Cleaning, cooking, and swimming are activities people see as normal. But to others, they would probably win in a cleaning contest. What’s that normal activity you can confidently boast as a superpower because you do it best and differently?
Oh cleaning! How I love you! How beautiful it feels to see everything sparkling clean. It’s always my area of interest when it comes to doing something I love so much. I dislike dirt or anywhere looking unclean as it irritates me sitting comfortably in such a place, unlike some others who don’t see anything wrong with that. How wouldn’t they, when they’ve loved uncleanliness?
My story didn’t start with loving to clean, but I was transformed to enjoy it, specifically by force. I didn’t learn how to clean with ease; it was always with fight every day. It was as if we were two wives living in the house and always shouting around the house, alerting the whole neighbourhood that something was going on for them to come and see.
Growing up, I’ve never loved cleaning. In fact, I’d prefer to sleep in dirt than take up the broom to sweep. The only way they get through me is food. They know how I love food so much that I don’t joke with it. “If you want to eat today, you must sweep the house and wash the dirty dishes,” they’d tell me! And I would grudgingly do it unwillingly. It was like a big punishment to me.
I must say I got so much freedom living with my parents because I could do whatever I liked. I know if I don’t do it, my siblings would. How I loved controlling them, exercising my authority as the big sister over them. I could wear a cloth for a week, all because I don’t want to wash clothes, and the sight of the weekend approaching terrified me.
I clean neatly when I am in such a happy mood, and that only happens once in a blue moon. Cleaning is a big thing, especially having to do the thorough cleaning once in two or three months because by that time, you would have to carry the bed, sofas, and mostly everything outside to get them cleaned up before taking them back inside — more like when you are just moving in for the first time.
But everything changed when I was taken to live with my aunt who was living in Ibadan before relocating. We would fight every day, not for anything but the fact that I find it a tussle to clean even my own room. It was always messy, so my aunt would almost run out when she entered. She would be met with a different odour, and she was always surprised that I could sit or sleep comfortably in such a state. What do you expect? Lol.
With that forced training, I learnt the hard way. But gradually, and with her never giving up, I started loving how to clean my room and made sure everywhere I am looks tidy and safe for people to come in. It wasn’t all about me anymore, but about people coming in, where they’d be safe to sit without feeling uncomfortable with the strange stench coming from either the piled-up dirty clothes or dirt lying around the house.
Today, if I were to be in a cleaning contest, I believe I would do better because out of 100, I could give myself a 70 for the effort I put into the work. I now love to clean with enthusiasm and joy. I find cleaning more like a beautiful thing that also speaks well of who I am. Cleaning is something I don’t mind doing for the whole day just to be safe and comfortable. At least giving some hours of the day is worth the good health you deserve.
Image Credit to Meta AI
