Coping, Friends & Family

Finding Love in the Strangest Places

In our never-ending quest to find ways to reduce my stress, thus hopefully reducing my headaches, we’ve decided to try a housekeeper.

We’ve had several housekeepers in the last few months. I have been uncomfortable every time. I hate knowing that I’m passing my dirty work on. I apologize repeatedly and explain my discomfort; sometimes I even tell them that I have an illness that’s exacerbated by overexertion.

Accordingly, I should have been embarrassed having J & D arrive on my doorstep. But no, I felt enveloped by love. Yep, you read that right; I felt love from the people I paid to clean my house. As soon as they walked in the door.

The “categories” someone would assign to these women, mother and daughter, are hippie and punk, respectively. Maybe because they wear their philosophies on their sleeves, I felt their caring. I think it’s more that they approach their work as a chance to make someone’s life, for whatever the client’s reasons are, a little easier.

With my pain levels and emotions in upheaval, J & D’s visit was an act of grace. Pure and simple.

A bank’s advertisement shows a woman, dressed in the exact stereotype of a hippie, saying that everyone should love one another. The commercial scoffs at this, telling you that at least you can get free checking.

Why is such love laughable? It can’t hurt to approach more people with a sense of caring. With my experience as an example, it seems that it could make living with illness a little easier.

3 thoughts on “Finding Love in the Strangest Places”

  1. My impression from your post was that these women saw their work as not a “job” but a “service” and felt a dignity about what they were doing; that they were there to help an individual (you!) and not just to pick up a few bucks.

    I bet they have a great business – with that attitude and exuding that compassion, they are really unique!

    I’m just sorry you are in Seattle or I’d ask for their phone number! : D

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    A service — that’s a great way to put it.

    Kerrie

  2. Kerrie, I have two ladies come every two weeks to clean my house. Like you, I was also uncomfortable and embarassed. But I literally couldn’t keep the house clean without them. I still do alot of work around the house, picking up clutter, wiping down counters, vacuuming up dog hair, etc. but it is truly a gift when they come and clean the house from top to bottom. I try to express my gratitude to them for helping me – they know I have chronic headache and am ill. I thank my husband also every time they come, for paying for their service. We chronically ill people need help!

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    It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking we can do it all on our own. Thanks for the reminder that this is something I’m doing for my health.

    Kerrie

  3. Lucky, lucky you. Sit back and relax. Enjoy your clean home. My husband did that for me when I was in and out of the hospital. I felt guilty at first, too. But then I learned to just love it. Hm. I wonder if we can get the service back.

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    Thanks for the encouragement!

    Kerrie

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