Monday Morning Coach Archives - Clean Up Messes

Clean Up the Little Messes

I’m back after a few weeks in a semi-dazed state, dealing with the tragic death of my nephew Jacob.  And at the risk of minimizing the quantum impact of such a loss (one does not simply go back to business as usual), what is coming up for me now, today, is an urgent need to “clean up the little messes” in my life.  Funny how when the challenge is so large, and we are almost unable to cope with its magnitude, life seems to give us a way to survive by showing us a lesson we very much need to pay attention to now. 

So this week, regardless of whether you’re sailing smoothly in calm waters or holding on for dear life in a major storm, I’m throwing out this life-line:  Clean up the little messes in your life. 

There is a certain purity, a sense of possibility when we begin to clean up and clear out the little messes.   

Examples include: 

• Cleaning off the piles of junk mail on your desk or counter top
• Balancing the check book
• Reaching out to friend or relative who you’ve been meaning to connect with
• Scheduling the health check-up or teeth-cleaning you need
• Finally making a decision you’ve been delaying
• Returning the overdue library book or an item (book, DVD, tool) you’ve borrowed from someone
• Cleaning out a closet or drawer
• Finishing any unfinished projects at work or at home
• Getting rid of what is outdated, not useful or beautiful or simply no longer reflects your taste or values
• Taking the good reusable stuff to a charity thrift store 

Cleaning out the little messes clears the space for new ideas, new relationships, new opportunities, even healing and restoration.  I’ve seen it happen so many times before.  So I’m on a mission this week: to make the list of little messes and start cleaning them up, stat!  In fact I already have.  No doubt there will be other things that come up as I continue the quest.  But I need to feel in control of something and my environment is a pretty good place to start.  I’m betting you’ll see at least one or two little messes that need to be cleaned up in your life as well.  Make this the week you take them on.

I’m reminded of the words of that familiar song: “I can see clearly now the rain is gone.  I can see all obstacles in my way.”  The rest of the refrain goes on to say, “It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day.”  That’s my hope.  Now, for that junk mail.

Enjoy the journey!