Temporary Chaos
Smaller homes really don't have a lot of surfaces free for
basically storing another floor in!
We have found that out over the last week or so.
We have to disassemble our basement and find places for it
all to go.
So, packing up the pantry items (that's fun!) as well as
other things here and there.
There are boxes everywhere in the upstairs areas!
When you have upheaval in your life - it can create a
feeling of frustration and chaos.
Chaos is a 'condition or place of great disorder and confusion'
Chaos is also a disorderly mess, a jumble
Chaos is also a disordered state of mind
All of these definitions come to mind as we set forth a
plan -
pack items up -
carry them up and down 13 stairs
until we just cannot move anymore!
Once a body is no longer in motion -
believe me, after a day of carrying items up and down our
stairs –
we're pretty much content to just BE!
Also, because we can no longer be in motion!!
The reason I think of this title as Temporary Chaos
is
because in this situation,
it is just that...
Temporary!
Once we have the work done in the basement
that needs accomplished
we can once again work on restoring the balance -
restoring
the comfort –
restoring the peaceful feeling
that our basement provides for us.
It's a temporary time of disruption
It's a temporary time of disorderly mess
It's a temporary time of our disordered mindset
Our very first move was a partial one.
We had just said 'I Do' and we had gathered many items from our family
to begin our new life.
Many of these items were stored in the old
style produce boxes.
Remember those?
They were perfectly shaped and the lid went over the bottom.
That memory was from 40+ years ago and things change.
Not always for the better in my opinion!
The first partial move was when I joined my husband for his
Technical School
We lived in half of a furnished house that they'd made into
2 apartments.
Tin walled shower so small you could barely turn in
and you definitely took shifts as it was really too small for 2 people at one time!
Good times though
as we were also navigating living together as
husband and wife.
Not much chaos here -
Not much stuff had accumulated either.
Moving wasn't
too terrible!
After that, we moved to our first Duty Station.
We rented a home for some time, but the owner wanted to sell it,
so we ended up moving to the military base and had a nice home there.
That was our first really chaotic move.
New to me and
frustrating overall!
As that time period went on,
we accumulated many more
items.
Furniture and the usual stuff you accumulate as time goes
on.
The base did a revamp of the old barrack style homes
and we
moved into a brand new updated home for about 6 years.
Had our son, and then it was time to move again.
This move is where the true chaos happened.
11 years married, a young son and all that 'stuff' that
goes along with that.
This time, we had to figure out what could we live without
for the few months we'd be in transition
until we found a home and could get
all our stuff moved in.
We went across an ocean on that transfer.
We lived out of a hotel like apartment for a couple months
while we got settled
and a military base home opened up.
We were there only 4 short years –
and again having to pack up our belongings –
put them in storage
until we could find a new home to put
it all in again!
Another chaotic time
as by now of course, we had more stuff!
We decided to purchase a home there.
It was a dream - complete with trees, grass and space to
roam!
Not a lot of chaos there either when I look back on it
all.
We even survived a flood a couple streets up when the river
overran the banks.
That was a very blessed time as we were right in the middle
of selling our home and we were just barely out of the 100 year floodplain
area!
Moving to the town and home we live in now was more of a
caravan of chaos!
We had family driving a van full of items,
a moving truck,
and a car full of stuff
for 14 plus hours!
I will say there was temporary chaos then as well.
So - all that bit of history to say
that when it comes to
chaos –
I've been there a few times!
When it comes to temporary chaos –
I've been there as well.
Our current situation is temporary chaos
to result in a more permanent solution
to a problem that
needed addressed.
I also look upon it all as a positive thing.
Do you really know what is hidden
on that tippy top shelf, far in the back -
for who knows how long??
We had some of those discoveries.
We've been in our home now for 21.5 years.
The basement is a great place to 'lose' touch
on what you own!
Some items your never remembered that you had!
You forgot the spot an item was put in -
so, you bought more of said item causing unneeded clutter!
Plus, You simply haven't used some items for so long –
do you really need it anymore?
Life in itself is temporary Chaos!!
We are only here such a short time
and then what you own -
what you cherished -
is probably going to be gone in an estate sale
or given to charity!
Do you really need
or want it all?
What is YOUR ‘Temporary Chaos’?
Keep in mind that ‘this too shall pass’!
Keep in mind that it won’t be chaos forever –
It’s just temporary!
Temporary inconveniences
are not meant to derail you!
Temporary inconveniences
are not meant to put you in a permanent
stall!
Temporary inconveniences
can actually be a good thing!
A time to reassess your ‘stuff’
Whatever ‘stuff’ that may be!
Many times the problem with chaos in our lives
is all in how we approach it.
If we let a temporary situation make us never start again –
That defeats the ‘temporary’!
Don’t forget to move on when it’s no longer chaos!
