You know that organized people are a bit kooky, yes? Well, that’s what the movies would have you believe. Think Mommie Dearest and Sleeping with the Enemy. 

The characters in both films are crazy, and oh, by the way, organized. Just a little too organized and anal retentive. Did I mention they were crazy? Poor Julia Roberts had to run from her abusive husband who liked to organize the contents of his cupboards in a very particular way.

What about Jennifer Lopez’s character in The Wedding Planner? Uber organized she was. And, detailed. She managed other people’s weddings, afterall. Do you remember her dinner time routine? The self-described control freak had a very specific ritual…microwaveable dinner (cloth napkin on her lap) eaten while watching her favorite TV show…by herself. 

And, let’s not forget, my all time favorite, Mr. Monk (Felix Unger comes in a close second). You’d need the patience of Job to live with this guy. Like me, he has the urge to straighten out kinks in phone cords and neatly arrange anything that seems out of place. Even if that jumbled mess belongs to someone he’s just met. Sounds like a nice guy to me.

Can you tell I’ve been watching a lot of cable lately? ;)

So, yeah, maybe there’s a bit of truth to organized people being, ah, different. Some of us might be quirky and have little (or big) things that make us a little intolerable. But, that same quirkiness can be put to good use.

Mr. Monk, though he has major phobias (who knew you could be afraid of milk?), also has an uncanny ability to notice minor details, things that most people wouldn’t see. This gift helps him solve cases. His stubbornness and inability to be flexible are otherwise known as persistence, which often pays off in the end.

You might not have this kind of specialness.

Maybe you’re really messy but can think quickly on your feet. Take your fast acting ability and put away 5 things in 5 minutes.

Maybe you have lots of energy in the morning but are completely unproductive at night. Do your most important projects early.

Maybe you really are a loner. That’s ok, use some of that alone time to think through your next project or big dream. Then, invite in all those nosy bodies to help you get it done.

Moral of the Movie, er, Story

So what if people think you’re psychotic and have OCD and are without a friend in the world? There will always be an up- and downside to the many sides of our personalities. Use what you’ve got in the best way you can.