About This Blog
I know your time is valuable and I hope to make each of your visits here meaningful. I’ve been in the organizing business for a decade and people everywhere tell me they feel utterly overwhelmed. What’s the solution? Quick tips and tricks are so appealing in the moment, but they leave us disillusioned and just as disorganized as ever. That’s why you won’t find them on my blog…instead I want to bring you inspiration to take back your life. Life is short, let's strive together to reclaim the things that really matter.
 
Monday, April 12th, 2010
Love Workshop
Sighing while snuggling into bed: "Mommy, when I grow up I want to do your business."

A moment of pure joy: "I would LOVE that, Nash."

Pleadingly: "Mommy, can I do your next workshop?"

Laughing: "What would you teach everyone, Nash?"

Without missing a beat: "I would teach everyone to be good and kind and love everyone."

Humbled: "Sounds like the world should take your workshop instead of mine!"

"Mommy, can I have the scones from the workshop?"
Comments:
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Comment By: Doris
Glad to see you are continuing your monthly blog, Vicki. I have enjoyed them in the past. Your sweet, little guy is soooo wise beyond his years! Adorable picture!
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Comment By: Becky
Remember the Devonshire Cream!!!
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Comment By: Dianna
Oh, that is the cutest thing ever! And that photo is priceless, what a treasure he is.
Leave a Comment
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
What About the Driver?
Yesterday I was in a town car that was transporting me from Corona, CA to downtown Los Angeles for a meeting. This would be a great opportunity to catch up on reading and some nice quiet time to pray.

So I started praying for great opportunities for my meeting. The drive was quiet for at least fifteen minutes. I was praying for the day, for the business at hand. For doors to open. For favor. For opportunities to serve.

And then I heard in my heart "Vicki, what about the driver?" Oh, yah, Ken. My driver Ken. The polite town car driver with the Santa-like beard. I liked him right away. But I hadn't even seen the opportunity right in front of me. Thankfully I got another chance.

So we had a lovely chat for the remainder of the ride. I learned about his wife and son - just a few years older than my oldest son. That he was from my husband's hometown. That his wife had a broken ankle and he feels like a single dad right now. That he works on Sundays and never gets to go to church with his wife and son. It struck me how alike our jobs are...that we both get to drop into the middle of people's "life movie" and see a slice of their life. For the next hour I was able to take an interest, to ask, to relate, to encourage.

I almost missed the opportunity right in front of me. What opportunities are there right in front of you to seize that you may have ignored as you think, pray, and reach for the future?

Comments:
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Comment By: Patty Hicks
So true Vicki. I used to do the same thing with the cashiers at grocery stores or people just walking past my house. Its good to be quiet enough inside to hear what when its time to take hold of other opportunities to listen to others. How small our world is if we don't do this. Blessings!
Leave a Comment
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Up Against the Guard Rail
One of the most overlooked ways that people become disorganized (and stay stuck in that place) is because they're living up against the guardrail. They are not allowing any room for error, no time for re-grouping, no MARGIN between the freeway of their life and the unforgiving metal barrier.

If you wonder why your house looks like a hurricane disaster, could it be that you're there only long enough to mess it up (and then you're off to the next thing)?

If the bills aren't getting paid, mail isn't being processed, and papers aren't filed, could it be that you're simply never in your office longer than to check your email or put out the immediate fires?

By riding up against the guardrail, we experience a pretty constant screeching in our life...metal on metal. Those who feel overwhelmed by their chaos know exactly what I'm talking about. It's that feeling of alarm of having struck something that is our last stop before we head over the cliff. But sadly for many, this bumper pool of danger has become a way of life. We know we can't keep it up but we don't know how to stop.

Just stop. It's that simple. The guardrail is trying to tell you something. You're about to plunge into danger. You need more room for error, more time to think, to regain some sanity. Pull over. Attend to the scrapes in your side caused by living this way. Put some air in the tires. Give yourself a deep clean. Think about where you're even going so fast. Most people living without margin have actually forgotten where they're headed, what the point is, and what they want the outcome to be.

If you've stopped enjoying the road trip and sights along the way, it's time to figure out why and reclaim your life!
~Vicki Norris
Comments:
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Comment By: Linda Smith
Thanks - I needed that "kick in the pants!" You are blest to be a blessing!
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Comment By: Marilyn Bohn
I had to buy a sign that said "Enjoy The Journey" to help me remember to do just that. I want to be done and move on.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Comment By: Cari Cook
Vicki - That used to be me, but no longer. I have learned (from you) that keeping my life in order requires time and commitment - when I catch myself running off to do something before I"m done with NOW I actually say it out loud "Cari, stop and finish this". Amazing how much time I SAVE by simply putting my shoes back in the closet!
Leave a Comment
Subscribe Now!
vickinorrisblog.com/rssfeed.aspx
 
Get Inspired!
Weeding Your Life
Disorganization is like weeds. It's so tempting to do a haphazard job of organizing as we speed through life, just like we yank the tops off weeds in our yard as we are hurrying through weeding. We shortcut the process thinking it will save us time.

But good organizing takes time. We have to figure out what caused our disorganization in the first place instead of just tossing bins and baskets or a "tip or trick" at the problem. Understanding how we got here is the only way to pull the problem out by the root.

Good organizing also is an ongoing process. You don't just do it once and "arrive." It's a lifestyle of keeping the soil of your life decluttered of invaders and available for fruitfulness.

What can you do today to weed the soil of your life?
Recent Articles
LOW-COST IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD HASTEN YOUR HOME SALE
Uexpress , 21 July 2010
Past Blog Entries
 March 14th, 2010
Up Against the Guard Rail
 November 7th, 2009
True Confessions
 October 26th, 2009
Fitting the Pieces Together
 August 26th, 2009
Re-Sync Button
 August 19th, 2009
Plaque Problem
 April 3rd, 2009
Low Effort
 March 7th, 2009
Wandering Items
 February 9th, 2009
Traffic Jam
 January 14th, 2009
Imagination Organization
 January 11th, 2009
Workshop Success!
 May 23rd, 2008
Too Much Going On?
Restoring Order® and Reclaim Your Life® are federally registered trademarks of Restoring Order, LLC. Site created by Threegate Media Group