Trading Cardboard for Clarity (While He Was Hiking Philmont)

While Jon was out hiking the rugged trails of Philmont in New Mexico—carrying only what he needed on his back—I found myself on a very different kind of trek here at home.

Mine involved cardboard boxes.

You know the ones… stacked in closets, tucked into corners, quietly collecting dust and “important things” we haven’t touched in years. With him gone, I decided it was the perfect time to start cleaning and organizing—but with one important boundary: I didn’t throw out any of Jon’s stuff.

This wasn’t about purging. It was about stewarding our space better.

So instead of tossing things, I focused on replacing all those worn, dusty cardboard boxes with sealed totes. It seemed like a small shift, but as I worked, I realized it was actually a pretty meaningful one.

Cardboard, especially older boxes, holds moisture, dust, and who-knows-what-else. It breaks down over time and becomes a perfect hiding place for allergens. From a “sick building” perspective—the kind I’ve written about here on Santini Serenity—it’s kind of the perfect storm.

And yet, here’s what stood out to me:

Even while I was cleaning some of the dustiest areas of the house, I didn’t get sick.

That felt significant.

Since the end of May, I’ve been working remotely because of allergy and sinus issues I was experiencing at the Kinnear office on my hybrid days. It wouldn’t take long—often less than an hour—before the symptoms would hit: drainage, sneezing, coughing, and this overwhelming inability to focus, even when I was just sitting at my desk doing normal office work.

But at home, it was a completely different story.

I was doing physical work—unpacking boxes, breaking them down, stirring up dust in places that hadn’t been touched in a while—and still, nothing. No flare-ups. No fog. No spiral of symptoms.

That contrast was hard to ignore, especially in light of everything I’ve been sharing about sick building environments on Santini Serenity.

It made me realize that this isn’t just about how I feel—it’s about what I’m exposed to.

And in the middle of all that cleaning and swapping out cardboard for totes, I could sense it:

There was a noticeable shift.

As I swapped out box after box, the space started to feel lighter—not just physically, but mentally too. Clear bins replaced crumbling cardboard. Stacks became systems. Hidden messes became visible and manageable.

And in the middle of it, this verse came to mind:

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:33

It’s such a simple truth, but it landed differently in that moment.

Disorder isn’t just inconvenient—it can quietly steal peace. And while clutter might not seem like a big deal, it can contribute to both mental overwhelm and physical discomfort when it affects the health of our home environment.

This ties right back to what I’ve been exploring on the blog:
Our buildings—our homes—have an impact on our well-being. And sometimes the issue isn’t just hidden toxins or air systems… but the everyday materials and habits we overlook.

For me, this was a reminder that:

• what we store matters
• how we store it matters
• and what we allow to accumulate can affect more than just appearances

While Jon was out carrying only the essentials across miles of trail, I was learning my own version of that lesson at home.

Less cardboard. More intention.
Less hidden dust. More breathable space.
Less chaos. More peace.

And maybe that’s part of creating a healthier home—not just fixing what’s obviously broken, but slowly replacing what no longer serves us… one box at a time.

Resources:

Scripture:  YouVersion Bible App

Note that I did box up some of my own items to donate and that upon returning from Philmont, Jon cleared out 20+ polo shirts from his closet.  We donate our items to Good Life Ministries who has a convenient 24/7 accessible donation center in Plain City on West Avenue near the Shell Station.  

Update: Clarity, Air Quality, and Getting My Brain Back

I wanted to share an update following my recent posts about what I believed might be Sick Building Syndrome and the impact it’s been having on my health and work.

After environmental testing, the EHS (Environmental Health & Safety) results came back indicating that air quality levels were within acceptable ranges. While that was reassuring from a compliance standpoint, it didn’t fully explain how I had been feeling.

What has made a difference, though, is time and distance.

I’ve now been working remotely for about three weeks—and the change has been dramatic.

Physically, I feel fantastic. The lingering fatigue and mental fog I had been struggling with have essentially lifted. Mentally, it’s like a switch flipped: my focus, energy, and clarity have all returned in full force.

What’s been most telling is the shift in my work itself.

I’ve been diving into Splunk again, and not just maintaining things—but improving them in ways I simply wasn’t capable of while I was feeling off. I’m making meaningful updates to dashboards and reports, revisiting logic, refining visualizations, and uncovering opportunities I hadn’t even considered before. It’s a level of creativity and productivity that had been noticeably absent—and I didn’t fully realize how much until it came back.

Whether the root cause was environmental, physiological, or some combination, the takeaway for me is clear: how we feel directly shapes how we think, and how we perform. When something is off, even subtly, it can have a bigger impact than we realize.

