Just Stuff It!

Meet the Stuffers!

Once again, I have questions and I ask dear readers for answers! Who are the Stuffers?

Every so often I encounter guests for whom the evidence that the departed occupants are all members of a certain family. Let’s just call them the Stuffers, shall we? Why? Because of the condition in which they leave the contents of the linen closet and kitchen cabinets.

When they arrive, the linen closet especially, is neat, to put it simply. All the towels, wash cloths and hand towels are folded the same way. They are all placed on the shelf in the same direction, with the same, uniform folded part facing outward, so that they can be easily accessed and pulled for use if needed. All the kitchen cabinets have been wiped clean of crumbs and all the utensils have been placed facing the same directions, handles to the front of the cabinet, sharp edges down, and working surfaces facing the back of the drawers. All cutlery is sorted and laid in the cutlery divider in an orderly manner, stacked. Sounds like Marie Kondo in Tidying UP! Or Spark Joy!

Now, what condition is the linen closet or kitchen in after two days, 5 days, 6 days, or ten days with the Stuffers occupying the unit? The bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, kitchen towels and beach towels have been pulled, used (possibly?) and perhaps washed, and then rather than folded as the remaining items are folded and placed on the shelves, the used items are…yes, you guessed it, stuffed back into the linen closet in whatever manner seems easiest. Folded haphazardly, no two folded alike. Placed on the shelves in no apparent order, two towels, one wash cloth, one hand towel, then a beach towel, whatever comes up. And sheets, well, I won’t even go there! Apparently folding a fitted sheet is just out of the question. Just stuff it into any open space on the shelf and shut the door, quick! Before it falls out! So when the housekeeper or homeowner comes along, and opens the closet door, everything either falls out, or looks a lot like it would LIKE to fall out, and in either case, leaves a huge question mark as to whether or not these items are clean…or NOT! And if they are not clean, they have to be washed again. What a waste of water and time and effort! On everyone’s part! Stuffer and housekeeper alike! This is no way to run a planet!

Kitchen drawers are in similar disarray! Kitchen towels and sink washcloths are rummaged through, I guess until the perfect one is located, and the rest are just, yes, stuffed back into the drawer. Unfolded, mis-folded, whatever. So when the draw is opened, if it can be opened, there is a huge question as to whether or not the towels inside are clean, or NOT! So everything must be washed and refolded. The utensils are just thrown into the drawer, no apparent order, some are dirty, and most are sharp edge UP and working edge facing forward or sideways or whatever way they were taken from the dishwasher or dish drainer.

So take note, please. The next time you open a linen closet door after a housekeeper or the mother of the family has been there and it is full with neatly folded and categorized linens, it did not happen by accident! It is purposeful! Do your part. If you cannot replicate the order, then don’t even try, just leave the items in a pile, dirty, on the floor near the washer. That is better than stuffing them into the linen closet where they just present a picture of disorder and perhaps will be washed again, unnecessarily! And when you encounter silverware and utensils that are clean, neat and orderly in drawers, it is purposeful. If you cannot replicate it, just leave the items in the sink or dishwasher, where the question of their having been washed is more easily answered. And kitchen linens, take what you need and don’t disturb the rest. No need to rummage, they are probably all about the same condition and level of cleanliness. Rummaging and leaving a disheveled mass of towels will only cause extra laundry.

Small things, perhaps, but in the scope of the universe, the effect of the Stuffer family must be minimized and only YOU can help to do it! Thanks for your support!

Dear Reader:

The first five posts all relate to A Place for the Eye to Rest in some way or another. I would love to hear from you how one or all of the posts have inspired your desire to think about things a little differently, to consider where the peace is in each experience, how the experiences relate to your life, or to one another. Also, I am interested in just how A Place for the Eye to Rest can be found in your life, or can address issues that you have with the rushing, sometimes chaotic, stressful world that you may be living in. Reply on Comments section below, or on the Comments section on Facebook.

Thanks for your support!

Karen