The Possiblity of an Open Doorway

 

I had an idea recently about a wall in our house. I just kept thinking that if only that wall had a doorway, it would allow us to walk from our front hall, through our family room and right into our back hall and laundry room, rather than having to walk all the way through the kitchen with several turns to navigate. If that wall were a doorway, we could walk right up the front staircase with the laundry baskets and it would be so much more pleasant! Plus, when we come in the house with all our stuff (primarily through the front door in the spring and summer) we could head right into the back hall to put things away, where there is more room.

I ran the idea by my husband, Eric, who has always dreamed of putting a stained glass window in that spot. Being a bit slow to warm up to my crazy ideas, it took a while to take root in his mind. Yesterday, when I came home from errands, I found that he had masked off a rectangular spot on the wall and drilled a tiny hole in the middle where we could see through to the family room. It surprised me, as the doorway on the one side did not quite match up to where I thought it would be on the other side! I thought it would be much closer to one side of the room, when it was really more centered! But I was happy to see the possibility start to take shape. He still put in his plug for a window, but I said he wouldn't be happy when he saw me climb through the window with the laundry baskets, and he agreed that he wouldn't.

Is there a place in your life where the possibility of an open doorway (real or figurative) would help you to make something easier in your life? Can you imagine it? If so, can you implement it? Sometimes, even just imagining the possibility can free up the physical energy needed to make it happen.

It's not going to be quick for our doorway to take shape, I know that it may take months for all the pieces to be started and finished, as there is electrical, baseboards and load bearing walls to contend with. But I am excited for the project to begin and am looking forward to the connection that the open doorway will provide!

Update! Click Here to read The Possibility of an Open Doorway, Pt 2!

For help with any organizing project,
simply call Linda, 716-631-5619.

Comments Welcome!

If the comment box is not visible, 

please share by clicking on the "(No) Comments" link
~ Counter-intuitive, I know, but it's a Blogger quirk!

The Body Double

This is a term described by Judith Kolberg in her books Conquering Chronic Disorganization  and ADD Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life. In these wonderful and very readable books Judith mentions many suggestions and strategies to help people with challenges get on top of their tasks, and one of them is the use of a Body Double. This she describes as someone who will hang out with you while you tackle your task and will act as a mirror and an anchor until you get the job done. This could be a friend, relative, colleague or I suppose even your dog or cat, as much of the time all is needed from the other being is simply to be present. In fact, at my desk my dog Whisper usually sleeps at my feet and my cat Jasmine sleeps on a shelf at my right elbow while I work. It is very comforting to me and keeps me anchored.

Right this minute I am writing this article in the office of my friend, Dr. Elvira Aletta who runs a psychotherapy practice called Explore What's Next. We are seated across from each other, laptops open, coffee by our side, tip tapping away on our blog articles. Several months ago we had discussed our frustration that we often left blogging to the last minute, putting more urgent and pressing matters ahead of writing. We agreed that having a designated blogging time would be helpful and that we could encourage each other further by meeting together during our writing time to cheer each other on. This has resulted in a bi-weekly Monday meeting where we get together at each others home or office for an hour or two and crack out some writing. Being each others Body Double has been a huge help to each of us, with the added benefit that we can process other business and personal issues to the benefit of our well being and productivity.

I often serve as an anchor and support for my clients as we tackle the To Do List. I presort, put like with like, simplify the presentation of the task and clean up as we go along. While the decisions need to be and are made by my clients, I can help stage them so that it is easier to see the choices. It makes the job for my client much more efficient, effective and enjoyable. Plus it gets it done!

Could you benefit from a Body Double?
For help with this or any organizing project,
simply call Linda, 716-631-5619.

Comments Welcome!
If the comment box is not visible, 

please share by clicking on the "(No) Comments" link
~ Counter-intuitive, I know, but it's a Blogger quirk!