Home chores are like dandelions. Cleaning, uncluttering, shopping, paying bills, filing, cooking, driving to work… all dandelions. To some, dandelions are a pesky, invasive weed, strangling cultivated plants. To others, these little flowers are bouquets held by tiny hands, medicine for detoxing and food for spring salads.
What we think of dandelions, or our daily chores, determine their value. They are exactly what we decide: a weed or a gift, uplifting or depleting.
When I think of a dandelions, I think of this tiny, resilient, persistent, bright yellow flower; a plant with an unbridled determination to bloom, to thrive no matter where she lands. I always smile when driving on I-5 in downtown Seattle. On the concrete wall there will be a happily blooming dandelion. She jets out of a crack, living in a teaspoon of dirt and who knows what else. It’s as if she doesn’t have enough sense to wilt. She puts all her energy into blooming. There is no wasted energy in a dandelion. If I could model my own essence after a plant, I would choose the dandelion.
Chores are like dandelions. It is best to make friends with this lifelong traveling partner. Cultivate its many gifts, simplify and streamline what you can. As if by magic, your life will be forever nourished. Next time you are procrastinating or fretting on a chore, think of the fiercely determined dandelion and bloom on.
Don’t balk. Never spend your precious energy fretting over your chores. Complaining and procrastinating are wasted energy. Fretting never accomplished anything. Put all your energy into blooming! If you must kiss a frog, don’t spend too much time looking at it.
Less is more. By simplifying, downsizing and uncluttering our homes and lives, we have fewer chores to do. The power of less gives us more: time, energy and resources!
Rename your chores. Cleaning and clutter-clearing are forms of space-clearing. They do for our homes and lives what turning off your computer for a minute does for your electronics. Transform your words. Cleaning becomes Rebooting, Resetting, Space-clearing… Play, don’t work!
Fill your tummy. Keep your vision and thoughts on the benefits of a good reboot and a job well done. What will you gain? Freedom, clarity, calmness? Yes, all those things. When your home is thoughtfully placed, your nervous system relaxes. You breathe deeper and can rest fully. Company is readily welcomed, and you can always find your keys. Full tummies, happy souls and nourished spaces.
Awaken your chores. Most of our chores are lifelong traveling partners. They are habits, things that we do over and over without thinking. Become curious! Up your skills! If you want to transform your life, up your habits and skills. Improve your tools. Start as a beginner again. Learn to be smooth and efficient in your work. Be awake, present and thoughtful.
Hire out. Last year I came across a study: when people spent money on ways to save time and energy versus gaining more stuff, they were happiest with time savers. Hire out, delegate and work with friends. You will be happier!
Meditate. In our busy world, having time to meditate can be a luxury. Use your work as a meditation. Practice being present, focus on your breath, warm your eyes and smile while holding a beautiful posture as you wash your dishes. Practice being present and thankful as you wipe down your shower. Our chores can be what we need. Use your daily time to reboot your own life.
For me, chores are a lot like running. Putting my shoes on and getting out the front door is always the hardest part. But once I’m moving and the fresh air hits me, I start flowing. My brain stops thinking and I smile, getting lost in the movement. I return home refreshed. This is what cleaning and our chores do. They keep our lives moving. They nourish us: mind, body and spirit.
If you struggle with your weeds and chores, do not worry – you have lots of company. There are thousands upon thousands of kindred spirits out there feeling the same way you do. It doesn’t matter if you are 16 or 96. The next time you start to feel overwhelmed, pretend you are a dandelion and smile. We are all imperfectly perfect beings doing our best to bloom. Chores are part of life – weeds and all.
In addition to her 27 years of experience owning a professional cleaning company, Denise Frakes is a Certified Transformational Life Coach, Certified Clutter Clearing Coach, Certified Master Energy EFT Practitioner, Master Reiki and a Certified Healthy Home Specialist. Learn how to create a home and life that nourishes, uplifts and feels light. For more information, visit Denise’s website at DeniseFrakes.com or e-mail her at dfbluesky@yahoo.com.
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FEDERAL WAY
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Sunday: 9 am - 7 pm
Please call for current deli counter service hours. Grab and go options available until closing.
2565 S. Gateway Center Place
Federal Way, WA 98003
TACOMA
Monday-Saturday: 8 am - 8 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 7 pm
Please call for current deli counter service hours. Grab and go options available until closing.
2951 S. 38th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409