A Better Way

When I clean house with awareness my home becomes my teacher. It always calms me when I’m feeling agitated and inspires me when I am feeling down. There are so many insights that are revealed as I care for my home. Read further to find out how my home showed me a better way!

Today I was doing a little “cleaning therapy”. I was having a wrestling match in my head and I needed some sudsy water to calm the intensity. As I was wiping off the top of my stove I decided it was time to do a more thorough cleaning. You know the “take the burner trays out and wash the stuff that flowed over and underneath” kind of cleaning. I took the elements out and I placed the burner covers in the sink. I rolled my sleeves up and I was snaking my arm through the opening to find the gunk that forms when a pan boils over when I started getting irritated at how hard it was to get to everything. After all, I couldn’t see under there, I could only feel.

I stepped back from the stove to get a bigger picture of the situation and thought loudly to myself, “THERES GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY!”

Then I got into the “if I had designed a __________”, conversation. It went something like this. “If I designed a stove I’d make it possible to lift this panel so I could get more easily underneath to clean”. I moved back toward the stove to lift the panel that in my mind I would design to make it easier and oh, my gosh, IT LIFTED UP! I have been washing this stove for 4 years and today I discovered that the panel lifts up!

Underneath there was clear access to all of the stuff that had drained below. It wasn’t so dirty under there because I had mastered the uncomfortable art of snaking my hand blindly around to clean it. But today FOR THE FIRST TIME I was able to wash the whole entire surface of that under layer unimpeded. I luxuriated in the swooshing of the soapy cloth, back and forth and back and forth. I shined that area like it had never been shined before and as I was shining within myself I had the realization that often THERE IS A BETTER WAY, THERE IS A WAY THAT IS EASIER and all I have to do is imagine it.

All I have to do is REALLY BELIEVE that it’s a possibility and there it will be. The way will open right before my eyes. And once it opens there will be no turning back.

I have often envied the person who has had a life-changing breakthrough. Their story always includes the line “and from that moment on I was never the same”. I’m thinking of Echart Tolle and Byron Katie. Well, you might not think this is a very big moment but this is my moment and I’ll take it.

From this moment on I will never be the same because now I know that all I have to do is imagine and the way will open. And I will let myself be reminded of that each and every time I lift the panel to wash my stove.

I work with my clients to find new ways of being in their homes and in their lives. Is it time for you to imagine another way! You can do it! I just know you can!

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