Clutter vs Passion

I hate clutter.
The End.

Just kidding.  Last year I posted an entry to this blog about "The Silent Hike."  While reading it is not a prerequisite to reading this entry, reading it will give you context of how this topic was born.

The phrase I wrote in my journal was "Clutter extinguishes passion."  When I said that to myself, I was actually proud.  At the time it really encompassed what I was feeling.  I was overwhelmed at work, pulled in many different directions, dealing with some drama (I hate drama almost as much as I hate clutter) and I just didn't feel the joy and passion that I usually felt for my job.  All the "noise" around me had put out my flame.  I didn't give a $#@!.

I was jealous of all those around me that were so passionate about their cause and life's work.  I wanted my passion back.  Clutter had ripped it from my life.

While I am not a perfectionist, I do like things neat and tidy.  When my desk is a mess, or my house, I have to get it picked up so I can rest easy and work.  I like all areas of my life clutter free (as is possible).  Some people do not even seem to SEE clutter around them--be it actually clutter or drama.  I do not know if I would want to be one of those people. Do they feel like their passion is extinguished?    (I am married to one who doesn't appear to see clutter and he can work amongst the chaos-bless him)  He can be himself, and I have learned to just shut the door to his office.  Why could I not just "shut the door" at work? 

I say all of this to point out that clutter is here to stay.   There are days when things are overwhelming and seem insurmountable.  You just don't care.  But you DO care.  So how do we move past it and get our passion ignited again?  I wish I had the easy 1,2,3 answer.  But here is what I have learned.

1.  See the clutter--what can you live with? for things you cannot live with, see if you can go around it.
2.  Embrace the clutter--what can you learn from it?  There are many life lessons to be found.
3.  Remember your passion--"this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine"
4.  Protect your passion. --when the song says "hide it under a bushel-NO" maybe sometimes you have to at least shield it from the wind.

Just thinking out loud.