While working in my office this morning and utilizing many items from my swivel desk organizer a thought struck me which caused an interesting revelation.
That revelation is that I no longer have any excitement while doing my work at my office desk! My enthusiasm is completely gone!
Let me explain.
When I was either in 8th grade or a freshman in high school my Dad bought me my first desk. Well, it was actually half a desk because it was on part of an angled desk that needed another desk the same size to be completed. Therefore, my desk had a completely open space on the right side with no support so if one were to put pressure on the front right corner, the desk could tip.
Luckily I found a solution which was to place my nightstand under the right side of the desk for support and stuff pieces of paper in between so the fit was snug.
It didn’t mind about it only being half a desk, I was just ecstatic to have my own desk in my own room! It was like a rite of passage, a place where I could do serious adult work! I imagined myself sitting there happily processing paperwork, or completing assignments just like the adults do. I was growing up!
Now, the very first thing I placed on this new symbol of adulthood was my swivel organizer. I gave a lot of thought about where to place the paperclips, staples, tacks, and how the pens should be sorted from the pencils. I wondered if the highlighter should have its own slot or not, but did not have to think about the tape, as its place was built into the thing. It looked something like this.
Once everything was in its place I gave it a few turns and was just so happy to have this gleaming tower of organization on my desk. For me, to have a swivel organizer marked an ending to my childhood and a beginning to the purpose driven adult who sits solemnly at his desk while completing assigned tasks with implements from the organizer.
This morning as I did my work, I paused for a moment and looked at my swivel organizer and I realized that the magic has completely evaporated. The swivel desk organizer I have now is not special to me and I no longer give much thought to where the paperclips will go, or if the staples should remain in their box in the slot or if they would be better in the slot without the box so I can more quickly and easily reload the stapler. In fact, it is kind of a mess and could use some organizing. I’ve got an old Bluetooth in there I don’t use anymore along with its cord that greedily takes up an entire slot and thus is completely wasteful of swivel desk organizer space. My staples are in a box in a slot and now that I think about it is ridiculous. Why would I keep them in the box when the slot would do perfectly well at holding them until I need them.
As the thought about the staples has me concerned I reach into that slot and am now horrified. I’ve pulled out a twisty-tie, a ball bearing, one wood screw, one large clip and a type of hinge! This is just unacceptable; I didn’t even know these things were in there! There are places for all of these things none of which are my swivel desk organizer! I’m going to put the twisty tie in the twisty tie bag in the kitchen along with all the other twisty-ties. The screw and hinge can go with the tools in the garage. The clip can go in the trash because I highly doubt I’ll ever use it and I have not accumulated enough clips to justify giving it its own slot in my organizer and have no where else to put it. Some people would put it in a “junk drawer” but junk drawers are a gateway to disorganization which of course leads to sin and so we must keep on guard as temptations are everywhere.
Oh how I wish I could have my very first swivel organizer back. Perhaps if I did it would illuminate my office with the magic of childhood and I would feel a surge of happiness which would increase upon completing even more tasks as the day goes on!
Well, I have decided that I now need to organize my swivel desk organizer. Giving it a close inspection I realize that I never even took of the sticker from the store which identifies it as “RE – Room Essentials, Rotary Organizer,” that clearly explain “Multiple compartments to store office supplies and tools, 6 5/8 H X 5 3/4 W x 5 3/4 in D (16.8cm x 14.6 cm x 14.6cm)
I cannot believe I’ve become so apathetic regarding my work space that I never took off that sticker. I am now going to attempt to take it off. ……………..
I now am breathing a sigh of relief because for a moment there I was afraid it would be stuck with that awful glue things made in China use where trying to take off the sticker only rips the sticker and leaves an unsightly mess that usually involves nail polish to remove. But the glue wasn’t that, I was able to remove the majority of the sticker with one pull leaving only a small amount that may come off as easily or will only take a few rubs from my thumb to take off.
Unfortunately, taking the sticker off leaves me as apathetic about my swivel organizer as before. It is just a tool, without any magic, that sits on my desk. And it doesn’t even have a built in place for the tape.
And on that note, I need to put these random objects I found in the staple slot in their place.
I miss the excitement of childhood and I want it back!
