I read the other day about a woman who prepared her house for inspection by a realtor, prior to putting it on the market.
The woman cleaned her yard and organized the approach to her property in a very inviting fashion. The hedges were evenly trimmed and the little rock garden in front of the home was inspiring.
The woman cleaned the walls of the house outside and inside. The hard wood floor got a legendary polish job. She and her friends made sure that the furniture was well placed in a welcoming and attractive manner.
The inspection was booked for 3 pm and by 2 pm she was ready. She took a last lingering look around and noted that the house was as clean as a whistle. So she sat on the edge of her favorite sofa, and from there she admired her handy work as she waited for the realtor.
The realtor arrived. Immediately, he noticed that the yard was free of any obvious rubbish, the garbage container was empty and the lawn was totally clean and neat and so was the outside of the building.
The realtor approached the front door, and as he entered, he noticed that the door was squeaking. There was some rust hiding in the inner aspect of one of the hinges. The windows looked clean but dust had settled deep in the pane below the reach of the usual dusting cloth. He also noted that there were multiple small stains on the carpet in the living room. The stains were small but nevertheless a distraction to the examining eye.
Every thing in the kitchen was arranged in a neat and orderly manner but there was rust under the sink and the edges of the basin were entertaining molds. When he looked into the cupboards he saw a bit of rotted wood under a large silver bowl.
In the bathroom he saw that the sink was clean and clear but the handles made an unpleasant sound. The washer was too old. There was dirt far under the toilet seat and part of the shower curtain had a minor tear. One of the bathroom tiles in the far corner where no one would look was defective.
The beds were neatly made, but the headboard grumbled every time you touched it. There was an artificial smell of air freshener but beneath this, there was hint of a moldy odor trying to get through.
There were so many things wrongs – little things, hidden things and yet important things. So the realtor rejected putting the house on the market. He announced that on the surface everything looked good but this house needed deep cleaning.
After I read this account, I thought about my own life as a house. I wondered what a real life expert realtor would say about me if I were the house.
I am sure he would notice that I look good on the outside. He would have to agree that nothing seems wrong with my health and energy. However, I wonder if put to the test, I would break down. Would my heart rate or my joints complain too much under pressure even if I seem ok?
The way I behave under normal circumstances might be acceptable, but I fear that a close look by an experienced realtor would reveal some cracks, some dust that needed to be removed – complaining too much when things don’t go my way, permitting myself to be involved in a conversation where one of my colleagues is being vilified and although I do not contribute any words, I lack the courage to call them on gossiping about someone behind their back.
The realtor would notice that I sometimes say or do things just to look good in front of others. He would notice how I twist the truth, as long as I stand to benefit from the minor alternation. I engage in justification and rationalization to soften or hide my mistakes and I underestimate the worth and value of others in an effort to promote my own importance.
But I look good on the outside and behave well for the most part but the realtor would look at my house and asked me to get a deep cleaning.
He particularly would want me to clean out the room where I keep my emotions. He would mostly likely notice a tint of anger and hostility, self doubt hiding in a corner. I am just not ready for first class.
So every day I am going to take 5 minute to look deep into the crevices of my life and see what dirt is hiding behind my brilliant façade.
I really want a clean life and I am willing to work on myself to get it.
How about you? How clean is your life?