It’s a strange fact of life that once one careless person drops a burger wrapper, they multiply. It is as if no one contemplated tossing aside their trash in that spot until the first person did it. Then everyone else thought it must be okay to litter there also. You’ve seen stretches of the road like this or corners where trash was just hurled when rounding the turn as if it was a game. This kind of behavior spirals to more decline like uncut grass, broken lights and stolen street markers. The litter lowers the property value.
Sometimes, our own stuff acts like litter. It’s nice to get brownie points when taking off your shoes at the door as you enter, but if you just leave them there for days it would lose value. The sweater tossed on the back of the kitchen chair won’t really hurt anyone but it is not in its right place. Some days, folding a load of laundry can seem like climbing a mountain. You can play games with yourself on squishing down the rubbish to demonstrate that it does not need to be emptied just yet.
Annoying little tasks are the worst because they silently nag you every time you walk anywhere near them. They remind you of your personal thoughts on laziness and your inability to live up to your perfect Pinterest friends. And don’t listen to those who say they don’t judge; we all judge all day long and we start with ourselves. I don’t want my better self to just live in the future. The future doesn’t really exist because only now really exists for me to influence. I am not a time traveler so I have to start living up to my own potential.
Clearly, my better self would not litter, especially in my own home. So today is the day to pick up the sweater off the chair, look at it and remember why you like it and hang it up properly. Go to the sink and look for dishes. You like your own dishes, so make them a sink full of warm, sudsy water and clean them or place them in the dishwasher. Then, clean the sink. A clean sink does not naturally attract dirty dishes. Tackle a load of laundry. Open the dryer door and close it again quickly after pulling out one thing to hang or fold. Use care; these are your possessions. Put on some music and sing along while you invent your own folding methods. Stacking is only half the job, so dance the clothes to their proper places. Anything you can do while dancing lightens the moment.
Stop right there. Do no more. Hold back from continuing. Those shoes will still be at the door but getting used to removing litter takes time. Eventually, the steps become ingrained and things will somehow automatically be put away. Your intention to conquer your own habits with nifty organizational skills is an accomplishment. And it will definitely cut down on litter.
Look at the messy corners where litter has crept in and grown. Can you elevate that spot so that every time you pass it, you smile? How do you feel when you place your own beloved belongings away with style?
