Piling Metaphors

Piles…

The story of my life.

It seems I’ve lived with them for an eternity.

School papers, ministry details, family matters. Piles everywhere.

Are they a metaphor for a busy mind?

My busy mind?

Are they creativity, genius, and unlimited opportunities?

Or are my piles chaos, paralysis, and missed chances?

A little of both, but more often the latter.

At my age, should I just give up and embrace my piles?

One of my favorite fake Einstein quotes says,

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what is an empty desk a sign of?”

I don’t know, but I pine for an empty desk.

Maybe I even long for an occasionally empty mind.

Today is my last day of summer.

I love the fresh start of a new school year.

The piles get filed.

Hope is reborn.

Productivity prevails.

How long will it last?

Not long enough, I’m afraid.

A clean desk. #cy365 #t365project #jjaproject A picture in a picture.

A post shared by Denise Krebs (@mrsdkrebs) on

9 thoughts on “Piling Metaphors

  1. This made me smile! I love the “fake” Einstein quote! Good luck with your piles – I think they represent great passion for your work and life 🙂

    1. Thanks, Aileen! I am passionate about my work and life. I guess the alternative with a clear desk would not be better. Blessings!

  2. Oh, I can so identify with this post. I’m a piler too. Still trying to finish up the last of my school stuff (3 years after retiring)! Part of me is reluctant to say goodbye to these happy years of my life spent teaching. But I think it’s time to move on. Pretty sure I’m not going back at this point.

    1. Thanks for sharing, Ramona. Wow, I bet it’s hard to finish and say goodbye. That will be coming for me within a few years. I had a really relaxing, productive and lovely summer, and it makes me realize retirement will be good too. Blessings!

  3. Me too. *sigh* Every year I vow this will be the year I get organized, put things away right away, and stop piling stuff. Hasn’t happened yet.

  4. Piles? Clean desk? These are things to dream of! I did slightly better last year and am hopeful the trend will continue. Good luck to you!

  5. Denise,
    Love this! I completely put away 2 piles today and then restacked – prioritized – 2 others. I hate to just move them without finding the place where they belong! Here’s to a “happy medium” for organization for this year!

  6. Thank you for this! I feel like I could have written it. In my effort to reign myself in, I had my custodian remove my desk from my classroom. Nevertheless, I somehow find other spots to make piles. Go figure! Thank goodness we get to begin again each new school year…if not, my piles would probably reach the ceiling. Here’s to another year of resolving to control my piles.

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