Stuff and teamwork
Every year, before I broach the subject of spring cleaning, my husband manages to hide his “stuff” in places I wouldn’t think of looking. We embark on a frenzied decluttering spree, trying to get it all done before the “outdoor season” begins. When we’re done, we’re usually satisfied with our effort, complimenting each other on a job well done. The house looks very spacious.
Slowly, things start to emerge. Literally. As the months progress, our big house starts looking smaller. Things are pulled out of drawers, closets, garage, laundry room. Why it’s so hard to let go of the 79th power bar or the 748th cable or the 33rd identical pair of soccer cleats, I can’t fathom.
When he looks around the house, my husband sees comfort, convenience and usefulness. “I know exactly where my stuff is”, he quips. Or, “I can use this to fix that.”
When I look around, I see clutter, cortisol and pointless stuff, which ultimately means “work”. I’m a minimalist. I prefer simplicity. Attachments to people rather than things. The fewer things around me, the better.
His position: Eliminating his stuff would diminish his identity. As long as the house is clean, what’s the harm in having the real him, hanging out, all over, in every room? The music sheets piled in the music room? Those are a “picture” of him, who he is and what he loves. Those shoes? They tell his story as a soccer referee. He’s an in-the-moment pragmatist.
My position: There is a limit to how many “pictures” of ourselves we can have. At some point we must let go of “stuff” and focus on our human selves, our health, our sanity, and how much energy or motivation we will have later on, when we really have to “spring” clean before the “autumn” of our lives. I’m a future-focused planner.
Unlike my husband, I’m no handyperson. I see little value in collecting screws, paperclips and gizmos that may be useful should the dishwasher threaten to perish. He’s a master of mindfulness and sees little value in predicting the future. His skills are hands-on, practical and require tools. Mine are different – all I need is my brain, my heart, and my love for helping people and organizations thrive. No material tools required!
But we’re a great team, and teamwork is what we do. It takes two to tango – we balance each other by adding our own strengths - in the same way a project team or group of like-minded professionals should, to achieve success.
So I continue to strive to spring clean. Wait, what? Is it summer already? Must I wait a whole year to start again? Will there be new hiding spots?
In future articles I’ll talk about minimalism. Just minimally….
Email me: bernadette@gogettercoaching.com .