Three Rules of Living

Photo by Horia Varlan

Let's start at the very beginning.

So I am calling this month, "Operation Designation" at my house. I am taking time every day to find places for every item in my home. No more miscellaneous drawers or random collections for me! No sir! I want every item in my home to have a place. And I want there to be a place for every time.

It's as *simple* as that.

But it occurred to me today that, in order to do this successfully, I have to abide by a set of standards--rules I'm not allowed to break. Ever. And, no surprise, they are the rules my mother taught me as a child.

Here is what they are:

1. If you use something, return it to its proper place.
2. If you make a mess, clean it up.
3. If you enter a room, improve it.

The trick is never allowing myself to break these rules--never giving myself the opportunity to be lazy. There will always be something more pressing to do. There will always be time later. There will always be more exciting tasks waiting around the corner.

But I recognize that, by abiding by these three rules, I will actually find more time to do what needs to be done.