I put it in quotes because it’s a funny term to me.

People with hoarding problems aren’t disorganized; as stipulated, most of these folks have a form of OCD. So to me, helping OCD by dispatching a “professional organizer” is like calling someone with schizophrenia “confused,” and then sending them to a “confusion re-arranger.”

“Getting organized” can be a swell thing — but only once you’ve gotten rid of the mountains of crap that you’ve allowed to overrun your life.

And, to me, the bone to pick is with a culture that increasingly encourages us to think that a closet consultant and a trip to The Container Store is a valid substitute for a more profound realignment in thinking — about how we live, how we consume, and how we make our peace with deeply ingrained, emotional habits. That’s where my head is anyhow.

So, I’m sorry if you take exception with the quotes. I’m confident that this is a profession that provides lots of people with excellent value. But I still think it’s kind of funny. So, regrettably, the quotes stay. :-)

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