Tending to the Nest

As I mentioned in my last post, addiction has been on my mind. I've thought of the wars I waged with substance abuse from roughly ages 19-21. Sadly, of the folks I considered my "friends" at that time, I'm the only one who truly made it out. My thoughts recently, however, focused more on how I was able to prevail. 

I remember, initially, there was a period of time I sought to control all things. My life had gotten so out of control that I resorted to extreme measures to restore order. I became somewhat neurotic about my living space. Many things set me off: a dirty glass left in the sink, the bags of an overnight guest not placed in a spot out of my sight, the failure to wipe the sink and surrounding counter in the bathroom to guard against potential water spots, the failure to rub your feet together multiple times to ensure you didn't track any unnecessary debris into my bed, and last, but certainly not least, a wet bath-mat made me batty. I mean really, bath-mats weren't made to get wet right? One should always make sure they are bone-dry before stepping out of the shower. 

Needless to say, my issues had the collateral effects of disrupting the lives of the individuals around me. I've since apologized, and thankfully, been forgiven for my actions. 

One of the most important things I learned during my twenties was the necessity of moderation. Though I enjoy a clean household and maintain one to this day, I've learned to let some things go and no longer freak out over the occasional, uncontrollable, accident (enter animal vomit).

But lately, as in my early twenties, most of my efforts have been directed towards re-centering myself. I've tackled a lot in the last year --- graduating, moving, and starting a job to name a few. And, I've found myself gravitating to certain behaviors, in moderation of course, that allow me to feel more comfortable. One of these behaviors, believe it or not, has been to simply make my bed each day. Now you must understand, I was never one to leave the comforter rolled up or pillows askew. But a few years ago, I quit obsessing about whether the sheets had the rights creases or the throw pillows were perfectly aligned. 

As you are able to tell from the picture above, I wouldn't win any awards at West Point for the current condition of my bed. In fact, I'd probably pick up a demerit or two. But the slight modification of tending to my nest each morning in way that puts sometimes-sloppy creases in my sheets and the throw pillows in clumsy positions has made all the difference in the world. It's helped, among other things, to restore order in my life --- healthy, non-neurotic, and well-balanced order. For that, I'm thankful. And for that, I'll continue to take the two minutes each morning required to make a bed.