Order, 9.4.21

Mindful September, Day 4. Intention: ORDER. The challenge: Try making your bed every day, for a week. If you already make your bed every day, try to do it with more awareness and gratitude. Here is an example from my own history of bed-making:

When I was a kid, I shared a room with my sister. We couldn't be more opposites, as far as our personalities, so my side of the room was always a mess, complete with an unmade bed, and my sister's side was very tidy, with her bed perfectly made, and stuffed animals perfectly lined up against the wall. I never made my bed unless my mom and dad insisted on it.

When I had my own house and family, the beds were still never made- unless we were having company! My thought: why make the beds in the morning if you are just going to unmake them at the end of the day? Right?! 

When I married M in 2004, one of the first things that surprised me about him was the fact that he makes the bed every morning. To him, it's almost a sacred time of his day, when he thinks of his grandma, who taught him how important it is to start his day with this one small act of orderliness.

Now, almost 17 years later, I really can't describe how much I appreciate having the bed made every day. It is one area of our home that I know, for sure, every day, will be in order. Even the most chaotic day seems a little more manageable when I turn the corner into our bedroom and see a perfectly made bed.

It doesn't happen very often, but on the few days when M doesn't have time to make the bed, I have the privilege of doing it myself. (Notice, now, at age 55, making the bed is a privilege 🙂) The entire time I'm making it, I think of his grandma (whom I never met) and feel so much gratitude for her. Someone I never met taught me the value of order and helped raise this person who has made my life so much better- steady and orderly.

This is the room we call our study, but this convertible sofa serves as a bed for my son and his girl when they come to visit and for M when he can't sleep. So it is part of our bed-making ritual,too 😉

ee what happens, just from making the bed?! Try it yourself and let me know how it goes ☺️

Be Still. Be Strong. Be Happy. - Juli