This morning I was delighted to read the following comment from reader Patricia Balinski, which is just too good to keep buried with a post I wrote last February ("Why I Can't Fly with the Flylady"), and so I'll quote it in its entirety below:
In reviewing the preview of Flylady's book, I thought of the many New Year resolutions begun in earnest and fallen to the wayside within hours, days, maybe even a week of making them. Like yourself, a daily regime of chores, whether done until completion or broken up because of side-tracking to do something else within the room, can not be done without frustration of having to do the same thing so repeatedly, day in and day out. At 23, I willingly accepted the wisdom of two women in my life. Thereby, reducing stress and possibly adding years to my life. They were: "Saying you have to clean or do mandatory cleaning routines is true to you now; that is, until something else in your life takes precedent." And, "Let your house be clean enough to be healthy; yet, dirty enough to be happy." Now at 68 1/2, I reduce clutter by redistributing loved treasures to various family members. Still can see them, but they have to clean it. I spend minimal time several times a week to spit polish "hot areas" and use the extra time to volunteer my services where and when I find the most enjoyment. Finally, when the time comes to sweep angel dust under a cloud, I know my children will remember the happy times they had in growing up and not having to live each day in a "white-glove inspection house".
This is exactly what I needed to read this morning.
One of the things I've been thinking about lately is how the Quest somehow got away from me, or rather, that at times it has taken me away from what I had intended to be my focus: making room for the important things in life. It's the "subtitle" I chose over any number I considered when starting the Quest, because I wanted to keep the thought front and center--the reason, above all others, why bother trying to be organized at all.
It's time to reclaim the Quest for its original goal and purpose. The intended goal was never perfection but communion, a leavening of spirit by making it easier, not harder, to get through the day. "Clean enough to be healthy, yet dirty enough to be happy," as Patricia's mentor so wisely put it. Now that's a resolution to live by!