For now, I’m focused on maintaining this momentum, staying attentive to what my body is telling me, and continuing to build on the progress I’ve been able to make since stepping away.

More to come as I keep observing and learning.

Resources:

YouVersion: Scripture Image

Copilot: SEO optimization

Workplace Health Update: A Personal Note

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been navigating ongoing allergy and sinus challenges that seem connected to the indoor environment in my workspace. It’s been a learning experience—both in listening more closely to my health needs and in advocating for a healthier work setting.

I’m grateful to be working with Ohio State’s Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) team, who have conducted air quality testing to better understand the environment. I’ve also partnered with OSU Human Resources through the Integrated Disability Accommodation process to ensure I have the right support in place. In addition, Facilities has been responsive in coordinating a more thorough cleaning of the space, which I deeply appreciate.

This process has reminded me of the importance of persistence, patience, and community. As it says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That encouragement has stayed with me as I continue working through next steps.

Thankful for the collaboration across teams and hopeful for continued progress toward a healthier, more comfortable workspace for everyone.

Resources:

YouVersion - Scripture Image

Blog Post:  When the Office Makes You Sick

When the Office Makes You Sick: Recognizing the Signs of Sick Building Syndrome

I debated whether or not to write about this. It feels vulnerable to admit you’re not feeling well in a place you’re supposed to simply “power through.” But if sharing my experience helps even one person pause and say, “Wait… maybe it’s not just me,” then it’s worth it.

Since we returned to a hybrid schedule at the Columbus office, I’ve noticed a pattern. Every shift I work there, I don’t feel well afterward. Headaches. Fatigue. Just an overall sense of feeling off.

There was extensive remodeling done, including drywall work, and the dust has felt never-ending. The best cleaning lady we ever had took another job, and while I wipe down my own desk and even bought a small air purifier for my space, I can only control so much. If dust isn’t being removed throughout the building — through proper dusting, vacuuming, and ventilation — it lingers. It circulates. It settles… and then rises again.

In full transparency, my home environment isn’t perfect either. But I do my best. And I notice I feel different there.

Then there’s the water issue. One day I filled my water bottle at the filling station and the water tasted like dirt. Not slightly off — noticeably earthy. The water in the building is often brown. You can see it when washing your hands and even in the toilet bowls before anything else is added. I now use a filtered water bottle, but I know I’m not drinking nearly enough while I’m at the office. At home, we have a whole-house purification system and filtered refrigerator water, so I’m used to clean, clear drinking water. It’s hard to ignore the difference.

For a while, I questioned myself. Was it stress? Allergies? Just getting older? But I started learning more about something called Sick Building Syndrome.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) describes a pattern where people experience headaches, fatigue, irritated eyes or throat, difficulty concentrating, or general malaise that improves once they leave a particular building. There isn’t one single diagnosable illness attached to it. It’s more about environmental stressors — especially indoor air quality — that affect people over time.

And here’s what struck me: dusty environments and water issues are often quieter contributors.

Dust isn’t just “dirt.” After remodeling, drywall particles and fine particulate matter can linger in the air if not thoroughly cleaned and properly ventilated. Dust can carry allergens, mold spores, and chemical residues from building materials. When it’s continually recirculated through HVAC systems, people breathe it in all day long.

Water issues can add another layer. Discolored or contaminated water may point to plumbing problems, sediment, or corrosion. Moisture problems in buildings can also create conditions where mold or bacteria grow — even if you can’t immediately see it. Sometimes the first sign isn’t visible damage. It’s people not feeling well.

What makes this so frustrating is that the symptoms are easy to dismiss. They’re vague. Non-specific. You start to question yourself.

But when the pattern is consistent — when you feel noticeably better once you leave — that matters.

This isn’t about blame. It’s not about being dramatic. It’s about recognizing that the spaces we spend hours in every day impact our bodies. Air quality, dust control, water quality, ventilation — these aren’t cosmetic building issues. They affect energy levels, clarity, hydration, and overall well-being.

If you’ve been feeling “off” in a specific environment, I gently encourage you to pay attention to patterns. Notice when symptoms improve. Advocate kindly but clearly. Protect your health in the ways you can — whether that’s using filtration, staying hydrated, or raising concerns.

At the end of the day, buildings are meant to shelter and support us — not quietly wear us down.

If sharing this helps someone feel less alone or prompts a needed conversation, then writing it was worth it.

Resources:

ChatGPT - SEO optimization and details about SBS

YouVersion - Scripture Image