Casual Conversation: Cleaning the House

My daily routine upon waking up is to tidy up my bed, sheets, and pillowcases, sometimes even rearranging my workspace if I was too lazy to clean up properly the day before. Only then do I exercise, brush my teeth, wash my face, and eat breakfast. And cleaning, sweeping, and organizing can be interspersed throughout the day with other tasks. Seeing a dirty, messy house and rooms makes it impossible for me to focus on anything else. It's ingrained in me. Yet, for some reason, my children and students, despite being around and constantly reminded and encouraged, still suffer from laziness and reluctance to clean. Some people around me are the same.

I remember my maternal grandfather – a retired teacher who was always serious, careful, and tidy. When I was little, every time I visited, I was timid because of the rules and regulations he set. Not only me, but everyone in the family, from my grandmother to my aunts, uncles, and other siblings, were all afraid of him. But thanks to him, the house was always clean, the garden was lush and green, neatly arranged. Each season had its own produce, the fish pond was bustling, and the chickens and ducks filled the coop; we always had something to eat whenever we wanted. Thanks to his discipline, with the rules and slogans hung on trees and attached to the doors, and his frequent reminders, we learned our first life lesson – tidiness and order. He said that keeping everything around you tidy is essential for a well-ordered life. As I grew older, I understood more and more the meaning of that simple yet profound teaching.

After he passed away, when I cleaned out his small cabinet, I felt both nostalgic and admiring because the stacks of books, newspapers, documents, and belongings he had carefully and systematically stored remained intact despite the passage of time. And because he was always so organized, even though he was constantly busy, he still looked so relaxed and at ease. It turns out that cleaning doesn't make people busy; it actually makes them more at ease.

Once, I asked a friend who studies psychology what she usually does when she's feeling sad or unhappy. She said she cleans the house. Her answer surprised me. I had always thought that sadness required some grand, complex psychological solution. "No, when you're feeling unhappy or dissatisfied, try cleaning. The results are amazing," she advised.

From then on, I cleaned the house with enjoyment, regularly and with focus. And indeed, some sadness seemed to drift away when the work was finished. All the unpleasant things fell away like dust and rubbish from the tables, chairs, floors, beds, and cupboards… the gleaming surfaces reflected the eyes of someone who had just completed the task with a light heart. No wonder there's a saying, "Work is the best way to improve any state of mind." And I suddenly remembered what my son said after reading a story: "Mom, they say you shouldn't hold onto unpleasant things in your head, heavy thoughts in your heart. Every day you have to clean up the rubbish in your soul."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-dam-don-nha-don-ca-tam-hon-18525072615425764.htm