Remember…a layer of dust protects the Wood beneath it.
When I was growing up and a teenager visiting various homes of friends, I became very aware of others surroundings, the homes they lived in and sometimes the differences in their homes to mine.
Don’t get me wrong, I too had to keep my room tidy and was expected to do certain chores BUT it wasn’t a priority in our house, my Mum was far more interested in the collage I’d just made or the dance I’d just learnt. I can remember remarking to my Mum about the pristine barely “lived in” looking homes where the parents seemed to spend a huge amount of time dusting, cleaning and moaning at their kids for not tidying their rooms, that it seemed a shame that it was such a “thing” for some people.
Her reply was “life is too short to dust sweetheart.”
The truth of the matter is that our house was never dirty, slightly chaotic maybe, but it was welcoming, fun, homely, creative and everyone who walked through our front door did not say “gosh, it’s a bit dusty in here” they would accept the cup of tea or glass of wine always offered, they’d make space at the kitchen table where some creation was always in progress, and join in with whatever happened to be going on in our house at the time.
Life is precious, we can get caught up with day to day drudgery which often we impose on ourselves and forget that our children, our friends, ourselves, won’t look back and say “I remember Kate’s house, it was always immaculate” they are more likely to say, “I loved going to Kate’s home, it always felt so welcoming” and I know which I would rather be remembered for.
In the words of the wonderful Rose Milligan –
“Dust if you must ……..
but wouldn’t it be better to paint a picture or write a letter,
bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed,
ponder the difference between want and need?!
Dust if you must,
but there’s not much time . . . .
with beer to drink , rivers to swim and mountains to climb ,
music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must,
but the world’s out there with the sun in your eyes,
the wind in your hair,
a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around, again.
Dust if you must………………………..
but bear in mind, old age will come and it’s not kind. . .
And when you go – and go you must – you, yourself will make more dust!”
