Contrary to what we see in the blogosphere, not all Somedays include leaving the 9-to-5 world. Some people, like my good friend and fellow Professional Organizer Nada Thomson, find that their dreams take them the other direction – from self-employed to employee and that finding a cure for Someday Syndrome drives them there.
Who: Nada Thomson of Artful Organizers and The Sanctuary
Nada is a Professional Organizer on her way to becoming a Fundraiser for an amazing and unique community called the Sanctuary, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
What variety of Someday Syndrome affected you the most?
I have always known that I keep too much stuff because I might need it Someday.
In what way?
The theme of the stuff has changed over the years but the habit has not. Although I have managed to stream-line my closets and cupboards, I have not even begun to tackle my office and garage. Everything is well sorted and organized…but what it is not, is well used!
How did it affect the rest of your life?
Having an abundance of stuff and resources seemed like a wonderful idea as I was creating the stock. However, now, years later, I feel only a sense of heaviness when I think of it all. When I have looked at it over the years, I thought that, “today is a good day to get rid of what isn’t being used”. Unfortunately, I either ran out of steam before I began or I didn’t make the hard call to get rid of anything…that blasted Someday Syndrome struck again!! And so, here I am on the verge of a new career and this albatross is weighing me down when I should be taking it easy before I start the new gig!
How would you describe your happiness level at that time?
I was/am not a happy camper.
Did the other varieties of Someday Syndrome appear in your life as well?
Oh, yes, they certainly did…and do.
What changed?
I have been granted some time to transition between running my own business and working for a cause I feel passionately about. I feel more rested and ready to tackle the task of purging the stuff I won’t need in my new life.
Was it gradual or did it come as an epiphany? Perhaps a mix the two?
People have told me that I had been speaking of wanting a change for a long time now. I had also noticed an increase in my level of discomfort for having so many resources that were not being used. When I was offered the new job, one of the first things that came to my mind was, “I can clear out my office and garage now!!” Quite a telling exercise for me…
What dream are you in the process of realizing?
I want to be totally ready for the new challenges ahead. To do that, I believe that I must finally cross everything off my to-do list – especially the items that have been on the “get to it someday” side.
How would you describe your happiness level now?
There is much to be done before I can sit back and sigh with relief, but when I finally donate 7 years worth of great and useful stuff to someone else, I know I will be at the top of my game;)
What advice would you give someone in the position you were in before?
Set time-lines for yourself. If the item hasn’t been touched/used in X number of days/months then it MUST be given to someone else or to a charity. Mark the assessment days into each year and stick to them. Don’t try to get through everything in one shot – work your way around your home/office/storage – from one location to the next throughout the year. That way you won’t be in my position of having to do a huge chunk of stuff in a very short period of time.
Someday Lessons:
14 Responses to “When Too Much Stuff Happens: Nada Thomson Interview”
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I really liked that line about how the accumulation of stuff contributed to a sense of heaviness. Being bogged down physically does contribute to being bogged down mentally. It can really get hard to move forward at that state.
Interesting to see how a lot of readers want or are in the process of transitioning from working for the Man to being self-employed and yet, people like Nada (and myself) do the exact opposite. My personal experience was that money had stopped to be a motivational factor and I wanted to do something else that was worthwhile and more rewarding spiritually. My guess is that Nada has found it!
I went through the process of cleaning out my life when I moved from my house to my apartment. However, now I am moving from my partment to the Urbane Lion’s house, and I am feeling completely overwhelmed because a) he has a lot of stuff b) this means there is no room for my stuff c) I have less than a month to move in and d) I have zero control over him sorting through his stuff. I like Nada’s advice of doing it in small chunks, but how do you do that under a tight deadline? Help!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Licking my wounds
@Al
Yes, I’ve never felt freer mentally and emotionally than when I had only my car and what fit inside it.
@UL
Yes, Nada is a very spiritual person, so to be able to mix work and spirituality would be a dream come true for her.
