True Confession: This is NOT what my refrigerator looks like.

I can say that my fridge is looking pretty good today; it has had a bit of a makeover lately.  But there was a week there when that fridge was a burden that weighed on me every time I opened it  I might as well have been carrying it around the kitchen, while I was trying to make dinner.

Life is busy.  But here is some wisdom: you can’t keep putting food into that little box without taking something out.

Has this ever happened to you?  The root of my problem  Condiments.  Like, I’ve got three kinds of mustard (yellow, Grey Poupon, country), pickles AND pickle relish, two kind of olives, 4 kinds of jam/jelly…I won’t bore you with the whole inventory.  Bottom line: I asked my husband to help me describe what it was like in there and he said, “a train derailment.”  Thanks Sweetie.

I keep current on the perishables, but we buy mostly fresh veggies and fruits, so sometimes it is easy to get behind on those too!  I say all of this to encourage you, whoever you are out there, you who know the feeling of opening that door and bracing yourself, in case something falls out on your head or toe.

How did my fridge go from being a “train derailment” to nice n’ neat?  I accidentally put into practice #ASimpleJoy that I will forever remember: just one shelf per day. [Sorry – there  are no before or after pics – just trust me on this.  After all, I am a mother, so you can trust me.]

I kept planning to “get around to it,” but couldn’t commit the time for a full clean out and reorganization.  Plus, I am pretty OCD about closing the door quickly to avoid letting all the cold air out. “We are not air-conditioning the kitchen people.”   Emptying the fridge of junk and refilling it with more junk, while letting all that refrigerated air out, just gets under my skin.  Yes, I know.  Weird.

So, each day this week I have cleaned out one shelf or drawer in my refrigerator.  Y’all, I am old (in my mid-forties).  How did I not know this trick before?

Maybe this seems silly to write a blog post about.  Home organization?  I never thought I would have anything to contribute no this topic!  Maybe all of you are already using this trick?  Well for me, it was a revelation.  I am going to apply this method  to other stuff that needs to be done (maybe I can call it The Fridge Method).  Here are some lessons I have learned:

• Don’t let fridge guilt stand in the way of progress.  Sometimes we avoid the tasks we dread.  But they don’t go away!  They get worse.  The projects that keep making you cringe are the FIRST ones to tackle!
• Even if you don’t have time to complete an entire project, start today.  Do something.  Anything.  Anything is better than nothing!
• Celebrate your successes.  Write a blog post. 😉  If you don’t have a blog, write a FaceBook post.  Show your family.  Or just open the refrigerator door and let the feeling of your own awesomeness wash over you…and then repent of your pride.  And close the door before you let all the cold air out!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Be thankful for this problem; it is a “First World Problem.”  Only people who are extravagantly blessed have an overcrowded refrigerator…or a refrigerator…or food.  Lord, thank you for the abundance in my life: You, family, health, food, shelter, clothing, books, phones, computers…You are a generous Provider.

So, how is your fridge?  Is it alphabetized or is it a train wreck?  Or somewhere in between?

 

 

 

 

Copyright: joebelanger / 123RF Stock Photo