polka dot suitcase

So I’m looking for something in my “reading alcove” the other day. (Tangent: Our home office has a huge closet. I had nowhere to read in peace. We took the doors off the closet, stuck a chair in there and voila! Reading alcove.) Pushing papers and books around, and I spotted this title, half-buried under a quarter-ton of 1999 magazines, cables for electronics we no longer own, parts for science projects, and some unused bubble wrap huddled up protecting itself: How to Come Out of Your Clutter-Filled Closet, Straighten Up Your Home, and Discover Your True Potential.

Because I’m prone to distractions, I immediately sat down on a tangle of last-year’s Christmas lights to read it. According to the book, I’m stifling my creativity by being a slob. Once all the “stuff” in my life is jettisoned, the book promised, I’ll be able to crank out that bestseller that Big Fish is always begging me to finish as he’s heading out the door to work every morning.

Since I have two pressing deadlines, I looked around my alcove and thought, yeah! I must de-clutter this very instant. My true potential depends on it. My editors would thank me later when I turned in brilliant pieces that made their magazines fly off the shelves and ad revenue soar. The sun would come out! The recession would recede! Clearly, I needed to get started.

After a couple hours, I looked around the alcove. I’d stacked the magazines to donate to someone who doesn’t mind reading about ten-year old fashion advice and movies that have been off their Netflix lists since the Clinton impeachment trial. The bubble wrap was neatly rolled and ready for my next polka dot suitcase giveaway. Cables ditched. I sat at my computer, ready to receive the inspiration.

Didn’t come. I typed 292 words of one article, hoping to unplug the torrent. Nada. I’ll go out on a limb here and suggest that I still can’t crank out that bestseller because the rest of the house is still crimpin’ my mojo. Someone wise once said, “One empty alcove does not a clutter-free home make.” So I’m off to tackle the rest of the office…which is where I piled everything I just took out of my alcove.

But, I’ve got faith. You watch. I’ll be inspired next time you hear from me. I’m unleashing my potential. Yep, taking off that leash. And…there it goes…out into the office, leaping nimbly over piles of junk…and down the stairs. Out the door. Wow, look at that potential go. It’s a thing of beauty.

Just hope it’s microchipped. I may need that sucker back one day, when my home and I are ready to receive it.