Yesterday, I was in a bit of a mood. A never-have-enough-time-so-what’s-the-point-of-trying-how-am-I-ever-going-to-kick-this-slob-thing mood.
Sorry.
It’s my reality that sometimes the mess and/or clutter overwhelms me.
I thought about completely giving up on the picture framing/storage thing. I thought about moving on to another of the many projects that I unearthed while I decluttered last week. I thought about just being in a bad mood again today and ignoring it all.
But the dining room table was still piled with pictures and frames (that unfortunately didn’t match up), and so as I did my Bible Study this morning in the little bit of space I had cleared, I was looking at the piles. On top of the piles were the cutest pictures of days gone by. My boys hairless and slobbery. My daughter teetering on her tiptoes. And I knew . . . that I did not want to stick those pictures back into the box where they were a jumble of dusty memories.
And then, I decided to just see what I could do. I had so little hope that I would accomplish much that I didn’t even take a before picture. (I know, what kind of a slob-blogger am I?) Here’s the box that was filled completely with pictures sticking up randomly.
I didn’t have the frames to finish what I thought I wanted to do, but I did have a box of special notebook-album-thingys and plastic sheets in all different photo sizes ready to be filled. I know, it’s awful that I’ve had these resources for probably ten years and haven’t ever used them. They were given to me by my dear mother who has worked to find ways to help me compensate for my slobbish tendencies for the last 30 years or so.
Anyway, rather than berate myself for taking so long to actually use them, I’m going to be happy that my renewed mind and energy today helped me get it ALL done.
Yep, every single random picture is now in those albums.
They’re not exactly pretty and a scrapbooker would probably be horrified, but they can now be viewed without sneezing.
Perfect? No.
Totally random? Yes.
Done? YES!
Maybe in another 10 (or so) years, I’ll organize them and make them pretty!
And this is probably bad, but I decided to jump on my desire to get this project done, and ended up not having time to clean bathrooms before a friend came over for lunch. But my joy of having a major project done that has been hanging over my totally-unaware-head for so long outweighs any guilt I feel over that.
And did you see? I even found a completely unused storage space where they fit perfectly!!!
Yesterday I was hopeless because my plans to accomplish huge things were not going to work out. Today I have hope because I’ve decided to be okay with my ability to accomplish a few small things.
Great job!
That's wonderful.
We have probably thousands of photos all neatly organized in envelopes in photo-safe boxes. No one ever looks at them. Simple albums are better than boxes!
Woo-Hoo! Putting pictures in albums/frames is one of my least favorite jobs. I don't know why because I love to look at the pictures, but it is. Good job!
Sometimes its the small things that have the most impact. Now you know where the pictures are and they are no longer shoved in a box or corner. You can get them out and enjoy them, guilt free.
I can't do scrapbooking because I just don't have time for it. Half the time I'm just trying to keep my house clean! All my pics are just in regular albums.
That's awesome!
Yay! Photo albums are one of my kids' favorite things to look at. I need to get more of them put together.
You inspired me the other day with your first mention of these photos/frames. Two days ago I finally spent $12 at Walmart, bought four frames, framed four (expensive, studio) old fashioned pics of my kids that have been laying around all summer, and hung them up. It was such a simple job, and not too expensive– why did I put it off so long?
Woot-woot! Organizing pictures can be the worst! When my oldest son was 16 I decided I was going to do a scrapbook for him to display at his graduation 2 years down the road. No problem, right? It took him and I 2 MONTHS to sort through – ready for this – over 7,000 pictures!!! (He was an only child for his first 8 years and therefore the sole 'focus' of our camera.) I threw probably 6500 of those pictures because they were doubles, the same-scene-but-from-12-different-angles, or were just BAD. It took me 1 1/2 years to fit them into 3 albums but they turned out beautifully, if I say so myself, and it was a labor of love towards my favorite first born son that he hopefully can still enjoy looking at 40 years from now. I am trying to be more proactive with sons 2 & 3 – wish me luck…
I’m reading your blog backwards and way late to the party but this was a great accomplishment for you! It’s great that you were able to use what you had as a solution.
I’m the keeper of several boxes and old albums of family photos and need to move them to archive safe albums that my Mom bought. Mom’s been gone for 11 years now, and I still haven’t gotten it done. I’m trying to tackle an album at a time to not be so overwhelmed.
I REALLY love your comment at the end of this post! It really is all about having reasonable expectations and grace for ourselves. I know this post is old (I’m reading through your blog from the beginning) but I just wanted you to know how much your blog continues to help and encourage readers every day. And not just the readers you might expect. I am not what you would consider a slob. In fact, I have struggled with the opposite- letting my house and it’s routines control me. But I wanted you to know that you have helped me as well! Your perspective on non-negotiables and little steps adding up to progress over time has been eye-opening and freeing for me. For the first time in a long time I feel like I have control over my house instead of my house having control over me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and wisdom.