Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you that I am organized. It may appear to be a bit obsessive and yet for my world my order and habits work. I find that putting things in their place helps me relax and focus on other things. For example, I always put my purse on the same shelf in our kitchen. I know where it is, I know how to find it, so when it comes time to leave I do not have to rush around trying to find my purse. My order of things has become a habit. One that works for my world.
In conversations about this habit, there are people who use words like obsessive, rigid, confining and even boring. One such comment was made by a colleague who said they thrive on the chaos of not know where things can be found. They enjoy the hunt, they get energized by having to find things like their purse. I have to admit, I did not understand nor could I see the value in “the hunt”. Especially when their hunt eventually becomes my hunt as they cannot find whatever it is so they ask me and work hard to get me involved in their hunt. Whew! So strange how people’s minds work differently, and how hard we must work to figure out ways to work together. What one person finds an adventure another person finds an exercise in frustration.
Our challenge is to then order our world such that it works for us, and allow people to order their world in a way that works for them. The two ways may not agree or coexist harmoniously, which means we need to respect AND support the ways other people think. That can lead to many UGH! moments, ones that press us beyond our emotional limits. If we all thought and acted the same, if everyone agreed with us and what we do all the time what a boring world this would be. So today as you order your world, give thanks your method and habits work for you. And be patient as your friend, colleague, neighbor or significant other orders their world in a way that works for them…just be sure you always know where your purse is in case they can’t find theirs!
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