A Visual a Day - The Origin Story

AKA my quest to declutter my mind

My name is Yemisi and I'm a hoarder.

I still have my school tie from 1996. All the letters from every boyfriend I ever had are still in a box somewhere in my house (hubby found the box one day and hid it from me). I hoard takeaway boxes, plastic shopping bags. You know those glass ramekins that come with fancy shop-bought desserts? I hoard those too.

But it's not just stuff. I'm a knowledge hoarder too.

The "Camera Brain" Conundrum

I can recall random facts and figures from things I've read or seen from decades ago with little to no effort. I see it once, and it stays there. This 'gift' has its downsides.

My sister stopped gossiping to me about her friends because that's all I would remember about them. She'd mention a friend's name to me in a later conversation and I'd say: "Is that the friend whose boyfriend...[redacted]?" and she'd look at me in complete horror.

My husband has also learned not to share disagreements he has with his friends with me. He'd forget and move on, while I would still remember and seethe. Made for some awkward social gatherings, let me tell you.

As a child, my mum used to say I had a "camera brain." I later discovered that this was her way of describing my photographic memory to me.

As I grew up, my 'camera brain' started showing its age a bit. So I captured things I saw and read in notebooks instead. The advent of digital notebooks was a game-changer and helped me take my hoarding to new heights. Sermon notes, Bible verses, quotes, images, screenshots all sitting collected but neglected in my own personal digital ecosystem.

But all this hoarding - physical and mental - was weighing me down. It was time for a change.

2024: The Year of Decluttering

I started 2024 on a high that I was determined to maintain. This was definitely going to be my 'New Me' year. I kicked it off with a birthday treat to Paris to firm up my resolve and solidify my strategy.

Step 1: Decluttering the Closet

First item on the agenda: de-clutter my closet. My husband, my complete opposite in every single way (according to Myers-Briggs) had long since given up trying to get me to declutter. Imagine his shock (and absolute delight) when bag after bag of old clothes, shoes, and accessories started piling up in our bedroom. I came back one day to find the bags gone - he had taken them all to the recycling centre because he was afraid I'd change my mind. He needn't have worried. I wanted to make a change in the way I looked and felt and the first step was to get rid of the old to make way for the new. This went on for a few months.

Step 2: Decluttering the Mind

Next on the agenda: the decluttering of my mind. All the knowledge I have acquired over my not insignificant years on this planet need a place to be shared. And I've recently discovered that I need a creative outlet to maintain my sanity.

I was completely at a loss on how to do this till I came across PJ's Thinking in Visual Metaphors course (he's not paying me for this - honestly!). It unlocked a part of my brain I didn't realise existed. I had the goal, the course gave me the tools and resources, and now this Substack (as well as a couple other social media platforms) is the means by which I bring my vision of a clutter-free mind to life.

The Journey Continues

This Substack is where I'll be sharing my decluttering journey - both physical and mental. If you're a fellow hoarder looking to make a change, or just curious about how I go from cluttered to clear, I’m happy to have you come along.

Hang on to your hats. It's going to be a mildly wild ride.

---