Keeping on top of the small things....maintenance...everywhere

          No matter where you go, or how you choose to live, there is some housekeeping/maintenance to be done. Even if it is of only your own clothes, belongings or body. Because even if you were staying in the best hotel, there are things only you can do. O.K. If you are mega rich, or into self indulgence in a big way, you may have someone to cut and polish your nails, wash your hair, even help you choose your clothes and dress you. As well as which, we all enjoy a little self indulgence, such as going to a spa, having a massage, enjoying some reflexology, or almost any other luxurious treatments. However, no one can excercise for you, as it takes personal effort to keep fit, to keep mobile, or even to brush your own teeth. If women, or more and more today, men too, most of us do our own beauty routines, of cleansing, moisturising, or make up and all the rest. Many women do much more, it depends what you decide you need to be your best. Whether that be to have every little bit of you perfect to look at, or to be super fit with as many gruelling excercises as you can fit into your day. Perhaps even educate yourself with general knowledge and awareness of life, and/or educational qualifications. Many of us look to our spiritual well being as well. We may meditate, pray, give thanks or worship in a dozen ways. In fact housekeeping/maintenance is the upkeep of any area of our life, in order to maintain certain standards. To keep you, and your living environment pleasant.

        The same is true of of where we live, whether that be a house, a palace or even just a room. We must sweep, wash, polish whatever needs it to maintain it as a pleasant place to live. For me, what I really must have is good linen, nice clean, fresh towels and sheets. The newer, more attractive colours the better as far as I'm concerned. Ahh the pleasure of slipping into a freshly made bed, or drying on a clean, fluffy towel. In fact, the whole place must look attractive, and smell nice too. I like beautiful things around me. It doesn't mean they must be expensive. I can get as much pleasure from a few beautiful shells, pine cones or leaves, as an expensive ornament or piece of furniture. It's a daily requirement isn't it, maintainance. To pick up and put away our clothes, or things we have used. To clean the kitchen and equipment after meals, empty any rubbish, even put out the bins on the required day so they are taken away. If you are lucky enough to live in a place where that happens.

              In addition. There is the wear and tear time and use brings to our belongings. Whether it is a stitch or two to mend a tear in fabric, or a nail or screw to repair broken wood. If you have carpets, or polished floors, they need cleaning or polishing at regular intervals. Hinges need to be oiled, walls repainted, yards kept tidy and clean. Flowers planted, watered, dead headed, or trees and grass trimmed, all on a regular basis. If not then things soon become unkempt, or overgrown. What was pleasant and beautiful, becomes an eyesore. Everything you use needs restocking, food, cleaning supplies, clothes and household goods. Some often, some not so often. Eventually things need to be replaced altogether, as there comes a time when they are just too old to last, or to look good anymore. We learn to be careful with our things so as not to damage, or break them. We need to take care of our stuff.

           The same goes for finances, money has to last, to do all you need it to do. You 'look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'. Well, that's self explanatory isn't it. You can't just spend without thought, bills have to be paid, or you end up with no power, or even no home. What's that other saying....'a stitch in time, save nine'. So true, for the longer you ignore a small problem, the bigger it grows. Whether financial, or practical. It just doesn't stay the same, in fact, nothing stays the same. If you think about it, that holds true of individuals, their belongings, a town, a country, even the world....and beyond.

           Maintainance of anywhere and everywhere, requires observation, caring about it, then, a willingness to deal with all aspects of the problems encountered. Only in this way, can we have any hope of maintaining what's good in the world. Or on a much simpler level, what's good in our lives.

The same goes for town planning, government spending, world wars or anything else which may...and will ultimately effect us.

            All of this article came about because of me noticing general maintainance going on here, in Brasil. Yes, different to what I am used to seeing, but also strangely similar. The rubbish must be collected, the roads swept, holes mended ( although with the amount of heat and rain here, it's obvious they can't keep up with that!) houses painted, police evident on he streets, all for obvious reasons. On a smaller scale, shops restocked, set out, packed back, bread and other foodstuffs cooked, table set, tables cleared, furniture put out, taken in again.......I could go on and on. You get the picture. So many things have to be done on a daily basis, or a weekly basis or whatever.

            On a personal level, we take care of what we can, we must be responsible people. We care for ourselves and our loved ones, we care for the town by not throwing litter, by driving carefully, by being considerate to others. We are responsible for not hurting others, by respecting their space, their belongings. We do not lie or steal, we do not cheat or destroy, just because we can. We try to ensure the best politicians become elected to care for us, to speak for us, a minefield I know, but we must try. We care about our own family, our own house, our own town, our own country. But we must care about the world, for pollution effects us all, wars can effect us all.

            But first, it begins with your own small corner. Your body, your health, your spirit.....what you say, and what you think and what you do. Your small ripple in the universe can spread and spead wide. Just ensure that it's good ripples, positive ripples. Or, like this beautiful place, or all places like Brasil with its edge of poverty and third world effects can and will go the wrong way. We like the beauty, we like the natural resources, we like the friendly people here. Whereever we are, however we choose to live, enjoy the beauty around you and spread more. Improve yourself, and your surroundings, be nice to those near you, help who you can.........keep up the life maintainance........spread the love.

                                     ENJOY THE BEAUTY AROUND YOU.

             Just remember....do what You can to maintain and improve your little corner.