Beyond “organized”: Learning to F.L.Y. right

In the late 90s, my sister referred me to an unusual web site created by a robust, kick-you-in-the-pants-with-love flyfisherwoman (yeah, that’s a mouthful) who taught about the wonders of peace of mind in homemaking. She’s a goddess and a guru. Walks her talk. The real deal.

Back then, I subscribed to her daily emails where she would literally tell me what to do: little chores, day by day, teaching exactly how to clean and maintain my haven the FLYLady way. Go clear and dust the top of your dryer, would be a typical command.

It’s an ingenious system and it saved my soul. But when I found it, it was much more than that, it was a way to reframe home life from drudgery, overwhelm and failure, to where order, cleanliness and peace became an offering of love to my family. Thank you Marla Cilley for the teaching me Finally Loving Yourself through “homeblessing”.

Marla empowered me! She taught me things like dressing from the sneakers out first thing every morning, shining my kitchen sink before bed, keeping “hotspots” clear, and the 27-Fling Boogie. She taught me to go in BabySteps. Utterly life-changing.

At the time, I was working full-time at a corporate job, and between that, the commute, and three children, my time was at a premium. I needed peace of mind more than anything else, and I was just sure, more than anyone else.

As I invested myself more into her methods, I realized that families everywhere suffer quietly with defeat and depression, with little hope in sight, longing to be given a secret extra day to catch up to life once and for all.

Can you relate to any of this?

This is the book that changed my life!

Once Marla’s book, Sink Reflections, was published, things got even better. I took on the Control Journal. This is a nifty invention that anyone can set up that has each “zone” of your house on a weekly rotational cleaning system. For example, as of this writing, this week we are in Zone 1: The Entrance, the porch, and the dining room.

With this system, everything gets clean a zone at a time; eventually everything has a place and, as if by magic, one can transform into the much-coveted status of the “always clean house” and the oohs and ahs that go with it. No overwhelm. Just order. Aaaah. The feeling.

I was never that person, by the way. I always got, “Cool house! Very funky!” But I never got the wistful whispers, “Oh, I wish my house looked like yours.” Uh, no. If my house was clean, my kids asked who was visiting! In Marla’s terms, I was in C.H.A.O.S. Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Sound familiar?

But over time as things got better  , I got a little too confident, not appreciating what I’d created. I let my Control Journal get dusty. I woke up to a cloudy sink more mornings than not. Worked in my jammies. And routinely clearing “hotspots” (those pesky corners where we habitually let clutter collect) became an erratic happening.

Here’s why I’m sharing this with you: You’re in business for yourself, and most likely from your home. It’s critical that it be a place of order, conducive to staying on track, staying sane, and staying profitable. You need freedom. Being profitable and present is directly tied to your bottom-line.

And this isn’t just for women , so don’t even go there! If you have a home-based business, it’s likely you help lead and guide homemakers to success, whether you’re a man or a woman. Not only that, but more and more guys are helping run the home these days.

The Prodigal FLYBaby

Since moving recently, I realized I’d gotten way too far off track from all my life-changing FLYLady training. How did I know? Ever try to run your home-based business after school has let out for the summer? Yeah. The fact that my house and its state was running my emotions, cluttering my thoughts, and derailing my plans was a huge clue.

Marla’s methods and a peaceful, orderly home are essential for anyone, but even more so if your office and your home share the same address.

So go today to Marla’s site. Get her books. Sign up for her training. Check out the forums. Do it one BabyStep at a time. She’s the Queen of By-the-Inch-Its-a-Cinch. Trust me.

This week we are in Zone 1. That’s all I need to remember, and you too. Everything else will keep. Today is the day to take a BabyStep back to the land of “Aah”. Probably for you and me both. So let me hear your successes; it’s such a joy to share Marla with you. I know you’ll by F.L.Y.ing in no time.

—Stephanie

Popularity: 20% [?]