As I look around the house, my eyes are conspicuously drawn, not to favorite little trinkets and treasures, but, to molehills and mountains of clutter that manage to accumulate and multiply undetected. While I stare at them in disgust three little words pop into my head.

In the laundry area, aka the disaster zone, three little words subtly bombard my thoughts, like a Nor’easter in full force. And when I see the bookshelf sagging from the weight of library books run amok, there they are, again.

I think you get the point.

Three little words. I’d bet money that the genius behind this popular and now internationally recognized three-word slogan, never imagined it would become instrumental in motivating you, me and countless others to take a stand, step up the to plate, and ultimately, to conquer one of our many great challenges: household clutter. (Cue the music: “William Tell Overture”.)

Just do it. Yes, those are the (annoying) little words that dance around my head when I consider how to vanquish the enemy. What to do first with my little heaps and stashes of stuff, so necessary they can’t be tossed out, but not quite important enough that I must do something with them right now?

A more pleasing and equally profound nugget of wisdom is found in the following quote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Somehow, a single step seems do-able. And when you combine it with the cheerleading cry of “Just do it!” I suddenly feel strong, empowered…almost invincible. And I think you better feel pretty invincible if you’re going to walk a thousand miles!

Sometimes when I think about tackling the kitchen desk (isn’t it always the messy kitchen desk) it seems as daunting as a 1000-mile journey. So much, that I’d rather waste countless minutes searching for…something…that I need (right now!) than face the intimidating task of making the whole mess go away, for good.

Now, armed with a gentle nudge (thank you, Confucius) and a bold affirmation (thank you, Nike) I feel ready to go. By this time next week I’ll have taken at least one step in my personal journey through clutter redemption. Won’t you join me and reap the rewards (without the blisters)?