My definition of STUFF

I've been searching for articles on organizing that are RSS (Really Simple Syndication). It hasn't been easy. That's good! I can write to my lil heart's content so that others can discover organizing peace.

So, to get started, how about I define some words that I'll use here.

First, STUFF.

I use "stuff" a lot, and this is why. Its a nice word that describes everything one could want to organize -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Its a substitute for all the clothes in the closet, all the holiday decorations in the attic, all the trinkets around the living room, all the extra plastic food containers in the kitchen. Its the cast-offs, the mess, the debris. Its the nice vase from your favorite aunt, the jacket you wear once a decade, the lasagna pan you use to bake that delicious apple crumb (by the way, does anyone have a good recipe for a delicious apple crumb?)

"Stuff" isn't judgemental. The old adage, "One man's junk is another man's treasure," is true, true, true! When I work with a client, I don't question why she wants to keep a piece of notepaper yet get rid of a perfectly good hammock.

"Stuff" is a soft word. It helps the client feel more at ease, and that is extremely important to me. We all get attached to our stuff. One of the keys to organizing is letting go of that attachment. And it ain't easy! So the muted word "stuff" softens the blow.

And finally, "stuff" is universal. We professional organizers use terms such as clutter, junk, treasures, muddle, untidiness, etc. But, as I've said, "stuff" is the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Besides, how can it be bad when it is the root of the word "stuffing," and who doesn't like stuffing.