Organizing lessons from Harry Potter

Last week I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. The final movie of the final book in that series was a lot of fun to watch, and also something of a relief, as all the hype can now die down and those who are interested can simply enjoy the books and movies at their leisure. I read all seven Harry Potter books several years ago and enjoyed the stories and characters very much. A couple of organizing insights hit me as I was watching the final film. **Mild spoilers ahead.**

I've always been fascinated by the Room of Requirement. The nifty plot device was used in several of the books. It is a room that appears when you need it, and once inside is presents you with objects you need, or simply an open space, if that is what you require. It is also the place where all those little things one loses, from socks to books, actually gather. People leave things there, old furniture for instance, and never have to think about them again. It's a remarkable idea, and very appealing. Who wouldn't want a room that's invisible most of the time to stow unwanted items, and also place to find lost and needed ones?

Toward the end of HPATDHP2, the Room of Requirement provides the location for something desperately needed by Harry, and then promptly gets set on fire and all those lost, unwanted items get consumed in a flash. My thought as an organizer, is how lovely for the room and the castle it lives in to get a fresh start, especially after the destruction due to the final battle of Hogwarts.

I was also thinking about the concept of horcruxes. In the Harry Potter universe, horcruxes are objects that have been imbued with pieces of Voldemort's soul using dark magic, with the intent that will it enable Voldemort to live forever. Destroying the horcruxes (things like a ring, a necklace and a book) also destroys part of Voldemort's soul and makes it easier to defeat him, which is of course, something that Harry is trying to do.

I think sometimes it can feel like our things do contain parts of our souls. A wedding band, for instance, is a powerful symbol and very meaningful, but things like a favorite t-shirt or a trinket we picked up on a favorite vacation can also seem to contain bits of ourselves. Feeling that way can make it very difficult to let go of something, such as when the t-shirt starts falling apart from wear or the trinket gets crowded off the shelf by newer, shinier souvenirs.

But thank goodness, our souls do not reside in things outside of us. Things are just things. We don't owe them anything. And they can't make us immortal. If they break, it might hurt a little, but we are still the same.

Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com. Sign up for Lelah's News, a once-monthly newsletter.

Organized for the movies

I love seeing movies at movie theaters. In my youth, I could see two movies a day back to back and not think twice, but now I average about two movies a month. This past week, I managed to fit in one movie a day for four days in a row, and it got me thinking about some tips for making movie theater trips a little more efficient and organized.

You might think that going to the movies isn't that difficult to arrange, but in Los Angeles before you do anything you have to choose which theater to go to. That decision might be based on a number of factors such as traffic, parking, size of group and even type of screen. In addition, there are theaters that have assigned seating and rewards programs and those that do not. It can get a little complicated.

One of the movies I saw this past week (though not in 3D).

So here are my top tips for making the process of selecting and going to the movies seamless:

1. Always opt for an assigned-seat theater if you have a choice. Assigned seating makes the entire process easier and more efficient, because you can guarantee you'll like your seat and you don't have to build in extra time before the movie to claim a spot. You can walk in just in time for previews and your seat will be waiting for you. The time savings alone makes whatever ticket premium the theater might charge worth it.
2. Always double check what format the movie is going to be in. IMAX and 3D movies cost more than regular movies, and some people can't handle 3D (it gives me a headache).
3. Check if your theater has a rewards program and what the terms are. Often you can get points for buying tickets and concessions that you can redeem for those items after accumulating a certain amount.
4. Familiarize yourself with the theater's outside food policy. You don't want to have a huge Jamba Juice in one hand and a coffee in the other while strolling in two minutes before your movie begins if the ushers are going to ask you to throw them away. Abide by the rules, or at least plan ahead and bring something you can fit in a purse.
5.  Buy tickets online and print the tickets at home if you have the option. That way you can skip all the lines at the theater and be guaranteed a seat at the show of your choice. 
6. Don't forget to bring your parking ticket to be validated. Most movie theaters in shopping complexes have the best validation policy, so even if you are doing dinner and a movie, wait to validate at the theater for the best deal.

My favorite LA theaters? I like the leather seats at the Landmark at the Westside Pavillion and parking is always free, however it isn't at all near my house, so my next favorite would be any of the Arclights - Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena - depending on where I am beforehand. 

Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com. Sign up for Lelah's News, a once-monthly newsletter.