I've been thinking a lot about "being organized." 

First, there's order.

People always talk about this as though it's a good thing. We should always strive to be more organized. The idea is that the more organized we are, the more productive we will be. We'll make more money, and we'll be happier and healthier. I am instinctively drawn toward organization and order. 

I'm a fan of Marie Kondo and feel relaxed when my home is in order. I strive for Inbox Zero, and I love spreadsheets.

And then there's chaos. 

Is there a better word for chaos that doesn't have such a bad connotation? Or maybe we need to adjust our thinking. 

When I look at the stars at night, or at the beautiful images from the Hubble telescope, is that order or chaos? I loved the series One Strange Rock, and they regularly make a point of how unlikely Earth is. 

Flying ice hit the planet at JUST the right time to give us an atmosphere. I get the impression that chaos is the "norm" in the Big Universe, and life on Earth happens to be a tiny speck of order in an otherwise unruly existence. And yet… 

We all know that person who is too organized. That one whose recipes are cataloged in bound spreadsheets on the bookshelf - a spreadsheet that is miles long. Doesn't that person working on it feel rigid and inflexible? 

I lean toward order, but like everything in life, I have to embrace chaos. But when I consult a thesaurus, synonyms for chaos are disorder, confusion, and mayhem—yikes! None of these sound good!

I want a better way of looking at it. I think about it a lot when cleaning my house. I'm always striving for perfect cleanliness, but the things constantly foiling me are an integral part of LIFE: my daughter's art projects, my husband's splattered cooking oil, and the dog's hair.

As for the sphere of my work - Creative Strategy and Visual Design - I believe there should always be a balance. A lot of my job is bringing a bit of vibrancy and non-linearity to organized data sets (like taking a spreadsheet and turning it into an infographic). 

But sometimes, it's the opposite. For example, when everyone in the organization says they need a new website, I help structure the navigation, so it doesn't feel like a giant pile of rubble.

There needs to be order and room for messiness – the life part of it all. 

And, of course, it's always changing. Where are you today on the Order ---- Chaos continuum?