I’ve shredded over 5,000 pages this week.
Thankfully I have a high-speed shredder, which does most of the work for me, but I still have to bag up the trash. (This is a messy job and takes a long time!)
Our front porch is full of bags of paper and all the little pieces that didn’t make it in.
It’s all waiting for Monday’s trash pickup.
I’ll try to sweep up the loose bits, but the bags are going to have to stay there until Monday, and that’s ok. (Even though I would prefer not to look at it over the weekend.) It’s bagged up and ready to be moved out.
Since I’m a personal organizer, I deal with other people’s stuff all the time. It’s not my problem.
But this time, even though this isn’t mine, it is my problem.
Because I can help my dad deal with this now… or my brother and I will have to deal with it later. And then we’ll be in the dark, and it will take double the time.
As I’m dealing with all the scanning and shredding, I gain understanding into this week’s parshiot, Achrei Mot–Kedoshim.
Achrei Mot shows us the boundaries for leading a holy life, illustrating what you can do and what you can’t. Kedoshim gives us the playbook for real life, showing us the mitzvot to observe to help us reach that goal.
The rub is that even though the Torah gives us guidelines, sometimes we just want a clear list: Here’s what to do.
(Side note, this is exactly why I wrote Organized Jewish Life. If you’re in the US, message me if you want a signed copy.)
Anyway, the parsha talks about honoring your parents.
And this is what that looks like.
Standing over the scanner and shredder and doing the work.
I can only be here doing this because my own stuff isn’t screaming at me from home.
Is everything perfect? No.
But it’s handled enough that I can leave, and things don’t fall apart.
My amazing husband, Evan, has things covered because over the years we’ve worked together to create systems that keep things moving.
This allows me to actually show up for my dad in a real way and bring the Torah into my life.
I know you want that too.
To be able to show up for your family. For yourself. Without feeling pulled in ten different directions.
But you can’t do that when your time is already spoken for and you have millions of responsibilities.
Let go of the things you don’t need. Make space for the people who matter.
Join the Paper Purge and start making that space.
👉 Save your spot for the Paper Purge
Oh, and one more thing…
Even with everything I have going on here, I still find time to talk with my husband and kids, see extended family, chat with neighbors (I sat outside for 30 minutes last night just talking!), and help friends.
I would say my life is full, but not busy.
And I love that. (And I wish that for you too!)
Yes, there are tons of things to do, but I can manage them because I keep things simple.