100 When I Was Growing Up Stories
Clutter Clash
Prompt # 31 Housecleaning
I grew up in a very messy, unorganized house. It wasn’t a hoarder home; it was more of a project-based house. Our home had books, papers, motors needing repair, and woodworking tools covering every horizontal surface. My dad used those tools to build a rowboat in the kitchen one winter. I loved watching him make it as much as I like rowing it on the pond.
When I got older, and my comfort level reached a tipping point, I would clear the surfaces. For a week or two after I cleaned, I was blamed for anything my siblings or parents couldn’t find. Their blame may be the underlying cause of what I refer to as my opposing cleaning personality disorder.
One would think I might have grown up to be compulsively neat when I had my own home. However, this didn’t happen. I don’t mind clutter. I take comfort in having a pile of books and notebooks on my nightstand. I also have an assortment of books and magazines beside the chair where I sit in the living room. A project commandeering the kitchen table doesn’t bother me, knowing that I can always brush it aside when we need to eat.
Luckily the clutter doesn’t come anywhere near the level of chaos in my family home. Still, when it comes to clutter, I have a split personality. When I walk into a spotlessly clean house that looks as if it is ready for a photo shoot for a spread in House Beautiful, one personality is awestruck. I want to know how they manage to maintain all of those clutter-free surfaces. However, my other personality feels a little creeped out by the “Stepford Wife” feeling in the house.
This week’s prompt caused me to do a little online investigating on the subject of clutter. Some “experts” believe a messy room can signify depression or another mental health issue. In addition, it can result in a lack of motivation and enjoyment.
I can see the truth in that but on the other hand…
Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs all had messy desks. I’m confident that this is also true of many brilliant women. Research by Kathleen Vohs at the University of Minnesota found that a cluttered desk may have benefits, such as promoting creative thinking and stimulating new ideas.
I couldn’t help feeling vindicated by this study.
Even though some people thought that it was a poorly designed study, I’m going with it and embracing my unorganized personality. Yet I live in the hope that one of my personalities will get the cleaning bug.
With Love & Energy by the Pond,
Laurel
