The Sacred Mess: Finding the Echo in the Everyday

The joy in the mundane... let's be real, not every moment in life is a highlight reel.

Don't get me wrong, I love ‘nice’ things. I love vacations and the excitement of something new. But I’m not always on vacation. I don't have all the "new” things, and honestly, I’ve never cared much for keeping up with the Joneses.

I have what I call self-diagnosed family genetic OCD. Things need to be in their specified places. My house needs to be clean; the yard needs to be kept. It’s my sanctuary.

But here’s the truth: I don't actually love the act of cleaning. I don't love putting away everyone else’s stuff because they don't think "everything needs a place." I don't even love giving the dogs a bath, especially since they love to burrow in the dirt while helping me with the yard work.

However, I LOVE the music. I love dancing around the house while I’m cleaning, putting on a full-blown concert and dance session with my puppies. My family thoroughly enjoys these shows, too. In those moments, I find the love. I love when little Milo is helping give Von a bath, or when all the pups run around me excitedly, doing their own version of a dance.

I love that peaceful 30 minutes when the entire house is perfectly clean... right until my husband cooks dinner and destroys that perfection. But then, I remember I love that he cooks, too. I recognize and appreciate the good in the mess.

I am not perfect. I am not always grateful. There is always dog fluff floating around, and things are not always in their place. And that is okay. It just is what it is.

In a world full of chaos, I choose to look for the little moments that make my heart flutter. Those moments are always happening; I just have to open my eyes to see them. That doesn't mean I have my head in the clouds regarding the world, but I know some things are out of my control.

What I can control is what I consume, physically and mentally. I can control what I support. If I disagree with something, do I create conflict energy or resolution energy? Do I attack, or do I listen?

In the end, it’s about the energy we invite into our still waters.