Home Sweet Home?
When I was growing up, I left my room a mess. I hated to get rid of anything, so my room quickly filled up with old class projects, random trinkets, every birthday card ever, and much more.
The reason why I let my room get to the brink of what one would consider a hoarder's cove?
I love to clean. I love to start with a big mess and systematically trudge through it until I am left with a clean space, organized, and decluttered. If I always left my room clean, then how would I have a huge mess to have fun with and clean up?!
Now that I am grown and have way more than just one bedroom to manage, I don't follow the same type of method. It most likely has to do with the three offspring that see to the mess-making for me.
In fact, for me it has swung completely in the opposite direction. I don't want a mess, period. I find that when I am more stressed, I demand more organization and neatness in my life. And, unfortunately, I demand this of my family, too.
For the sake of my family, I have had to be more intentional with letting some of the messes be. I try to turn a blind eye to the socks on the floor, the art project that has been going on for the third day in a row, and the Lego creation that could have its own zip code. Despite the fact that I want it all picked up, put away, and organized, I need to let these things go.
I lied to myself for quite some time that the only way I could relax in my home was if everything was neat and tidy....and then placed that demand on my family to follow through. That's not fair to anyone. Instead, I had to pick a few zones that were "have to's." Spaces that had to be addressed daily. I then allow the rest to be spaces that are taken care of every few days. Similar to my old bedroom...on a smaller scale.
For me, the daily musts are the kitchen, the living room floor, and the front entry. Those will get quickly out of hand if we don’t stay on top of it.
For the rest, every few days I call a "pick up party," and we all spend the next 15 minutes gathering all the stuff and putting it where it belongs.
Following this new exercise has reminded me of an important truth:
I don't have to depend on my circumstances to be happy.
We can so easily get caught up in that "greener grass" thought. Perhaps our grass isn't green on our side because we're so busy wishing instead of taking the time to water and fertilize our own. If you find your home to be a source of discontent and stress, identify the parts you love and cultivate that.
Challenges/Points:
Sometimes we can get caught up in wishing that we can’t see the good that we already have.
Our home can be a source of stress if we are always focusing on the parts we don’t like. This breeds discontent.
Identify what you love about your home and how you can enhance those benefits.
Questions:
What thing have you convinced yourself about your home that if it was just a certain way THEN you would be happy?
How can we improve our home without even moving a single piece of furniture or tchotchke?
What expectations have you put on others in your home that, when unmet, leads to discontentment?
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