I cleaned the house in absolute quiet, at a snail’s pace, and the experience was nothing less than amazing. (I’m not kidding!) As I washed doorframes and polished balusters, I noticed every groove and tiny detail. I wondered about who had constructed this solid old Cape, and I thought about a family living here at an earlier time, washing these same floors. I thought about my own family, and the imaginary worlds my children create under the table or behind the closet door. As the afternoon light shone through my windows, I saw beauty that often goes unnoticed, and I felt such appreciation for our little place in this world.
Day One: Erin asked us to pause throughout the day to notice the beauty that is now. One of the participants, Annie, took out her video camera and captured a day in her life. But really, it could be a day in my life, or your life, I’m sure. Set to Elizabeth Mitchell’s “I’m So Glad I’m Here” Annie’s video reminds us that the beauty is indeed right now.
Housekeeping as meditation.
Enjoy!
5 comments:
I often find myself cleaning when on my own. There are times I think I should be sewing or napping or writing or reading, but instead, I am cleaning. Often, this repetitive, seemingly endless task feels the perfect thing to do in the alone moments. It gives me the space to focus on the people in my life when they reappear. Your home and "eye" are beautiful.
I try to clean a little bit each day, usually with my little helpers. But this quiet Sunday was so nice, I really do think I want to try to schedule it once a month.
Allison -- lovely and touching. I am noticing more joy in my cleaning as well and marveling that I could have ever == even temporarily -- forgotten the peacefulness that comes in shining the sink.
I am more than a little envious of your home with it's history. I do wonder what stories it would tell. My home (in a subdivision) sits on land whose former occupants were cows preceded by Native Americans. I often think about their feet crossing the rocks that sit just below the surface of floors.
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad I saved your post for a quiet moment when I could really take it in.
So sweet, Dreena! Thank you for reading. And I must chuckle, for my house only has 64 years of history! I'd really love an old, old farmhouse with many more stories to tell. Someday, perhaps...
This is just beautiful, Allison.
And thank you (again) for your contribution to the program. My kids and I have been doing SO much more cooking together thanks to you!
xo
~erin
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