What's Love got to do with clutter?

The link between an organised home and unorganised chaos which is a posh term for messy clutter is - Love.

Love the home you live in - Bella's Home

It is so true, if we don't love the space we occupy, we do not give it our time, we don't want to be there so why should we take care of it ? Someone else can take the responsibility to tidy, clean, arrange or organise.

I am the first to put my hand up to admit that I am an untidy person. I have always equated this to being female. I have a hundred excuses as to why this is so, everything from rebelling against my Mother's strict parenting which she learned from an abusive Father, to rushing to work in the morning, too tired in the evening, other tasks being more important, life balance has not permitted it - STOP!!!!!

All of this is simply an excuse, a lack of responsibility, not taking responsibility for my actions is not just a note for choices and decisions that I make, it also has to include choices and decisions that I do not make.

My extended family are all female or at least they were, most have now passed on, but although they were all very tempestuous, strong women they all had a common thread. They were super house proud, you know that phrase - " you could eat dinner off the floor?" Well you actually could . However for me this was a sacrifice that I was not willing to make, they gave up a lot of life just to keep their homes perfect.

My question was always - why? All of this pristine work could wait. Opportunities for life experience do not always wait which I still believe, however I have discovered that their love for their own space was more important to them than the experiences that they missed. This was their decision I guess, my naivety in youth missed that.

For the first time in my life, not suggesting I'm a victim, simply circumstance and decisions that I chose never led me to this adventure before. I embarked on an adventure of my own, I refurbished my kitchen, and oh what an adventure that has been.

However now that it is complete and I love it because from start to finish everything in it has been my choice, I find that I am unable to let it become the cluttered chaos that it once was. The other rooms in my house are exactly as they were before but this kitchen looks like it belongs in a different home.

At first I thought that it was because it was a new addition, or perhaps I'm becoming more mature ( at 50 about time lol). However, if this was the case then surely I would be paying the same attention to the other rooms in my house, which I'm not.

So suddenly it occurred to me. There is a link. The link is simple and it not only relates to our homes, it relates to relationships, office space, the place we work, family connections and most likely community too. The link is love.

When we love something, someone, some place or some activity, we give it our full focus. We find the energy , we find the motivation and the resources to make it happen. There is nothing that will stand in our way.

For me right now it's a new kitchen but the same can be said for the care for my children. I can be eyebrow deep in paperwork on projects that I have a deadline on that must be met, but if any of my children call and need something, everything is dropped for them - Love is unconditional.

When we love there are no boundaries, there is no mountain we wouldn't pass through and no ocean we would not cross to prevent us from succeeding. Perhaps that is the lesson - if you truly want to succeed in anything - love it with all of your heart the success you will achieve will be extraordinary.

xx Lei

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL - Unknown