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Dec. 22, 2004 (How to live with us and still love us) “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Chances are, you’ve encountered this menacing and misunderstood creature. Could be a lover, sibling, parent or friend. Occasionally considered a “kill-joy” by relatives and roommates alike. For some, our compulsion for cleanliness is to be classified a personality disorder, a public nuisance. Undeservedly, we really get a dirty rap! As such, I decided to put down my duster and pick up my pen to shed some light on this divisive subject and to share its many benefits. THE PHILOSOPHY- “A place for everything and everything in its place.” It’s no secret that one’s home is a reflection of self. And those who keep tidy quarters are by and large high functioning folks. Neat surroundings, (we believe), help us to juggle many tasks, maintain order, think strategically and even save money! Contrary to popular opinion, we are not control freaks. Nor do we have a problem “letting our hair down,” as long as it doesn’t get on the carpet! Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 2 Confessions of a Neat… THE PROFILE - Neat freaks can be women or men, (remember Felix of the Odd Couple?). - They typically come from backgrounds where cleanliness was as celebrated as good grades. - More often than not, they are extremely organized with good time management skills. - They are usually jugglers. - They tend to be prudent with money. THE PROBLEM- Admittedly, most of us “germ crusaders” don’t consider our behavior a problem. We consider it as idiosyncratic. Much like a person who loves to whistle, a hair twirler, or practical joker. For us neatness is synonymous with order and peace. While behaviorists theorize that it comes from a person’s background.: if your mom had Hazel-like tendencies chances are “you got it honest.” My reality check came one evening when a friend came to my home to hang out. Because I have a very light color carpet, with no hallway entrance, (and the weather was inclement) I asked her to take her shoes off at the door. You would have thought I violated one of the ten commandments! She proceeded to chew me out and give me the fine points of etiquette as she saw it. Which caused some reflective thinking on my part. Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 3 Confessions of a Neat Was I wrong? I posed the question to many people and the responses were as varied as their backgrounds. So, unfortunately the jury is still out on this one. IS IT IN THE STARS? Patti Barrett, author of TOO BUSY TOO CLEAN suggests that the answer is perhaps in the traits we possess under our astrological sign. Check out your sign below and see if it accurately portrays your personality and penchant for cleanliness. Aries - (March 21-April 19) – Aries is the sign of new beginnings. They are aggressive and full of creative energy. They can take on most projects in half the time of anyone else. Problem is, that they are also impatient and may not finish what they start. Taurus- (April 20-May 20) – Taurus is the sign of purposeful determination and power. They’re fond of the good things in life and may focus on material acquisitions. Which gives them much to clean…in their own way. Don’t argue with them. Simply clean around them if they like to collect things and not take care of them. Gemini- (May 21-June 21)- Those born under the sign of Gemini think and act swiftly Their reactions to things are prescribed by the mood of the moment, thus the dual nature of their personalities. They like variety and find housecleaning boring. Cancer- (June 22-July 22)- Of all the signs of the zodiac, Cancer is most strongly linked to domesticity and homemaking. Cleanliness is in their blood. Let them do it their way and you'll be rewarded. Leo- (July 23-August 22)- Leos are generous and enjoy being the center of attention. They dislike repetition, which is a problem with the tedious job of housecleaning. The house may not be as clean as you’d like it, but your relationship will stay intact. Virgo- (August 23-September 22)- Ah, Virgo the neat, clean sign. They are meticulous in their work, paying attention to detail and doing chores efficiently. They are the ones who make order out of chaos. Let them do the dishes and wash the floor…in fact, they’ll insist on it. Libra – ( September 23- October 22)- Libras don’t have an aversion to cleaning, but they’ll expect you to pitch in as well. Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 4 Confessions of a Neat… Scorpio- (October 23-November 21)- People born under this sign possess power, will and intense emotional desires. Sometimes their desire to do everything perfectly makes them unable to delegate. So they might overwork themselves. But most would consider tidying up as too mundane a task to tackle. Sagittarius – (November 22- December 21)- These folks love freedom and liberty. They typically don’t like domestic tasks and prefer to be independent. But a housekeeper is definitely not out of the question for them!. Capricorn- (December 22- January 19)- Capricorns are steady and surefooted. They are methodical and like to manage a household with precision. Allow them their neatness. You can pitch in, but chances are they can do it better. Aquarius- (January 20-February 18) – The Aquarian has an eccentric temperament and never relies on the environment for security, but rather the company of others. They are best at keeping you amused and watching you work! Pisces- (February 19-March 20)- Pisces desperately want to do the right thing but lack the willpower. They may want to wash the windows, but if something better comes up, they’ll quickly abandon the project and move to something else without a second thought. Many are artists, actors or dancers. ------------ About the author: Jennifer Brown Banks is an award-winning poet and feature writer. She is a contributing author to Simon and Schuster's Chocolate Series. Her book of poetry "A Paradox in Pink" is scheduled to be released in Spring 2005. Email: jenniferwriter@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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