saw a post on facebook with one of those memes of the "Dos Equis" guy.  The words printed on the picture were to the following effect: "I don't always watch Netflix, but when I do, I find a show I like and watch all 7 seasons in two days and then get depressed when it's over."  That has been my experience with Netflix many times over (in fact I've blogged about several TV shows that Karen and I have watched in that manner).

Our most recent favorite has been "Monk" (although we have been watching it off and on for roughly the past year).  Perhaps my favorite part about the show is how his excessive OCD tendencies and irrational fears highlight that we ALL have some of these fears or OCD preferences.  Monk just happens to have all of them, but if we are honest with ourselves (especially as we get older) it is easier to recognize that we start to have very defined patterns in our day to day life.

I have to have towels folded and hung straight on towel rods.  Ask my kids.

I do not like my ice to be clumped at the bottom of a cup full of water.  I will shake the cup or poke the ice with my finger so it can float freely.

I straighten my desk at work every night before I leave to come home.  The desk has to be "clean" before I can leave.

I always place a napkin across my leg whenever eating a meal.  I use a separate napkin to wipe my mouth and hands.  The one on my leg is almost never touched.

I don't think these are problematic quirks and I am betting that you have many of your own.  My suggestion is to take a moment and think about them.  Recognize that your quirks seem completely normal to you.  In fact, you probably have a very good reason for doing things that way.  It would be good to keep that in mind before judging someone else's quirks as odd or inappropriate.

Song Of The Day:
I know this song has nothing to do with being normal, in fact quite the opposite, but it fits.  "People Are Strange" by Brave People (originally by the Doors) is a song that was introduced to me by Gail B back in good ol' Greeley, CO.

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