A blessing or a curse? I am flattered when my daughter says that she wishes she could be more like me or even a fraction like me. She calls me awesome. However, I know in my heart that she doesn’t really know what it is like to be a neatnik, organized, or compulsive. I wouldn’t say I have OCD, but I like my life a certain way and try to control it that way. It’s actually a sad state of affairs.

When I was still teaching, my plan book was filled with daily activities all organized according to discipline. Any substitute should be able to look at my plan book and be able to follow along. I would even put labels for lunch, the pledge, dismissal, or anything that was a routine. I had different colors for various categories, and I prepared my plan book like this week after week for almost 30 years. My husband ….also a teacher….wrote a word or two in each box of his plan book and made fun of me. Being compulsive is also sad.

Additionally, as I was teaching, I kept daily to-do lists on 5×7 index cards. Each and every day I would write a new one before I went home for the day. The list would include items for anything I had to do at home or at school. Some would be quick while others would be long term items. What didn’t get done today got moved to the next day. I felt so accomplished as I would cross off those to-do items of that list! I told myself it was so I wouldn’t forget anything important. Was it? Or was I trying to organize my life on a 5X7 index card? To be so passionate about a list….sad.

When it comes to home life, I prefer my areas to be just so. The kitchen is my territory. I want my counters minimally covered with either antique decor or appliances. When my husband wanted to put our desk top computer on the kitchen peninsula, I just about had a conniption. The peninsula is fairly large, and with the computer in the corner, it wound up being quite convenient. I know where everything is, and I bark if someone moves something from it’s “home” space. I check to see if my counters are clean by bending down and scanning the counter areas for crumbs, smudges, or spots. A shiny counter is my goal. I also check major appliances for fingerprints. That really bugs me. Out comes the cleaning spray and cleaning cloth so I can shine the fridge, dishwasher, or stove. My dear husband respects how I like the kitchen, and he helps to keep it neat and tidy. However, my obsessiveness to keep it that way….sad.

The worst of the worst is when I have to prepare a large meal such as Thanksgiving. It’s as though a major operation is about to take place. Weeks prior to the feast I gather my recipes. Then I make a list of groceries so we can go shopping for any needed ingredients. From there, I breakdown down the recipes as to what gets made first, next, and so on. The day before the dinner, I write approximately 30-50 post-it notes on things to do. On the big day, I read all my notes and toss them as they are completed. The note compilation gets smaller and smaller until the meal is completed. You may think that this is carrying it too far. However, anyone who pops in can read my notes and complete a task or two. Too compulsive?

I have rooms or closets I try not to go to because they do not fulfill my expectations. Someone else in the family may be in charge of that room or closet, and that’s their issue. But, I can’t even go there without getting nervous or hyperventilating. Now that’s sad.

You may know someone like me. You may even be somewhat similar. We have our moments of sheer madness, and then on the other hand, we’re as cool as a cucumber because we have everything under control. Yes, sometimes it is a sad state of affairs with what we put ourselves through. Can you think of someone like me? Do you think this is a sad situation or is it productive? What’s your take on compulsiveness, organization, and management? Until then…. have a phenomenal Monday, be safe, and I love you.