Clean365: Wherein I become an adult.
01 Jan 2011 14 Comments
In 2010, my dear friend G challenged herself to draw something everyday for the entire year. And she did it. She also started training for and competing in triathlons, cycling events, and a half marathons.
And me? Zilch.
I’m lucky if I can remember to floss every day-and that’s a very, very important thing to do.
Like most people, I’m inspired by those closest to me and last night, as thoughts swirled around in my head about how great and accomplished everyone I know is, especially G, I had a few ideas about what I’d like to accomplish in the coming year. You know, to stave off a full blown late-night, tear-induced pity party over my rather lackluster credentials.
I’m not the type to make resolutions or start something new come January 1. I’m too cynical for that. I’m also incredibly lazy. I can’t finish anything that doesn’t have a letter grade awaiting it or some sort of dire consequence attached. But thinking about my age and the fact that I’m not getting any younger, prettier, stronger, etc., and then having a moment where I realize: Mel, you’re an adult now and part of being an adult is keeping an orderly house (among other things to be shared in the coming days).
[What being young and pretty has to do with an orderly house, I don't know. But that's how late night ruminating goes, right? Thoughts wander around a bit until they dock somewhere and things start to make sense.]
So let me state that I’m not a slob. I just live with people that are incapable of noticing a mess under their feet and if there’s something I loathe, it’s cleaning up after other people. So I’ve developed a few bad habits coping strategies in recent years to deal with it.
But …
I’ve been an unemployed student for almost two years and in that time, Niel has carried the financial burden for the whole family. That means I have no responsibility other than school and a few odds and ends here and there. It also means that I really need to get over myself and pick up the damn mess-even when I hate doing so.
So today I will commence Clean365. I pledge to clean something, anything* every day of 2011. For many of you, this is no big deal, you clean everyday because you have to or even want to (Chandelle?).
I’m not like you at all. I’ve conditioned myself to ignore the mess created by other people (until I have visitors, of course).
But not anymore. I’m going to do my chores like a grown up and start the process of undoing the bad habits I’ve developed in the last seven years.
This is only the first step in in a few changes I’d like to make. This challenge is just the foundational layer. Wish me luck.
* dishes, laundry, and sweeping/vaccuming don’t count. Dusting does.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 19:23:49
Sounds like a great idea! maybe I should join you… I was just looking for a cleaning calender online… and thinking, wow, that sounds like a lot.
For me, vacuuming would have to count though… sweeping, not so much
Jan 01, 2011 @ 22:49:50
Do it!
also, I think you should get yourself some gold stars to fill your calendar with.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 19:36:27
I was wondering if I should post or tweet my project for the day. What say you all?
Jan 01, 2011 @ 21:06:27
Definitely.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 20:29:13
cleaan365!!!! omg, I love it! and yes! you must MUST tweet each project! goddess knows I need help in this area, I could use your tips and ideas
Jan 01, 2011 @ 21:26:04
I just made my first tweet. I’m not so sure I can do the facebook thing. It’s so public.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 21:01:37
Yes, I love to clean. Right now I’m taking a break from a massive purge and deep-cleaning of my kitchen.
But I have unspoken rules about cleaning up after other people. My kids clean up their own crap. I won’t stand for being expected to clean up their messes. I’m constantly reminding them to think twice before bringing out yet another toy when they haven’t cleaned up their old messes, because it’s their responsibility. And I organize Jeremy’s stuff only to get it out of my way — I won’t do much more than that.
I think those are good rules, and I try to stick by them no matter how inclined I am to have a spotless environment. As a result I don’t have a spotless environment, and that’s really hard for me. But I’ve learned to make some compromises.
One thing that has worked for J and me is to have a chore list. It’s divided by room with all the duties needed in that room. We don’t divide the chores, just shared them according to what needed to be done and when. We haven’t done it in a while because our lives are so scattered right now, but when we did do it, it helped SO much. So maybe you could try that to give yourself (and the other inhabitants) a clear picture of what needs to be done every day or every week.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 21:27:47
J is better about these things than N is. N does not notice that anything needs to be done so for him, I’d have to make a list with a specific chore.
ugh. another chore.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 22:07:11
I’m inspired, Mel. I need to follow G’s example and draw/design something every day, and yours: to organize/clean something every day. I’m like N in that I don’t see messes. but surely I can grow out of it.
(and I don’t know about younger or stronger, but stop with the prettier. You’re beautiful–own it.)
Jan 01, 2011 @ 22:09:02
By “I don’t know about younger or stronger…” I mean it is a fact that you *aren’t* getting younger, and I’m not in a position to quantify your strength. But if you’re playing hockey, that can’t be *too*bad either.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 22:40:43
I can very much relate to you. I have my obsessions over things like the kitchen, but other than that it takes a huge concerted effort to do much more than that. I also don’t feel as if I accomplish much, but I haven’t made any decisions to change that over this next year, ALTHOUGH one might consider going to the university to be an effort toward that.
Rooting for you, girl.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 22:45:48
I would consider University attendance a huge accomplishment…for anyone other than myself.
I’m kinda hard on myself and have some really unrealistic expectations that I just can’t seem to shake. Like, my completion of a Geog degree last week doesn’t really count as a major accomplishment but learning how to shoot a puck does. I’m weird.
For a lazy, mediocre person, I sure do have some big ambitions.
Jan 02, 2011 @ 00:44:07
The addition of seven kittens into my life in the past year has completely overwhelmed my ability to straighten up. They destroy everything, push all objects off tables and shelves onto the floor, chew, bat around until hidden, and claw until unrecognizable any object small enough. They are great fun and fill my heart with laughter and affection, but they’re incompatible with a clean house. I’m putting off cleaning until they’re settled down into a solid and staid middle age. =) But good on you for being a grown-up. Someday, sadly, I may resign myself to being one as well.