It's the Little Things

You know, I am not a type A personality. Nobody would think so. I do like to organize people. I do like to do things quickly and efficiently, but that's just because I like to be able to say, "I'm done," and go on to something that I actually want to do.
I peered into our microwave this morning. I hardly ever use it. I tend to heat my water on the stove and even my leftovers. However, my kids and husband are no such creatures. They use the microwave like cavemen used fire. It is a life source. But, as I mentioned, this morning, I was looking in there. I had decided to heat my tea water in a mug instead of on the stove. Honestly, I don't know why. I think I was just too lazy to lean down to get a pot to heat the water in. Imagine my horror. I had cleaned this microwave in February. It's only the middle of March. The splatters and spillage were a little repulsive. The last time I cleaned it, it was after a friend exclaimed, "it's bad, and I don't have a very high standard!" Ah, you gotta love real friends. So, to avoid such embarrassment again, I got out the cleaner and cleaned out the muck. Ick. THEN, I got to heat my tea water. Should have simply closed it and gotten out the pot to heat my water. But, the shame when company would come.......
Then, in my cleaning "frenzy", I remembered the dishwasher. No, not the outside. I do clean that. I mean that little ledge that seals it. It was nasty. I cleaned it. Even used a toothbrush to scrub around the screws that had scum residing in them. Then I started the oven to clean. I know, remarkable.
Obviously, I am not a stickler for perfection. I rather enjoy my house being generally tidy, but not so much that I feel like any movement ruins the balance of things. It was easy when I was single. Once in awhile I cleaned the bathrooms. The kitchen got wiped up when I cooked. I vaccuumed about once a month. My bedroom........well, I rarely went in there because I had this great sofa and I liked sleeping there better since my room opened onto a really dark area and it kinda' creeped me out. Having a family has been quite the eye opener.
I used to freak out when we were having company. Yelling, screaming, stressing. I don't anymore. All I care about is that we have some good food and we all sit down together. I like to sit all at one table. Yes, even when we have more than 20 people. It's not worth having a fit to have company. My house is trashed right after they all come anyway. Did I mention that most of my kids are teens? And we have a LOT of teens in the house?
But, there are some little things. I like the edges to get wiped down. I like the front of the fridge to be clean and clear. I like my bed pulled up........because it is more inviting to walk into my room. However, it doesn't have to be made perfectly. I don't like piles of laundry not because they are bad but because it simply drives me wacky not to be able to find my clothes.......or worse, my husband's or kids's clothes. I like laundry to get done as we go along.....washed, dried, folded, delivered. I hate counters full of dishes. I don't hate these things because I'm a neatie. Quite the opposite. I hate them because I am totally overwhelmed by too much cleaning to do at once. I like to run my swiffer regularly......as in once a week. I like to run a rag over the furniture about the same. I like to have the kids vacuum whenever it looks like it needs it. (we have mostly hardwood and tile). I like clean windows but that's because I like to stare outdoors when I am writing. I like straight pictures but have found no way to keep them that way in a house of teen boys.
I don't mind if it looks like we live here. I don't mind that there are blankies on the couches and chairs....we keep our house kinda cold to save money. I don't even mind that there tends to be drip marks from milk on the tables and counters. There are usually glasses everywhere......I don't like that because it takes me too long to gatgher them back together.
What I'm saying is that the little things make a difference. Taking time to do what drives you crazy or what you need to feel peaceful. But, it's not about a contest. You don't get a gold, silver or bronze medal no matter how tidy your house is. You have to live so that you feel relaxed when you are in a room. When something bothers me every time I walk into a room, or if I start avoiding a room, I know it's time to take action.
My action is sometimes to dismantle and begin again. Often it's just simply taking baby steps. Like, cleaning the ledge on the dishwasher.
In your house and in your life, find a little thing to work on each day. Do it, get it out of the way. Whether it's exercise or prayer or writing or reading or walking or whatever......you know what nags at you. Do it a little. Then go on. Quit worrying about not being neat enough or exercising enough.......what's enough? Nothing is ever as much as someone else. That's why I mention, it's not a competition. It's about growth. It's about learning who you are and what makes you who you are.
It's the little things. It's about doing them because they mean something to you. I didn't clean the edge of the dishwasher because anyone will notice. I did it because it gave me satisfaction. That is what work and play should do. They should bring you satisfaction in your soul. If they don't, take stock of what you are doing and why......perhaps you are just performing for the rest of the world. It takes courage to learn to know yourself and do things because they make you grow and feel good. Try it.
It's all about the little things.
blessings,
rhonda