Grieving Cleaning ||| Creative Nonfiction Prompt
If you come to my house and see me having a meal stay and join me but if you come and see me doing serious cleaning of the house you might want to come back another time because it might be bad timing.
I never knew the true meaning of the text above which I came across some months earlier until the death of my uncle in May last year. Not that I don't clean any other time but if the cleaning is too intense, chances are I'm having a bad day and I was doing it to clear my mind.
Dad had called around six pm and informed me of the passing of my uncle, his elder brother. Throughout that night I found it so hard to close my eyes. His thoughts kept on flooding my mind. My heart was heavy and I felt numbed. I wasn't prepared for it, nor was I expecting it to come.
Though he was sick, I thought that it would be just his usual sickness and that he would be alright after visiting the hospital. I never knew this time, it would be the last.
Actually, we just started getting real close as I wasn't always around our home town where he lived. But the role he played in my wedding ceremony six months back brought us closer, and it kept flashing back to me, with the speed of light.
In our family, the oldest uncle of the bride will be the one to present her to her groom's family during the wedding ceremony, not her father and since my late uncle was the eldest uncle in our family he was the one who heads my wedding.
Before the ceremony, he will call and we will speak for lots of minutes, helping me with the planning and wanting to know how far we have gone. During The wedding, he stood by my dad all through and made sure everything was perfect. If only I knew that will be the last time we will ever get so close to each other.
That night my heart was heavy, and my eyes were red but tears were not forthcoming. Hubby kept on asking if I was okay and I will say I'm fine dear, don't worry about me. But deep inside I can't express the rage I was feeling. Normally, a long walk will help clear my mind or music but as it was late already taking a walk was out of it and I wasn't feeling any music either.
I was heavily pregnant, seven months gone, this might have contributed to how I was feeling maybe. And my dad won't allow me to travel due to my condition and the distance from my state to home. So I was mad I won't be able to say my final goodbye to him.
The following morning was Saturday. I wasn't planning to do all the house thorough cleaning that day but as soon as I woke up and prayed, I headed straight to the kitchen and started declustering the whole place. Dusted the ceiling, swept and mopped the floor, and rearranged every single item in the kitchen.
By the time I was done the whole place was looking sparkling clean. I headed to the parlor, the room, and lastly, the toilet to do the same.
Afterward, I soak myself under the shower tap, just to let water runs through me for over thirty minutes.
After this exercise, I felt so much at ease with myself, and all the rage I felt the previous night was gone. Hubby was surprised as to where I got all the energy from, to do all the housework within a few hours. Well, never underestimate an angry mind.
I felt strong, relieved, and courageous to call my cousins and specify them as I know the pains I was feeling can never be compared to what they felt.
Ever since then, whenever I think of him I don't get mad anymore but hold on to the good memories we shared and the beautiful life he lived.
I can relate to how you felt and the need for the cleaning exercise you did. Whenever I tell my siblings that I am stressed and they see me cleaning, they are always like why?
Releasing some kind of feeling like anger, mental stress and others warrant me to do some cleaning. I get tired from it and after some time under the shower, I feel very released.
Sorry about the lose of your uncle, may his gentle soul continue to rest in peace.
Thank you very much @george-dee and amen to your prayer.
Honestly, I never knew cleaning can help that way until that day. I'm just glad I tried it.
I would have been surprised too especially with the pregnancy but it was something you needed to do.
Focus your energy on what you could control because we really can't control life and death.
I'm really sorry about your Uncle.
You can only make good on the memories you two shared❤️
Isn't it strange how we humans never get used to the death of the people around us when it is only death that is sure.
Thank you very much for the !luv @dianelson it is all good now, I'm holding on the memory we shared.
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There is an energetic thing about tidiness and cleanliness. There is a reason why they say that if you want to tidy up your life, you must tidy up your environment. I know many people who, when they feel stressed, release stress by cleaning and shaking. Thank you for sharing your experience in our community. Greetings
Hi @nancybriti1 thank you for reading me and your great input.
I agree with what you say about cleaning, ever since my uncle's case I have been using the method to relieve stress and it works perfectly each time.
Awnn. That feeling that comes with losing someone dear to you. Take heart, ehn.
I just discovered through your story that one can adopt cleaning as a therapy to ease stress. I hope to put it to work and expects that it works for me too.
Thank you very much @mrenglish
And yes cleaning exercises work like a charm for relieving stress. You can try it out and see.
Losing a loved one, especially a close family member, is heartbreaking. Forcing your self into the physical act of cleaning helped you resolve your negative energy. You did what you did to clear your head and it worked.
Yes it did work. Sometimes all our mind needs is some little distraction, focusing our energy on something else.
Thank you very much @theinkwell do have a beautiful week ahead.
cleaning sometimes can be therapeutic, I clean when I am bored, angry or lonely. How I get energized is amazing and when i finally get to see what i achieved I am always pleased with myself.
Funshee I am so sorry for what happened and I am happy you are a lot better now.
Thank you very much, sis, I learn how to accept what happened, these days I remember him for the good memories we shared.
You are most welcome😃
It is strange that different people respond to grief in different ways. To some, cleaning is therapeutic. I am sorry for your loss.
Thank you very much🙏🥰 and yes cleaning can be therapeutic when we are under stress or grieving.
It is sad not to say goodbye to a loved one and I think the cleaning helped you to release the anger you felt. A touching story.
Greetings @funshee
Hello, @popurri thank you for reading me.
And yes, not saying goodbye hurts but it's all good now.
Do have a great time at your end. !luv