Lurking Piles, Talking Walls, Branding Our Spaces, Clearing Our Minds: Banishing Your To-Do List
#FreshStart 2026 – On New Years day, I wrote about starting the New Year, asserting that it’s not about resolutions, that we should seek our resolve and our joy throughout the year. I abide by that statement.
Most of the lurking artwork and decor belonged in my office. I had made my office functional, but not laying claim to my space and writing my stories on the walls was a distraction that bore more weight than I was allowing myself to acknowledge.
And yet…
There is something about winding up one year and starting a new one, and in my case, there is something about moving into a new home and taking time to embrace it and personalize it, something about seeking clarity of purpose that inherently leads me to piles, boxes, and to-do stashes.
Over the last two months, I started tackling some piles, bins, and boxes that have existed in our home since move-in day (December 20, 2024). I kept telling myself they would be tended eventually, that everything that needed to be in place was in place; after all, I had other things to do.
And yet…
They were nagging me, mocking me, calling me to tend them sooner than later.
I realized that the knowing they were there waiting was inhibiting me in seemingly unrelated aspects of my world. I finally acknowledged that they ARE related. The stuff on the waiting list was lurking in my thoughts. I was dreaming about completing those things, picturing myself completing them, and they had the power to immobilize me.
I needed to fortify my displays of my own artwork – items I showcase to share with potential clients when discussing design projects.
And so, I dove in.
I’m not good at breaking a large task into daily installments of 15 or 20 minutes. I’m a binge worker, so I’ve taken a day here and there to tackle these unnecessary but VITAL things.
I started in my office, living room, and kitchen – It was time to #MakeMyWallsTalk! My story is finally on these walls, my children are on them, other people I love and my own artwork are displayed.
DYK – seeing your photos displayed is integral to making someone feel loved, safe, home? It’s the easiest way to promote healthy self-esteem and self-image.
When Alyanna got home from college, she helped me to make quick work of adding the decor we selected to make the guest / music room “grandma chic” with family artifacts, and we started the floor-to-ceiling art gallery in the hallway. Obviously, we still need to choose the art pieces from Lydan’s and Alyanna’s art portfolios. A few more frames are presently painted and drying to be hung on the opposing wall.
Most of collections were put in place very shortly after we moved in – the typewriters, cameras, pens, and displays of outdated media. But, I needed to add other things I valued – my brother’s picture, vintage artwork I love (and a couple of pieces I stole from my daughter, but not to worry – she will steal them back some day).
In my room, I hung more frames to be filled, PURGED sweaters and sweatshirts with a vengeance and gave away a huge bag of good stuff – some I still liked but it had become an avalanche scenario. I emptied and reorganized drawers, filling two more bags for donation.
That’s a contractor-sized garbage bag filled with nice sweaters and sweatshirts. NOBODY needs that many, and I was tired of the avalanche coming down on me. (Also tired of feeling like I couldn’t buy a new one when I wanted to! Ha.) I gifted the bag to a neighbor on our Buy Nothing Group. After she went through it, she passed it on to another neighbor to go through the rest.
I gathered all the little art the kids had made me over the years, along with some love notes from them, trinkets, and mementos, and filled the curio shelf I had picked up on Marketplace for $10. I arranged other precious items in the guest room cabinet and on top of the bookshelf in my room. I had a wall shelf leftover and didn’t know where to go with it – just before posting it on FB, I measured and found it would fit in my book nook. With that discovery, I decided to add a mini-bar to my gold & navy sanctuary.
I even dumped all the nails, screws, and hangers from various containers and organized those to make it easy for the kids and me when we want to hang something. (Just a wee OCD moment – sorted and used the label maker. Don’t make a mess in there.)
These are (obviously) not staged photos.
If they were, I’d have finished the dresser swap (my current dresser is going out – and the 1940s armoire I found on Marketplace will go in its place, making better use of the space). I would have put art in the rest of the frames, moved the dust cloth, and fine-tuned everything.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.
It’s about claiming the spaces, tackling the piles and projects that need to be done, adding to the clarity I’ve been seeking.
Sometimes, the distraction of pausing or holding a task or project until you have time can delay the rest of your journey.
Completing these unnecessary tasks has enabled me to reclaim my productivity on so many levels. Sometimes, we back-burner something because we don’t have time. Sometimes, we “need to” wait until our calendar clears to tackle it.
In the midst of tackling my own lurking piles, I helped Gram to tackle hers – at 93 years old, she was in for the long haul and spent two days gleaning photos which I then tallied and sent to our digital center.
And yet…
Oftentimes waiting is the burden.
Oftentimes, the best thing we can do for our productivity, our clarity, our peace of mind is to tackle the thing that is haunting us, even if we don’t have time.
In turning my lurking piles into talking walls, I found more time. Time to spend with Gram as she – at 93 years old – spent two days in my office gleaning her own photos. After she finished, I tallied and got Gram’s photos to the digital center.
What is the burden you’re facing?
If it’s a #PhotoMess, I can help. I can take it off YOUR to-do list or guide and cheer you as you work toward completion.
I was able to work through the multiple boxes and bins of photos, artwork, and family artifacts a new client had brought to me. From those bins emerged her story, and as I worked, I realized that not taking the time to tackle what was lurking in my life was impeding my progress in other areas.In just a few hours, my c
I also found the clarity to go organize the photos and precious artwork of a new client – from her parents’ home where there were many bins and boxes. I started by sorting and gleaning.
lient’s treasures became a story, they were sorted and tallied, and they too are off to the digital center.
So, where are your bins, boxes, bags and drawers of photos, mementoes, and outdated tapes or reels? Do you have old phones and other devices holding your digital photos? Are your photos and videos stashed around the big cyber cloud in unsecure sites or sites that hold your treasures hostage in exchange for subscription payments, use of their other products (i.e., #Apple or #Google phone platforms or #AmazonPrime), or requiring other purchases (like #Shutterfly)?
Let’s tackle them. I’ll be your partner and cheering section. I’ll provide guidance and tips. You can even opt to have me do the work for you.
You can see more photos HERE. As I continue tackling my to-do’s, I’ll update with photos of my progress.
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As I worked, this new acquaintance quickly became someone I cared about and her story began to form. As this happened, I was able to group her photos into times and people.
At the end of filling this box, I knew this family in a way that few have the privilege of learning about another. It is a true honor to be able to help a family turn their #PhotoMess into a #DigitalEstate that will transcend generations.