I cleaned out my closet today

Not really, but sort of.  Anyone who knows me - knows I don't keep a neat organized closet, at all!  And as they read this post, they are thinking uh oh!  One friend in particular- really my sister in this life- is wondering if she needs to drop everything and come right away since she usually helps me with the closet overhaul about once a year.

My house is always straight, things are mostly in place, but if you look in my closet- all bets are off- kinda like me.  If you see me on the outside- I look pretty straight - my clothes are clean, they match, they are ok, cute, not perfect but better than average, and mostly straight.  However, if you peek inside, wow!  You will find the couture mixed in with the Target and a whole lot of mess that I should have given away or, moved on from a long time ago- really, it's the "what is that doing in there - or ohmygod- I used to love that dress- I wonder if it still fits?  Yes, it's not a stretch- our closets say a lot about our insides.  

Before you get scared, my closet is not that bad.  I just sometimes can't find places for things and those things end up pell-mell on the top shelf- where I have added more shelves and I still can't find places for those things- so it's all up there.  Now my stuff that is hung up- ha!- those things are looking good- my pants have a section and are ordered by color- ditto for shirts, skirts, jackets, and scarves- wow, chaos followed by brilliant and beautiful organization.  The hangers all match and are grouped together based on color, material, and style. But then there are the pieces that I have outgrown that I just can't seem to say goodbye to.  That sometimes happens on the inside too.  There are always some treasures inside amidst the chaos.  And there are always some things in my well organized life that I need to let go of. 

Finally, I contend with my closet floor, my 14 year old CLOTHES EATING cat has taken up residence in my closet.  It's not pretty.  My cat eats clothes, clothes make her sick. Really, I'm not kidding.  The floor of my closet is a mess!  It's funny how our animals sometimes mirror what is going on with their owners. She hasn't always lived in my closet, as a matter of fact she is banned from my closet for obvious reasons- but somehow recently she has figured out how to OPEN my closet doors and there is no getting her out.  Sometimes life is just like that, things- thoughts, emotions, dilemmas, insecurities, etc... (you get the picture), that are not supposed to be in our life just take up residence.  So this morning, I looked at my closet floor and thought- I need a new closet, house, life, etc and then I thought sigh.... Deal with this one, so I got a rake and hauled everything out of that closet floor- scary- and I hauled the vacuum cleaner up three flights of stairs and I CLEANED out that floor.  My belief being that if I remove her hiding places she won't have such a strong desire to live in there and will find another hidey hole.  The bottom of my closet floor is spotless- it won't remain that way but I can clean it again.  The bottom of my insides are not spotless but they are in order and I can SEE the bottom! Clarity is a beautiful thing.

- Anne