Month: August 2017

BRINGING THE BEST TO THE SURFACE has been brought to life with the recent move from Kathleen GA where we had made our home for 11 years. Both Greg and I have taken pride in our home and yards but it was shocking when the furniture pieces were removed and some dusty residue was visible. Yes, there was dust and little items which had escaped our hands and found refuge in a dark and quiet place. It was embarrassing but we had made arrangements for a final clean. Carpets were cleaned, dust all gone, walls, cabinets, and baseboards all freshened and with the house shining the doors were locked until the new owners take residence. I felt pride that we wanted the best to show without those shady reminders we are better on the surface apparently but made a promise to keep the hidden parts cleaner and shinier.  This brought me to the next phase for this topic…..our new home.

We had also arranged for the new home to receive a cleaning but had to rely on a stranger to clean and that was a mistake. However, we have to move past mistakes and make the most of life. When we viewed the home and as I always do, I looked at the “bones” of the home for potential. I had some reservations, which are now unfounded, about some colors on the walls and the layout. Without furniture, I could see the areas that needed TLC and it was pretty much visible on the surface. Now, for the unveiling of our move in adventure:

Missy, my daughter who was the number one trooper involved with the move pointed out the failures of the person who disappointed us with a pitiful job. We slowed down the unpacking and Missy went to work cleaning out drawers and cabinets as well as bathrooms. She replaced old shelf lining with fresh marble design contact paper and I saw the best coming to the surface, not only in the shelves and cabinets but in my daughter’s ability to take pride in any job she does. The love for cleanliness and organization had been passed down and she glowed while she scrubbed and swept along side of her Mom. Yes, things are best when viewed on the surface but she has learned and was practicing those values which are embedded deeply in her mind and body. The house began to shine both on the surface and in us from taking pride in what we do.

As I said in the beginning, we can make the surface appear all is well and pretty but how would we feel if the layers of our mind and soul were peeled away and the hidden places brought to the surface? Would we be happy and content for all to see? Or would we feel embarrassed as I did when the dust bunnies appeared from their dark, creepy places? I hope this is food for thought as we continue to structure our new home with intentions of moving the furniture more often, dusting in the dark corners, we will be conscious of moving our minds and souls to a clean and shiny environment.

Live Life; Love Life; and Live Life to the Fullest by bringing your best to the surface while dusting out the cobwebs of the soul.

(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with rights and privileges reserved. All third party material sourced to original location if known. Photos are not exclusively owned by Sipping Cups unless stated.

MOVING INTO A MOVING STATE OF MIND is what is on my mind after several weeks of packing, cleaning, and sorting. As I usually do when undertaking a task of any kind is how can I apply this experience to my life. In contemplating what effects the action of moving are created by this activity and it is enlightening. I felt it was worthy of sharing with my readers.

Moving creates activity and physical movement by the necessity to move items which may have been stored for a long time. 

• Closets, cabinets, and drawers are emptied and/or organized. During this task, many items can be eliminated, donated, or trashed. Items which have not been used in years are located. Sometimes this creates laughter or a sigh of a memorable occasion. The main rule of thumb: If you could do without it for many years, it makes sense to get rid of it unless you think it might be a good item for Antiques Roadshow.
• Dusting is necessary and even though you feel you keep a tidy, clean home….this activity will prove a humbling episode. I always heard that dust means souls have passed through….I must have had an army come through those upper shelves. It pays to keep a good sense of humor upon discovery.
• The thrill of finding that one item you felt lost is exhilarating and a treasure hunt ensues from this find. However, the thrill is diminished when nothing else that has ever been lost is not found. At the end of this frenzy, the physical exhaustion takes over.
• Soul searching takes place frequently during the cleaning, sorting, distributing, repacking, and trashing. With the removal of items not used or items we should have never had in the beginning, and the sense of pride when you turn loose of possessiveness of old things.
• The process begins to speed up as more things are discarded and it becomes easier to let go of those things we don’t need.

This list brings me to the life lesson learned from this Moving into a moving state of mind. I found it difficult when I started to clean my soul to let go of familiar habits or vices, whichever way you choose to think. At first, I wanted to hold on to those items or people. I would try to attach more meaning and/or feelings to those items which never served a good purpose and I struggled with the decisions of release. Maybe I would need this or that later, but even with the struggle I began to discard items, habits, and even people that were not positive influences on me. What I found, and I saw this in the moving stage; the more I discarded the freer I felt and the cleaner my surroundings were. Yes, some dusting had to be completed in my life as well as our home. Things begin to shine as the dust is removed; you have more room for the pretty items when the trash is removed. In other words, when we move into a moving state of mind and move in the good and move out the bad; we feel refreshed, clean, and ready to take on the world in a positive frame of mind.

(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced and/or titled with authors stated. Photos are not property of Sipping Cups of Inspiration unless stated.