I can't stand a dirty environment, not as if I can make my space a hundred percent neat, but neatness and orderliness is something I love so much. I once had a friend who came to stay with me for the exams sometimes ago, his way of living was why I couldn't agree for him to stay the next time he asked to come over, he would go play ball, off his boots in the room, the sweat soaked clothes, he would just drop it all over and be unbothered, imagine entering such a room where you also find leftover rotting food on the table and everything scattered with a this foul smell. into your nose before you even step inside. Does that sound like a place you’d willingly live in? I doubt it.
Feel free to call it whatever....obsession, pickiness, or just being extra, but I draw the line at dirty environments, even my parents complain about it, I wash, sweep, mop at every slightest dirt I see, I just don't feel comfortable with dirty environments. There was a time I even thought I had OCD because of how uncomfortable I get when things are messy. But I realized it’s not a disorder, I just like my space neat and clean. It’s almost like my brain refuses to function well when the environment is messy. I don't know why, maybe its cause like we always say...cleanliness is next to godliness.
I’ve seen all kinds of living conditions. I’ve visited places where hygiene is practically non-existent, you see dust on every surface, you see flies having a nice time on leftover food, you see sinks filled with unwashed plates, bakets filled with dirty clothes that looks like they’ve been there since last year. I once confronted a friend and she said she's broke, thats why she can't afford a better place, when I won't let her rest and told her she can try in making at least her room/space a better and neat place, but she said she's broke and can't spend a dime on a rented apartment. Is it really her finance or she's just lazy or lack of self-respect. A clean environment doesn’t need to drain one of money, its just some little touches with consistent effort.
The funny thing is, some people can actually adapt to dirty environments and make excuses for it. There’s also this thing about dirty environments that just drains you mentally. You might not notice it at first, but there’s this heaviness that comes with filth. Your spirit gets buried under, you feel unmotivated, cause I don't believe there's anything motivating about waking up to chaos, dirt, disorder and filth every morning. You won't be able to think and even your dreams will feel suffocated when you’re surrounded by filth.
I don't joke with my space, not at all, I don't clean and arrange everywhere because am expecting a guest or anything, I just love seeing everything neat and orderly, you cannot even visit me unannounced and meet everywhere scattered and dirty. Have you ever been invited over to someone’s place only to walk in and immediately regret your decision, you just stand there, stunned, wondering how on earth they’re comfortable living like that. And you can’t help but judge them, even if you don’t mean to. It’s human nature. Cleanliness says a lot about one, about ones character, and if you can't keep your space neat, how do you manage other aspect of your life, also do you go out looking all tidy, smelling good, but your space is the other way round, it means you know how good and important neatness is.
Consistency is key, even when you don't have the energy to, people would know there must be a reason, since its unlike you. You can’t just clean once in a blue moon and expect it to stay that way. It’s about forming habits that makes and keeps your space welcoming.
For me, I can’t manage to stay in a dirty environment. It’s not about being too posh or too sensitive, I just value myself enough to create a space where I feel comfortable. There’s something refreshing about walking into a room that smells good and looks tidy.
Maybe some people can adapt to dirt and pretend it's nothing, maybe they’re just used to it, or they’ve convinced themselves it’s no big deal. Well, that's them, I respect myself too much to live that way. If that makes you tag me being too picky or overly conscious, then, so be it. I’d rather be tagged as that(too neat) than settle for an environment that drains and kills my vibe.