Chapter 1: The Scientist's Approach to Organization

If only I had access to a time machine, I would have archived my photographs just as my stepfather did. Being a scientist, he had an exceptional talent for labeling everything. In fact, without a proper organizational system, scientists would be lost. While the term "Mad Scientist" gets tossed around often, "Messy Scientist" is rarely mentioned.

Messy scientists often evolve into writers—talented writers, yet writers nonetheless. Growing up in a household run by a scientist meant that everything in our cabinets bore labels: band-aids, photographs, decaf/caffeinated coffee, sock drawers, pencils, pens, old newspaper articles, VCR movies, sleeping pills, and tweezers.

After moving out, I attempted to replicate this labeling technique in my own drawers. However, I was met with repeated disappointment as the contents never matched the labels. I realized that labeling my limbs would likely lead to losing them; understanding the difference between labeling and properly organizing requires distinct skills.

Eventually, I misplaced the label maker for nearly a decade. When I finally stumbled upon it, I donated it to Goodwill—hoping to spare some other poor soul from the illusion that labeling could resolve all their organizational woes. In truth, very few individuals manage to adhere to the demands of a label maker.

This tendency for labeling is one reason my photo albums are in disarray, lacking chronological order or a recognizable system. Each album holds a mystery that I must unravel whenever I search for a specific photograph, resulting in hours of sifting.

Previously, I viewed this chaos as an insurmountable challenge, merely returning the albums to their chaotic state. My stepfather employed the same three-ring black binders for our family photos as he did for his laboratory research.

Yesterday, I ordered a dozen of those binders. It’s never too late to restore order—but this time, I’m doing it my way, with a bit of inspiration from Marie Kondo. My album reorganization will serve as a journey into my own soul.

The project began yesterday. I’m combing through each album and discarding photos that fail to ignite joy. A friend remarked, “You must truly understand yourself to decide which photos spark joy and which should be discarded.” She’s right. The presence of people in photographs complicates emotional clarity.

I believe that whatever I currently don’t understand about myself will become clear as I navigate through these albums. It’s an odyssey without an ocean—well, except for a few tears, perhaps.

I may realize that not everyone in those albums deserves a place in my memory. Who knows what revelations await? I stand on the brink of discovery.

So, where to begin? Which photos should be the first to go? It’s simple: any image where I feel unattractive. Why hold onto those? Why did I even keep them? That’s a question for another day.

People often say, “You’ll appreciate those youthful pictures when you’re older.” Yet, I’m already older than I was in those photos, and I still dislike seeing myself looking unappealing.

Le Fin, for now.

In this video titled "RANT REVIEW: Jenna Kutcher's Book DISSES Rachel Hollis & Marie Kondo!", Jenna Kutcher critiques the organizational philosophies of Rachel Hollis and Marie Kondo, providing a humorous take on self-help and organization.

Chapter 2: Reflections on Personal Growth

As I continue my journey through my photo collection, I can't help but reflect on how much I've grown.