The Art and Blessings of Compartmentalizing

I learned the art of compartmentalizing from my husband. I remember when were lying in bed at night, I would bring up something unpleasant or negative and my wise AND romantic husband would say: "Not in this room. Not now. Save it for tomorrow and we'll talk about it then."

My son is a very busy husband, father and business owner. Long ago, I learned how he strategically departmentalized his life. While having his "father" hat on, he is all-in at his boys' games or events. His phone is not his priority. At work, unless its an emergency, he won't be distracted from his business. And, I watch him take his wife out on their date night and he only has eyes for her. He puts aside all other distractions.

I've become skilled in the art of compartmentalizing my life too. When I'm at church, my focus is on worship, praise and serving. When I'm playing a community game with friends, they have my undivided attention. When I'm care-giving my grands, they have my full attention -- well, them and their animals. Last week, I was the speaker at an event. During the day, my thoughts, my actions and attention was on being in-sync with what I would share. No other distractions were allowed.

I've found that compartmentalizing helps me isolate that particular area of my life from all the other issues and/or challenges I might have on my "to do" list or what I happen to be dealing with at the time. My blogging is an essential that I give full attention to. I protect that time with diligence.

Even as a busy, overloaded multi-tasking mom or dad, we can still determine to focus on the one thing at hand, like the drive to school – conversing and making every moment count together in that car ride. At mealtime – giving each other full undivided attention. That’s compartmentalizing.

The point is, there will be an end to a responsibility or project and we can close the chapter on it and proclaim "success". There are always seasons in all of this. Times when family needs more attention, work, ministry, and play need more attention. And, yes, even when we need to get away and be alone for a period of time. But getting things done, over with, is best done with attention to compartments. Right now, I’m in my Facebook and blogging compartment – one of my main compartments in each day. I’ve learned to close one compartment and open another. I’ve learned to say “no” to things that don’t deserve a compartment. I’m getting good at that.

Compartmentalizing is also helpful with stress and worries. That’s one that tries to open up to me in the middle of the night. I don’t welcome that compartment and I do my best to keep it closed and locked up. But when it does open up, I’ve learned the best way to shut it down is to open up my “Think on these good things" compartment from Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

It’s amazing the volume and quality of work, play and family and friends' quality time we’re able to have by staying focused on one compartment at a time. We think the notion of multi-tasking is a good thing, but honestly, only “little attention” to the tasks produces little results. Compartmentalizing and giving each relationship and each task our best opens the way for the next success story in the next compartment.

Team Work Makes the Dream Work

What a week, month, even several months it’s been working with an amazing team for a Senior Living Expo yesterday. And the team wasn’t a marketing company we hired to orchestrate, plan, prepare, organize, create, assemble and pull off a successful show, booth, complete with visual effects, movie, banner, photos and placed intricately on press board, order equipment – a display board, drawing box, lights, table and decor', electrical components, flyers, certificates, prizes, create a seminar and slide show presentation, complete with scripts, jump drives, etc. Whew! This team was a 55+ group of diehard people who did it. Seniors doing all this for seniors. I was amused at us. We were not in a "senior mentality mode", in the sense of retirement, taking it easy, and in slow motion, etc. We were in power mode and we pulled it off. We entertained as much as we "sold" who we were. I loved it when Marcia Stowell was "signing" to a hearing impaired lady. People gravitated to our booth because of the vivaciousness of our crew. Our bright yellow shirts added to the buzz. I can’t begin to say how proud I was of this team. I'm so pleased to say "SUCCESS" by this seasoned and mature team! We've still got it! LOL!

There were hundreds, even thousands of baby boomers who attended a day of seminars and visited over 80 booths complete with health screenings and every business you can imagine that would be of interest to seniors. Folks in wheelchairs, walkers, and using canes, but also folks who are strong, healthy and full-of-life – there to take in the latest and greatest in those things that interest seniors.

While preparing for this event, I found myself compartmentalizing everything else in my life. I was laser focused on getting this event ready to go and organized with ultimate success results. We expect to see lots of folks coming out to check out our community, buy a home here and join us here as a result of our efforts. I've found one of the best ways to achieve success is to strive to be in the moment, giving that moment all we’ve got to be the best we can be at it. Give it our 100% best effort.

Compartmentalizing helps us isolate that particular area of our life from all the other issues and/or challenges we are dealing with. The point is, there will be an end to a project and we can close the chapter on it and proclaim SUCCESS. We did that yesterday. We even kicked up our heels when the band starting playing at the end of the day. We loaded up all our equipment, put it in the car……and went our separate ways. Then I opened up another one of my compartments…..my grandson’s wedding compartment. That’s one I’m so excited about – so much so that I MUST find a just right pair of shoes to go with my formal. I spent a couple of hours enjoying myself in this compartment….er….shoe departments.

There are always seasons in all of this. Times when family needs more attention, work, ministry, play need more attention. And, yes, even when we need to get away and be alone for a period of time. But getting things done, over with, is best done with attention to compartments. Right now, I’m in my Facebook and blogging compartment – one of my main compartments in each day. I’ve learned to close one compartment and open another. I’ve learned to say “no” to things that don’t deserve a compartment. I’m getting good at that.

Compartmentalizing also has to do with stress and worries. That’s one that tries to open up to me in the middle of the night. I don’t welcome that compartment and I do my best to keep it locked up and closed. But when it does open up, I’ve learned the best way to shut it down is to open up my “Think on these good things" compartment from Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

It’s amazing the volume and quality of work we’re able to finish by staying focused on one compartment at a time. We think the notion of multi-tasking is a good thing, but honestly, only “little attention” to the tasks produces little results. Compartmentalizing and get that compartment all finished and done with…..opens the way for the next success story in the next compartment.

This week, a new compartment will open to me. HINT: packing up my home. What? More to follow.....