How Cleaning the Frig is A Lot Like Life
In my house, cleaning the frig is a semi-annual event, at best. Yet this time, I was reminded how cleaning the frig is a lot like life.
#1 Take it apart. Like the frig, my life is full and I can lose sight of what's important. Examining my activities and commitments help me to make sure I'm investing in what is truly important and meaningful to my life, living my life and not the life someone else says I should live.
#2 Nevermind the incessant beeping. The frig door's beeping drives me crazy but I remind myself that I've got the situation under control, "I have a plan. Ignore the beeping." There are some things in life that incessantly beep (not naming names). I will save my attention for what and who is worthwhile.
#3 Familiarity breeds blindness. This is probably the hardest. It's that amazing salad dressing from 7 months ago that I forgot I had even though I looked at it every day. It's human nature to blow past what is familiar, looking for the new, the exciting, and, let's be honest, the easy. Did I take 30 seconds to appreciate the sunset? A good laugh? My spouse? I want to be a person who appreciates the good and beautiful that are mine every single day.
#4 Sometimes, I have to soak it. Some nastiness needs a hot towel and time. When I've held on to hurt, sadness or bitterness for longer than I should have, only time and the right combination of honesty, humility, forgiveness, restitution, and prayer can make a way to a clean conscience and a peace-ruled heart.
#5 Scrub everywhere. Hypocrisy is cleaning only the stuff that I think people see. Honesty and authenticity are the foundation of a genuine relationship with myself, God, and others. There are no substitutes.
#6 Ongoing cleaning is required. I will continue to fail, make mistakes, and bad choices so I plan to clean again when necessary, without the drama of beating myself up for spilling the milk (and leaving it there for 2 days).
#7 Check the expirations. Some friendships and habits need to get thrown out. Some could make me sick, outright kill me, or make me wish I was dead. If it doesn't smell good, look good, or is past its prime, into the Hefty it goes.
#8 Purge often. I don't have to keep everything. I tried it, didn't like it, so I'm throwing it out. Life is short and I am limited by time and space. If it isn't useful, enjoyable or saving my life, "Goodbye" is the word that makes room for something else.
#9 Clean ain't new and that's ok. I'm aging, but I chose to keep my life and heart clean and filled with purpose, passion, and people. I only have this moment so I'll use it wisely.
#10 No one else but me will clean my frig.
#1 Take it apart. Like the frig, my life is full and I can lose sight of what's important. Examining my activities and commitments help me to make sure I'm investing in what is truly important and meaningful to my life, living my life and not the life someone else says I should live.
#2 Nevermind the incessant beeping. The frig door's beeping drives me crazy but I remind myself that I've got the situation under control, "I have a plan. Ignore the beeping." There are some things in life that incessantly beep (not naming names). I will save my attention for what and who is worthwhile.
#3 Familiarity breeds blindness. This is probably the hardest. It's that amazing salad dressing from 7 months ago that I forgot I had even though I looked at it every day. It's human nature to blow past what is familiar, looking for the new, the exciting, and, let's be honest, the easy. Did I take 30 seconds to appreciate the sunset? A good laugh? My spouse? I want to be a person who appreciates the good and beautiful that are mine every single day.
#4 Sometimes, I have to soak it. Some nastiness needs a hot towel and time. When I've held on to hurt, sadness or bitterness for longer than I should have, only time and the right combination of honesty, humility, forgiveness, restitution, and prayer can make a way to a clean conscience and a peace-ruled heart.
#5 Scrub everywhere. Hypocrisy is cleaning only the stuff that I think people see. Honesty and authenticity are the foundation of a genuine relationship with myself, God, and others. There are no substitutes.
#6 Ongoing cleaning is required. I will continue to fail, make mistakes, and bad choices so I plan to clean again when necessary, without the drama of beating myself up for spilling the milk (and leaving it there for 2 days).
#7 Check the expirations. Some friendships and habits need to get thrown out. Some could make me sick, outright kill me, or make me wish I was dead. If it doesn't smell good, look good, or is past its prime, into the Hefty it goes.
#8 Purge often. I don't have to keep everything. I tried it, didn't like it, so I'm throwing it out. Life is short and I am limited by time and space. If it isn't useful, enjoyable or saving my life, "Goodbye" is the word that makes room for something else.
#9 Clean ain't new and that's ok. I'm aging, but I chose to keep my life and heart clean and filled with purpose, passion, and people. I only have this moment so I'll use it wisely.
#10 No one else but me will clean my frig.
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