When my mother was diagnosed with cancer in my mid-thirties, I lost my footing in the world. I couldn’t control what happened to the most important person in my life, but you know what I could control? Whether every last thing in my house was in its rightful place. Organization began as a vice during a difficult time in my life, but it has remained a tool for good through the years. Having organizational systems has helped me weather the pandemonium of parenting small children, the stress and uncertainty of a global pandemic, and the grief and loss life delivers to us all. When life inevitably throws more chaos my way, I can always return to the calm of my home. 

The through-line of my careers thus far has been creating space for humanity in a world that teaches us to be neatly filed and deeply dedicated to uniformity. This context might make home organizing seem like an odd fit, but I don’t see it that way. The truth about us humans is that we are inherently imperfect and messy. This doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t insert order and intentionality where it helps us live better lives. Organizing doesn’t have to be about creating characterless, sanitized spaces. Done the way that makes the most sense for each of us, organizing our spaces can lead to more calm, less waste, and more time and energy for the things that matter most.