WORD FOR THE DAY – “responsive” (adj.) “responding especially readily and sympathetically to appeals, efforts, influences, etc.” Syn. “compassionate, kindhearted, passionate, sensitive, sharp, etc.”  (dictionary.com)

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Detailing Divas. In a word – responsive

“Divas” is probably a misnomer for this sister act. After all, when you think of a “Diva,” don’t you envision a prima donna entertainer or celebrity, caught up in her own importance, basking in self adulation, and making demands of others for her own comfort? Very “ME” focused. That’s not the Detailing Divas. These St. Cloud sisters – Jeanne Borgstrom and Lezlie Lang – are responsive to human need and very “OTHER” focused with their home detailing services, senior moves management, and community volunteering.

So, “RESPONSIVE” is a great word for the Detailing Divas. It addresses the action these sisters take on behalf of others. It is synonymous with COMPASSIONATE, which speaks to their hearts, and SHARP, which speaks to their technical expertise. The sisters grew up in a family of painters. However, Borgstrom is also a professional stager, while Lang is a color specialist, life coach, and trained in team leadership. Home sellers, real estate agents, bank trust officers, busy sons and daughters of aging parents, and downsizers of all shapes, sizes, and ages call the Detailing Divas for HELP.

(PHOTO: Lezlie Lang, l., Jeanne Borgstrom, r.)

Jeanne says the help they provide is an art, science, and a psychology. She and Lezlie are sensitive to clients anxious about someone coming into their home, evaluating its condition, touching their belongings, and finally, changing things. Lezlie notes the sisters are very compassionate, allowing clients to work out any negativity, such as embarrassment over the condition of their homes.

(I can relate. Even when I schedule a cleaning lady, I have to clean up before she gets here! Yes. I must confess that I'm a better writer than housekeeper!.)

Here’s another example of responsiveness to those of us in the “sandwich generation” – caring for children and aging parents. The Detailing Divas were approached by a loving daughter who needed to help her mother move from the family home to a senior apartment with added, managed services. Her mother had physical difficulties and memory issues. Of utmost concern was her mother’s comfort level with the move and the daughter’s desire to not upset her. Yet, the daughter was also a professional person whose job didn’t allow her the complete flexibility to deal with ALL of the tasks the downsizing represented. Well, the Divas handled the entire multi-faceted project. From packing and coordinating the transfer of the mother’s belongings, to setting up her new home in a familiar layout with familiar objects, to staging the family home for a sale, the sisters took care of everything with skill and sensitivity. No worries for the daughter. No distress for her mother. Now, that’s being responsive to LIFE and the human condition.

The Divas are responsive to the community’s needs, too. Their professional hands guided the amateur hands of six crews of Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity volunteer painters at the Kyle Hanson home in October. (See the January 3, 2012, St. Cloud Times/Citizen Times’s story. Divas lead Habitat paint project) They also volunteered to supervise crews at a twin home on the east side of St. Cloud. The Divas even donated equipment. This was the first time the sisters had volunteered on a Habitat home, but they plan to return. Why? Because they are KINDHEARTED and SYMPATHETIC when they see a need.

Well, I need to wrap this up. So, if you need help with a staging, senior move, or community project, I suggest you call the Detailing Divas at 320.420.4376. (Jeanne helped me convert bedrooms into an office for myself and for my husband, a studio. Then, I hired her to help with a daughter’s new home painting.) Thus, in a word, I find the Detailing Divas to be RESPONSIVE.