@UP
Ah yes, deadlines - ugh. Is there a room in the house that you can take over for now? Move everything into that space and then slowly pull stuff out. That might work. If not then cram everything into where you think it’ll go and live with the crowdedness until you can slowly go through each room editing it.
Or hire a Professional Organizer who will be able to help you do it quickly. (There’s always a time/money balance thing happening).
A move from California to Michigan a few years ago following the loss of my husband forced me to simplify. Although I thought I was not ruled by “stuff” it was clear I had allowed far too much to accumulate. We sometimes wrap ourselves in stuff and soon we are little and the stuff is big. The process of letting go allows us to shed those layers and rediscover, reconnect to our true selves in essence we grow big as the piles grow smaller.
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@Karen
It’s obvious that you are a wordsmith because your comment is pure poetry!
Alex-Great interview Alex. Stuff can be gone, essences, that’s what lingers and is more important to hold closer.
I find Urban Panther’s comment very interesting. Some time back I saw that someone I was involved with has no room in their space physically for anything belonging to anyone else. And what’s more, wanted to make no room. I backed away from that relationship except to remain friends. Sad, but true. Then I turned the question around. Do I make room for anyone, or anything else either? I do not have much in the way of physical stuff anymore, but if we are full up all the time, is there room for anyone or anything else?
I think it is a Feng shui thing too. First empty, clear…to make room for more flow. Are there any thoughts on this guys?
@Janice:
I agree completely - to make room for someone else in your life, you need to be willing to make physical space as well as emotional. From my experience working with my organizing clients (and from learning more about myself through organizing others) when emotions are out of whack, clutter happens.
For example you can always tell when I’m feeling at wit’s end because you can’t see my bedroom floor.
Chuckling..actually laughing…good to know. .. when I am “in process” it gets a little messy (read chaos) at a certain point I have to stop, tidy every thing back up..I can only let the chaos go so far…
I think it is very interesting that Nada chose what she did and the relaionship it has to her career.
Cool post.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Lolita, Lolita, Lo-lee-ta
Great interview Alex. Good for you Nada, for following your dreams. Self employment isn’t for everyone.
How did you wind up with so much stuff? Won’t you be able to sell some of it on Ebay? I’m doing that right now. I read somewhere that you feel far more liberated once you’ve got rid of all your junk - apparently it cleanses you mentally.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Blog Widgets And Other Great Stuff
“Clutter often accumulates when we aren’t totally happy with what’s going on in our life.”
This is an interesting observation. We do tend to accumulate stuff in a subconscious attempt to achieve happiness. Being aware of that can help us avoid accumulating so much stuff in the first place.
Vered’s last blog post..Aging: May I Please Get Off This Path Now?
Hi Alex,
What a great interview.
I agree, I think we collect stuff as a form of “security” when all is not right in our world. As I’ve simplified, I find I feel lighter, mentally. It’s a good feeling.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Parties, Spam and Hanging Chads
@Cath
I’ve passed your question along to Nada - hopefully she’ll have time away from the new job and decluttering to pop by and add a comment.
@Vered
Have you noticed that the 1980s mantra of “the one with the most toys wins” has now become “the one with the most spirituality wins”? People are shifting from owning things to owning themselves.
@Barbara
Thanks! Yes, whenever I’m tempted to start buying a lot of stuff, I stop and ask if I really need it or am I just shopping for the sake of shopping. Nine times out of ten it’s the latter, so I put my wallet away. Now if I could just do that with going out for dinner…
Wow,
I feel so supported by all of your comments! Thanks to everyone who took the time to say something in relation to my interview.
To answer Cath Lawson - I chose to donate almost everything so that I could have that instant gratification. I sort of see the loss of money as equal to what it would have ‘cost’ me in time and irritation to pursue the sale of stuff.
My new job (day number eight) is teaching me that my value as a person is not directly related to my productivity…I am learning to slow down and just be. Pretty mind blowing.
Oh, and I have to admit that I suffer from the same visual representation of inner discontent as Alex. But right now, by bedroom floor is sparkling clean:)