Cleaning House

It's so funny what we get used to.
Our house is a big mess, but we don't really notice.
Only when someone new visits, do we realize in what state our living space is.. How does it get that way?
I guess the trick to unnoticed breakdown is the speed in which it happens. Sudden changes shock us and make us feel we need to do something about it right away. Ok, maybe tomorrow because right now we are doing something already (...). It's the slow, sneaky gradual disintegration that happens without being noticed.

That is, until it reaches a certain level that it grabs our attention and forces us to face reality.
This happens usually when I'm in the middle of letting someone into our house. All of a sudden I see the boxes in the hallway, the dust on the stairs, and the mess in the kitchen. Where did all that come from?? It wasn't there before...was it??
The biggest catalyst, however, is always a house guest. My brother and his family are coming in 1 1/2 weeks, and suddenly I see our house in a more realistic light... Instead of feeling excited anticipation (I haven't seen them in almost two years), I find myself worrying about the state of disrepair our house is in! Not good, I am sure they are not coming for my house!

This time however, I've decided to take the awareness my brother unwittingly sends ahead, and spruce up the house for myself, rather than for appearances sake. I am finding so much joy in this change of attitude and new creative energy in re-organizing, cleaning and painting our living space.

It usually takes someone else to become aware of our pitfalls, and all we should feel is gratitude for the 'heads up'. Rumi's 'Guest House' says it all.

Am I still just talking about my house??