At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived. Rose Macaulay
I agree with today's quote...and I don't. At first read it is right on but dive below the surface of it and you can see that the two are actually quite intertwined. Why do I say this? Ever watch Hoarders? If you have then you don't need to read on (although you can if you'd like) but if you've never watched it (or shows like it) then read on.
Sure my house is messy at times, more often than I'd like actually, but it doesn't hold me hostage to myself and my emotional/mental baggage. An unkept house that never gets picked up and cleaned up but just gets worse and worse and worse becomes a holding cell for that person (or that family). Their unkept house becomes their prison and they are held captive to so much baggage that outsiders, even family members, don't recognize who their loved one is any longer. It eventually, slowly and subtly, isolates them from life. Thus life is unlived. Watch one episode of Hoarders and you'll see what I mean. So many times the kids in the house have never had a friend sleepover or been allowed to go sleepover (because of the smell that attaches to them because of the filth of the home), so many times the adult(s) in the home haven't participated in any sort of social life in years and years because of their home! I could go on and on but that's a different blog for a different day. :)
The point is that yes a life unlived is much more distressing than a house that needs to be cleaned BUT in more cases than we realize (according to statistics there are approximately 3 million people who are compulsive hoarders) an unkept house can lead to an unlived life. I propose that the two are connected in ways we've never thought about.
So. What's the healthy balance? Don't let the little clutter that you know deep down won't grow to out of control keep you from playing that game with your kids, having a date night with your significant other/spouse, watching that movie you've really been wanting to see, etc - don't use your house as an excuse to not live life. On the other hand if your house has gotten to the point where you are isolated from living life then get some help. Swallow your pride and get some help so you can live life!
I agree with today's quote...and I don't. At first read it is right on but dive below the surface of it and you can see that the two are actually quite intertwined. Why do I say this? Ever watch Hoarders? If you have then you don't need to read on (although you can if you'd like) but if you've never watched it (or shows like it) then read on.
Sure my house is messy at times, more often than I'd like actually, but it doesn't hold me hostage to myself and my emotional/mental baggage. An unkept house that never gets picked up and cleaned up but just gets worse and worse and worse becomes a holding cell for that person (or that family). Their unkept house becomes their prison and they are held captive to so much baggage that outsiders, even family members, don't recognize who their loved one is any longer. It eventually, slowly and subtly, isolates them from life. Thus life is unlived. Watch one episode of Hoarders and you'll see what I mean. So many times the kids in the house have never had a friend sleepover or been allowed to go sleepover (because of the smell that attaches to them because of the filth of the home), so many times the adult(s) in the home haven't participated in any sort of social life in years and years because of their home! I could go on and on but that's a different blog for a different day. :)
The point is that yes a life unlived is much more distressing than a house that needs to be cleaned BUT in more cases than we realize (according to statistics there are approximately 3 million people who are compulsive hoarders) an unkept house can lead to an unlived life. I propose that the two are connected in ways we've never thought about.
So. What's the healthy balance? Don't let the little clutter that you know deep down won't grow to out of control keep you from playing that game with your kids, having a date night with your significant other/spouse, watching that movie you've really been wanting to see, etc - don't use your house as an excuse to not live life. On the other hand if your house has gotten to the point where you are isolated from living life then get some help. Swallow your pride and get some help so you can live life!
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