Greetings everyone!
Cleanliness is a habit, and unfortunately, not everyone easily embraces it. Some are comfortable in a dirty environment, while others are meticulous about cleanliness; they can't stay in a room with a single grain of sand.
For me, I wouldn't say I'm a total cleanliness person because I have two sides to it. I can cope to an extent in a not-so-clean environment as long as there are no bad odors. I can sleep comfortably in a room that's not well arranged, with clothes scattered all over the place, but there should be no bad smells. My body is sensitive to unpleasant odors; they easily make me uncomfortable and want to leave such places.
Last year, I and some church friends visited a very sick fellow to pray for him. The guy was suffering from a spiritual attack, as it was said, and he was taken to his mother's house for care. Because his mother is not a Christian believer, she was using traditional remedies obtained from herbalists and native doctors to treat him. When we got there, the house wasn't organized, and the floors, though tiled, were stained with dirt from cooking pots (all black). I didn't mind it much because I was used to such environments from my childhood, as we cooked with firewood, and those stains from pots used to be deep and stubborn.
Just a few minutes inside, a foul odor emerged, and I immediately covered my nose discreetly because I couldn't bear it. I thought maybe it was a one-time thing, but when another odor emerged, I couldn't tolerate it anymore. I went outside to stay and support the ongoing prayer with shouts of "amen."
My friends gave me a weird look and was a little bit queried at the end but I didn't feel it because it's my body and I should understand it better.
An unclean environment greatly affects my comfort and productivity, especially when it emits offensive odors. No matter how hard I try to cope, once there's an offensive odor, I can never give my best.
On the other hand, I'm among those who find it difficult to keep my house as neat as an 'official' office(those offices that have cleaners employed to clean on a regular basis).
Many times, when female friends visit my room, they start lamenting and rearranging things, especially my books. Yes, it's usually books that are out of place because I still work with books (writing), even though I am no longer in school. I always have assignments on my mind, most of which involve paperwork.
I've tried many times to change this habit, but it's not working. So, I do my best to tidy up as much as I can and leave the rest to the lady I will marry because, God knows, I must find someone who will complement me and from whom I can learn.
Isn't that how life is supposed to be lived? When you can't do it, get someone, learn and adapt to it and live moves on.
Thank you for reading.
This is my entry to Hiveghana prompt of the week