Summer cleaning

First, I want to say that spring cleaning is a dumb name for the concept.

CLEARLY, the best seasons for cleaning are summer and winter…during these long breaks from school when things have a heightened probability of getting boring. (I wonder what I will do when I get a year-round job? Join the masses of adults who live by spring cleaning?)

I guess cleaning allows me to get back in touch with some of my humanity. For most of the year I’m a terrible slob with unorganized desks, stuff on my floor, etc., It’s the sign of my ongoing productivity, I believe. At least, that sounds somewhat quote-worthy…That’s not to say I’m dirty, however. In fact, I guess I shouldn’t say what I’m doing now is summer cleaning at all. It’s more like summer straightening up. I guess, even though my mom doesn’t believe it, I have a ticking sense inside me that screeches whenever my room is too dirty that compels me to clean at least somewhat regularly. I just have a whole lot more tolerance for messiness.

However, when summer and winter come along, I find a new joy in order. And so my cathartic process of cleaning/neatening begins.

Most people have items they feel connected to…I guess they maintain these keepsakes to reminisce with their idealized pasts…I think I do that too. When cleaning, I find the most interesting items…I found a collection of a bunch of my *old* short stories…stories I wrote with some friends over ten years ago. I took the time to read through some of them. Wow! They were elaborate. To think that all these years ago, I voluntarily created outlines, character sheets, brainstorm pages, illustrations, everything. The actual stories were only remarkable in their poor writing, but still (it’s the thought that counts.) So, I read them.

And then I placed them in a white plastic bag along with the rest of my trash.

The most invigorating thing about cleaning is realizing that in the end, I don’t really need all of those material goods that I’ve collected over the years. I can minimize my life to essential things, and when I do, my room looks empty and beautiful.

I still have quite a way to go…