Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Work....

Ah, work, what a wonderful necessary word.  Without work I would be even lazier than I am already.  Actually, work makes me feel useful.  I'm not just talking about my job I go to everyday just to make the money to survive, but the work of life.  You know those things you do everyday like picking up your house, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the toilet and bathroom, washing dishes, picking up dog poop in the back yard, mowing the lawn, watering plants and grass, washing and folding laundry, and then putting it away.  All those mundane things we do everyday or week just to get by.  THEN there are those extra projects, like painting, hanging pictures, updating furniture, cleaning out the garage, changing the water filter in your fridge.  There is always something for us to do.  I gotta admit, I'd rather watch TV or go on a hike with my pup, but there is something about work that makes me feel better.  Accomplishment I guess.  There are those people that don't care.  Their yards are full of trash, unkempt, house paint peeling, fences falling down.  Those that don't care what the inside of their homes look like, days upon days of dirty dishes, dust, trash, dirty clothing.  I don't understand this.  It's not my job to judge, but I don't understand it.  There is a quote that says "Cleanliness is next to Godliness".  It is so true.  A well kept home is a haven, is loved, a place of peace.  That means a lot to me!  I was a Special Victims Advocate for years.  I would be called by the Police to go out to help victims of crime, mostly domestic violence.  What I noticed thru the years is that the homes matched the messed up lives of the people, or should I say, the people matched their messed up homes.  Only once during the years, did I walk into a clean home.  So, so sad.  I guess what I'm trying to say in this post, is that work is necessary in our lives. It actually GIVES more than it takes.

"Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds."  Gordon B. Hinckley

So, do we want weeds in our lives?  Weeds that choke us in our lives.  The ones that start to control us and bring us down.  I used to be still am, an expert at feeling sorry for myself, feeling overwhelmed and left out.  I read that if you are feeling sorry for yourself, get up and work until you don't anymore.  I started doing just that years ago.  It works, and the sense of accomplishment always makes me feel much better,  plus I am to dang tired to feel sorry for myself.

Anyway, let me leave  you with one of my favorite quotes:  "Whoever is happy will make others happy too."  Anne Frank

9 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

oh, i like this blog layout! LOVE!

as for keeping a clean house, i DETEST clutter and disarray; however, dust, dog hair, dirt - eh. it comes back tomorrow even if i clean it up today. :)

Kerin said...

Great post Susan!
And, I love the quote by President Hinkley.
It is rather hard to feel sorry for ourselves when we are staying busy and being industrious.
Or, service.
It's impossible to feel sorry for ourselves when we are in the service of our fellow sisters and brothers.
Here's to vacuuming, dusting, and weeding~~~heehee!

Smiles :)
Kerin

Negerigeletschtempoit said...

When my uncle came back from his younger son funeral (my little cousin died of cancer), he changed his clothes and went to the back yard to sweep the dry leaves that fell on the patio. Tears run down his face, but he worked and worked. Swept it all, watered the plants, fixed something in the garage and on he went. It was late at night when he came inside.

Somehow he made me believe that pain, of the heart kind, can be soothed by physical stress - of the good kind.

Feel better, my friend. Don't ever forget that you are a very, very precious person!!
xoxo

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i enjoy a clean home. prefer things in their place. but there are moments where i will just be more relaxed & let things slip. i know the hubby would prefer me to be more relaxed because that is his nature. i know when things are clean ... i feel better & more relaxed. no dirty dishes in the sink & all that jazz. we have high water prices so i try to wait until the laundry basket is really full...but at times i hate waiting. want things really clean & put away. hate to come home to a dirty house ... so i try to clean up before a trip. ha. ha!! to each his own ... or whatever. enjoy what makes you happy & at peace. big hugs! (:

Catherine said...

A clean house, laundry washed and hung in closets, a nice long bath and jumping into your bed with fresh sheets.... Mmmmmm.... Heaven!!! :)

Love the quote!

xo C

Jill said...

I am far from a neat freak but I don't understand it when people own homes and don't take care of it!

I do know what you mean about feeling sorry for oneself. I find I do it more than I like to admit. However, no one else ever knows I do it. Like you, I get up and work!

Love ya girl!

Debbie said...

i am neat and tidy!! i work hard and i play hard!!

happiness really is a choice!!

Debbie Jones said...

Great post. I feel stressed out when my home and surroundings are dirty or messy. I do admit to areas of clutter in my home, but I strive for order and cleanliness. I think that children need a certain amount of order in their home to thrive. I agree with the quote from President Hinckley. Work is a gift from God! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Angie said...

I am with you as far as keeping a somewhat tidy home. My home is definitely lived in but I can assure you that it is picked up every single day, dishes done, etc. I actually feel bad sometimes because I feel like I spend more time than I need to trying to accomplish things around here when I could be spending that time with my children. It's a difficult balance for sure but I manage from day to day!

I've always heard cleanliness is next to godliness- I assumed it was talking about the heart and soul. Never thought of it in the aspect of material things.