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Empty chair in a closet

The Chair

/Updated /24 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

When I tell you that I am a born-messy, for whom the years have magnified that trait, it is not with joy. Embarrassment would be more like it. Join me as I step into the confessional. 

Empty chair in a closet

Faithful readers of this blog know that I often write about the power of organization to defeat clutter, a subject that has been proven to be a source of both physical and mental chaos. 

First confession

I write about that subject primarily to lecture myself. Writing about it keeps the problem clear, ever present in my mind. Messies like myself can easily slip into denial. We see the problem, but we can quickly move it out of mental view. That makes procrastination part of the equation. Writing makes me think, and that keeps the problem front and center.

The master bedroom in our home includes a spacious walk-in closet with a door. I tell you this so you will understand how easy it is for me to close the door to make my problems disappear. Can’t see it, for now it doesn’t exist. That lets me slip into denial. I’ll do it later. Next weekend when I have time to go through things.

Next confession

In this closet, we have a chair where my husband used to sit to put on his socks. Over the years, my problem has escalated to the point the chair and all of the space surrounding it has become covered, as in “buried” in piles—piles the height of which could be measured in feet, not inches. Clothes. Junk. Horrible. Worse than that. From time to time, I would dig it out, reorganize, and promise to do better. But then I’d backslide into my horrible, old patterns and habits.

Finally, I could not take it any longer. I cleaned the closet. Purged. Did all the things I encourage you to do. But more than that, I gave myself a little talking-to.

My spoiled, bratty child self agreed with my more wise and mature adult self that I would never again drape, lay, hang, or pile anything on that chair. Nothing. Not even for a moment. We did a pinkie promise, a heartfelt, I-can’t-take-it-any-longer kind of commitment. Beyond that, she and I agreed that I would repeat this mantra to myself whenever tempted: Do the right thing, do it now.

As I write, it has been 16 months—24/7 485 days. And I have repeated the mantra 365,876 times. At least. From that day to now, that chair has had nothing on it, around it, or hanging from it. More than that, there has been nothing on the floor. Not even my shoes, not for a moment. 

The mantra has been upgraded a bit. It’s more like, [sweetly spoken] Do the right thing … [then as a drill sergeant] DO IT NOOOOOW!!!! 

Yes, I am ecstatic. The change has been epic. The closet—all of it, not only the chair—has remained as organized as it was on that day I completed the makeover and determined that I’d had enough and would change my ways.

You should expect a follow-up post some time in the future, the title of which shall be: The Kitchen. 

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24 replies
  1. Sherry says:

    I have a chair, worn clothes, not needing washed but I’m not sure they should be hung in the closet. Maybe need airing first. What do you do with them?

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      If they don’t need to be washed, then they can be put away: fold, hang or store. In my opinion, if they need to be “aired out” they probably should be washed.

      Reply
  2. Bonnie says:

    Hi Mary
    I made your carrot cake recipe and couldn’t have been more pleased. It was moist and delicious and the cream cheese frosting was rich and creamy. The question I have for you is when frosting the cake, how do you keep the top of the cake from peeling off when you run the knife over it?
    I look forward to your comments.

    Reply
  3. Jacy says:

    That is Wonderful! I removed my chair but now I pile things on the dresser instead…sigh. Apparently I need to be more firm with myself so I can achieve lasting results too.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      If you could get inside my head, this is what you would hear several times a day (By now I’ve taken on more than the closet): [Sweetly]: “Do the right thing …” [Drill Sargent-like]: DO IT NOOOOW!!!!!

      Reply
  4. Carolyn Kessler says:

    I have same issues and my husband is worse with never putting anything back where he got it. Clutter gives me anxiety because I grew up with a Mom who was a Marine drill sgt where everything was neat as a pin. I’ve had to just do what I can to alleviate the clutter. Thanks for the encouragement.

    Reply
  5. Donna says:

    You started me on my path to debt free living over 20 years ago. I moved from NYC to Orlando and bought a house 8 years ago. I was able to pay off my mortgage in 5 years (great tips from you) and am now retired and still debt free. God bless you Mary. Now you have inspired me to clean out my overly crammed closet and get organized. Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Cathy down on the farm... says:

    I very much understand. I try and live by the motto of handling most things once, such as mail. Also, as I come in the door, I have plenty of hangers in my entryway closet to hang up coats so as to not fling them on a chair. When I bring in the mail, I sort it on the spot and in most instances, if there is a bill to pay, I pay it on the spot or at least put it in the bill spot, so it is within my eye shot to remember to get to it. When I take off my good clothes after church, I hang them up and put on my junk clothes to lounge in. Hard habits to get in to and maintain but it is like the habit of brushing your teeth …so worth it!

    Reply
  9. K. Martin says:

    Congrats! Wish we could see a before-and-after pic — you know, for inspiration. I have such a closet (and a bedroom!), that never seems to get decluttered, no matter how much I determine to do so. 🙁

    Reply
  11. Marci says:

    Re: The chair

    Mary! What a monumental accomplishment to refrain from even one item left on “the chair”! I won’t put one in my (also) closet with a door. I too would give in “just this once” and set something on it, drape a top over it, etc. I don’t think I have the same perseverance you have. Be good to yourself! Rejoice!

    Reply
  12. Linda Radosevich says:

    Congratulations Mary on conquering the messy closet! You get a big gold star! And you’ve encouraged the rest of us to keep it up!

    Reply
  13. Joan says:

    So proud of you, Mary! Great job! Thank you for sharing with your online family.
    You are so down to earth-I just love you!
    My home is pretty neat and clean but my closet has suffered the past few months. Tomorrow, I am going to “do the right thing, do it now!”
    Thank you, again, for sharing!

    Reply
  15. Cheryl Schultz says:

    My master bedroom also has a walk in closet. I have spent the past week purging. My husband and I think some of the clothes moved here with us from our previous home, 15 years ago! I expect to have a lot more space when we’re finished!

    Reply
  16. Carol Petru says:

    Congratulations, Mary! Thank you for your example in getting your closet organized AND for being brave enough to share your story! You are AMAZING and I am so happy to be a subscriber!

    Reply

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