How to put things where you won't lose them and other tips for naturally messy people
"If you are looking for something in your house, and you finally find it, when you’re done with it, don’t put it back where you found it. Put it back where you first looked for it."
You don't do certain things because you're 'that type of person' - you're that type of person because of the things you do
"This idea — that who you are abides somehow outside of what you do — is the defining fantasy of our culture, and it appeals particularly to children."
When discarding, don't obsess over sending items to their perfect home
Should you be taking on extra part-time work selling or distributing second-hand goods?
A thorough review of secrets: sharing them, keeping them, betraying them
1. If you share something private, always tell the person explicitly to keep it confidential - don't assume they'll know to
We all have a touch of narcissism
That's what flattery is - upholding someone else's image of themselves.
Addictions shape social interactions
Technological progress makes addictive things more concentrated and effective - from opium to heroin, willowbark to aspirin, myspace to facebook.
"Am I overreacting?" Excerpts from Dear Prudence
I read Daniel Lavery nee Ortberg's advice column, and there's a theme that comes up a lot in his answers: 'You are not overreacting, you are reacting.'
Guardian spirits: An alternative to role models
A guardian spirit only needs to watch over one area of your life. You could have one for your garden, one for trying to be a good friend, one for work.
Messy spot in your house? Put it on a tray.
Junk, like cats, likes a demarcated space. I bet you could just group everything together on an A4 piece of paper and it would look neater.
Two ways of holding an opinion: Extreme but easily swayed, moderate but deeply entrenched
If you don't realise which type of opinion-holder you're dealing with, conflict will escalate