It’s A Woman Thing: Just Make Your Bed!

I am one of those people who cannot leave in the morning without making my bed.  I hate getting into an unmade bed. I don’t remember if I’ve always been like that or is that one of those quirky things I adopted as an adult. Whatever the explanation, I do know that it gives me joy and a sense of order.  There is something calming and peaceful about coming home in the evening and seeing my bed made.  Sometimes in my crazy busy life there are days when I leave at dawn and don’t get home until it’s time to go to bed again.

Taking it a step further, I have also discovered that a sense of order gives me a peace of mind in other aspects of my life, from folding laundry to bagging my own groceries.  I confess that I need it.  I need the order, which gives me peace.

Find Your Calm

I recently read about a graduation speech that Naval Admiral William H. McRaven gave at the University of Texas commencement in 2014.  He said “If you make your bed in the morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.” He basically was saying that the one task could turn into many and that the little things in life do matter. He concluded the speech by saying, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”  I think he is right!  Doing something so small can have a major effect on your attitude and your thoughts for the rest of the day and may just be that one thing that carries you through.  I feel even better about making my bed!  If I could only get my kids to do the same!

I am also this way about other things, too.  In the morning when I walk out into the family room, I like to straighten the pillows and the throws on the back of the sectional.  Again, it’s that sense of order that calms me, and gives me some control in my crazy life!  Especially when I get home, the kids are starved and we are all frantic and happy to be home. I feel more relaxed when I can walk into the family room and notice the neat and order.  Sometimes that’s all it takes to create calm in your life is to stop and notice.  Have you ever walked into a room or someplace and notice a painting or wall hanging that is crooked?  I’m “that” person who is going to straighten it!  Again, a sense of calm and order is all I need.

I have also read that how you manage your life on the outside is a reflection of how you feel on the inside.  If you feel frantic and chaotic on the inside, then your surroundings will tend to be frantic and chaotic, too.  I don’t need or want frantic and chaotic!  I crave calm and peace and if all I need to do is make my bed then that is all I need to do!  And, as someone has said, “ Do only what you can do.”  I am committed to creating more peace in my life, I want to notice the small things, the things that give me joy, I want to find the calm in the mundane.  If the admiral is correct, then I will continue to make my bed and see what greatness can come from it tomorrow!

Peace.