Tuesday, June 8, 2010....
Several months ago, I picked up my Body & Soul magazine to learn they had an article that could change my life. It was about cleaning and how I could learn to LOVE it!
I was all over this article because I HATE TO CLEAN. I really hate to empty the dishwasher and load the dang thing. I thought if someone could change my mindset or give me a quick solution to something I loathe I was in.
Well, the article (paraphrasing) was about a woman discussing her discontent with a nun about cleaning. The nun explained patience and told her to change her viewpoint -- not to thinking of cleaning as a daily chore. Not to rush through it, but think of it as a ritual.
Ummm...sure, okay, I'll try it. I'll be one with the task. I'll try to find the greater meaning and enjoy emptying the dishwasher and loading it back up with dirty dishes (I should explain, I have the world's smallest dishwasher. Seriously, I do. Someone mistakenly thought it to be a garbage disposal).
I keep an open mind (I meditate daily). I focus on loving what I'm doing and taking pleasure in the act of doing it. I unload, load and repeat this same practice for several days.
Ya know what?
It did nothing. I still hate emptying and loading the dishwasher and have come to terms it is just a task in my day and try my damndest to do it AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
What? Did you think I'd say it worked? Sorry. Nope.
23 comments:
Hahahaha! F*ck, I hate cleaning. I mean really despise and swear my way through it. I've tried everything to make it more fun. Inspiring music, promising myself treats, everything. Still it sucks. However, I will admit I LOVE loading the dishwasher and I have a method that I cannot deviate from. Everything neatly arranged in there. I might be anal about the dishwasher actually. Now UNLOADING it I hate. Holy shit, I'd rather just take clean dishes out of it and use them, than put them in a cupboard first. :)
there is a great book by brother lawrence, who is a monk about finding joy in washing dishes and the most mundane...i am not a big fan of chores but i can find some small joy...
I would rather drop something heavy on my foot than do dishes ...Thank goodness for HB
This post is awesome. Yeahh I've tried the whole zen thing with cleaning that it's pushing toxic things away from me & cleaning but I still hate it too.
I think it would take more than a magazine article to get me to love cleaning. More like a full frontal lobotomy.
What is it about the dishwasher that makes it the worst chore? That is absolutely my most hated thing to do!!!!
um don't you have a nine year old you can pay a little cash to????
just grab a neighbors kid, a passerby, a random hobo in the street????????
um don't you have a nine year old you can pay a little cash to????
just grab a neighbors kid, a passerby, a random hobo in the street????????
Zen, shmen. Cleaning is purely the work of the devil and can only be exorcised. {*grin*}
*LOL*! Ha! Become one with the dishwasher...I'd rather become one with gin bottle.... ;O)
I'm going to try it nonetheless.
How are you lass, it's great to catch up; I'm away to read over what you've been up to; apart from loading the dishwasher in record time of course! x
Who in the world discussing their cleaning with a nun? I'm still just stuck on that point.
If you ever find something that works, do not pass go, do not collect $200. CALL ME. We are going to MARKET THAT SHIT. Then we are going to make $100,000,000,000,000 each and PAY people to clean our houses forever and ever and ever amen.
I think loading the dishwasher is my least favorite chore EVER. Well, besides putting away the laundry!
I hate cleaning, too!
But I have to whine for a moment and say I wish I had a dishwasher, my little studio doesn't have room for one. So, dishpan hands it is. Ohhhmmmmmm....
I can live with cleaning if it means I don't have to cook.
hahahahah. i hate cooking as much as you hate cleaning.
Yeah, that sounded like a bullshit article to me...... UNLESS it said to hire a maid.
my mom tried to trick me into cleaning by saying "you can do anything for 5 minutes. just set a timer and after 5 minutes, stop."
great idea in theory. in reality, i made more of a mess in 5 minutes than i ever cleaned up.
hey, there! Welcome back! No need for you to explain a blog break. We all need to get away from the computer sometimes.
I actually read ALL of your 70 things about you and enjoyed reading it. I don't usually read those long lists that people write, but your list was interesting. I like Sarah's music too. I'm not even going to try to spell her name.
Sometime I enjoy washing dishes. I do it by hand. But I've been avoiding them the last few days. Maybe I need to change my point of view. Ha!
Nope, that would so not work for me. I hate unloading the dishwasher no matter how i try to look at it.
jj
I know a quicker way to enjoy cleaning... get someone else to do it! I have been known to bribe teenagers to do dishes.
I LOVE cleaning but I am a messed up OCD freak... in fact I prefer to wash the dishes than put them in the dishwasher... see how sad I am?!!!
Veggie Ass – Will you come to my house to load the dishes. I won’t unload, but will admire your work.
Brian – You’re much better than I am.
Adrienne – Exactly!
Melanie – I’m now using a timer and working quickly through. Ya know, like a game a 5 year old would play.
Salt – This made me laugh!
BV – I don’t understand that either. But, I will say I appreciate it over doing the dishes by hand which I did for many years prior to owning one.
McGillicutty – You crack me up. Btw, I didn’t mention in my email to you, the woman has a caretaker because of Alzheimer’s. Heaven knows where she’d put things.
Dan – LOL. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Helen - I might take your suggestion and try champagne or wine instead…OR…borrow one of your kids like McGillicutty suggested to me.
Debbie – LOL.
Jane – I like this idea the best. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a painless solution to the dishwasher problem.
Ink Obsession – Right? I mean it never ends!!!
Jess – Oh, I feel your pain. It was years before I had a dishwasher and had to wash by hand. It sucks.
Captain – Really? Because I’ll cook for anyone in a heartbeat if I don’t have to clean.
Constructive Attitude – I wish I loved BOTH…
Jules – True, but the dishwasher in my house has to be emptied daily and I wish I could afford a maid to come daily.
Jaime – LOL – 5 minutes? Was she talking about a dollhouse. I’ve heard 20 minutes, but I’m safe with 30 if no vacuuming or dusting is involved. Hell, who am I kidding, dusting is not even part of the weekly routine.
Sunshine Mama – Thank you for reading the list – I know it was long, but I was actually shooting for 100 (which I gave up on) – maybe your many kids would LOVE doing the dishes for you? Probably not, but I thought I’d put it out there.
Joanna Jenkins - I wish I could just blink my eyes and everything would be fine.
Charlies’ Tribe – I’ve TRIED THAT – no such luck.
Eternally Distracted – I have a sister with a cleaning compulsion and my husband is just like you with dish washing over using the dishwasher.
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