I don't want to write this. Seriously, I've been suffering from the worst writers' block I've had since college - maybe since high school. So the very idea of sitting here, writing even a single word made my skin crawl. But I had to do it. My whiteboard made me.
I'm a very visual person. Surprisingly, I have terrible eyesight, but a slightly photographic memory. If I've seen a business logo, I can find their storefront effortlessly, even though I can't read the street signs or numbers until I'm on top of them (without my glasses, that is). In any case, I've been contemplating getting a dry erase board for my home office for months. I think I hesitated for so long because I suspected it would just become clutter in my already crowded office. I can't stand clutter; I can't think straight in a cluttered space. My obsession for clear space drives my husband batty since he grew up surrounded by nick-knacks, but I digress.
A few weeks ago, I took the plunge, spent the 7 bucks and got a dry erase board. Why did I wait so long?! Even in the checkout line, the woman behind me saw me buying the dry erase board and gushed with praise for the one in her own kitchen. That's always a good sign! A few minutes later and I had my new whiteboard propped up on my desk - but what to write on it? Did I mention it's a magnetic dry erase board? That's right - extra options. Should I doodle happy thoughts and images? Make clear black & white lists? Color code tasks? Yes! Just what a visual learner needs - color. In the end, my whiteboard was covered with reminders for all sorts of assignments, each in its own special color. Lately, the soothing green of writing assignments has been replaced with reds and oranges - demanding urgent action, so here I am.
Dry erase boards come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They may have calendars or to-do lists pre-printed on them, or come with an attached cork board or chalk board. Mine is magnetic, so I can post a picture or note as well. However, beware of magnetic dry erase boards if you're the type who likes to hide your fridge under a wall of kids' art. Speaking of art, did you know you can use dry erase markers to write on glass? I've decorated the mirror in our main bathroom in the theme of playgroups and parties (musical notes, grapes and vines, reindeer, etc...) just for fun. Of course you can always just leave a note for your significant other ("Hang up the towel!") if you prefer. Dry erase board or mirror, it's your choice, but either way gets the message across - even to yourself!
