Michael J. Beinhorn writes:

The concept of a work ethic has always figured strongly in the output of artists. It can be seen in every important piece of art down through the ages, from St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to The White Album. It is implausible that such remarkable things could have been created by people who didn’t have this work ethic, and yet, the concept of the work ethic in art (and in all fields) appears to be growing more and more obscure over time.

In this modern and sophisticated society, many layers, barriers and rules have been created to protect people from getting hurt. We are now protected from words, protected from thoughts, protected from violence, seemingly impervious to any type of injury. These protective barriers, however, have been transformed into barbed wire fences which hermetically seal everyone within their perimeters. These barriers have become less a shield and more a prison.

Karl Wolfe writes:

Do just one thing in your life all the way and you will never hold back again. Find everything in your life that needs cleaning and find the joy in restoring it to pristine condition. That action is how willing you are to love and nurture yourself, take care of yourself, or wait for mommy or daddy to do it for you!

Allison Volk writes:

I was brushing my teeth when I saw the brown grime around the drain in the sink. It was crusty. My eyes followed the curvature of the sink to the yellowish film that covered the inner bowl, which was touched with several long, graceful brown hairs that must have fallen while I brushed my hair sometime in the last week. The sink handles were similarly crusted and spotted with whitish drops of toothpaste and dried spit. Dried up remnants from cherry almond soap long gone sat in the soap dish, now empty. The state of the sink is a reflection of the state of my life.

First I put on rubber gloves and used a cloth to wipe the yellow grime out of the bowl. No movement, not even a budge. I sprinkled Comet on the film and scrubbed with more pressure. The pearly white ceramic shone through where I had scrubbed, so I scrubbed more vigorously. My arm got tired. I rested, then I kept going, all around the bowl of the sink. I picked up the hairs and put them in the trash can. I pulled the cloth tight over my index finger and scratched along the crusty drain to no avail. The toothbrush I had used that morning was a perfect tool, and as I brushed it over the crevice where drain meets ceramic, crusty red flecks tore loose from their lodging. Next I went around the faucet with the tooth brush, and the sink handles. Crusty flecks flaked off. I sprayed the handles with all-purpose spray and wiped the dried toothpaste off. The metal shined in the bathroom light, and the ceramic glowed. I wiped it one more time and stood back to admire the work. It looked like art. It was the heavens, shining through my bathroom. It felt like love.

Suddenly the bathtub was dirty, and so was the grate on the radiator, and the walls, and the toilet. Things became dirty that were clean just moments before. I scrubbed the film out of the bathtub. My arms and knees hurt. The toothbrush swept dirt out of the crevices between the tiles. I wiped the mold off the walls. I faced my enemy: the toilet. Dust was wiped from the lid, splatters were removed from various parts and the bowl was scrubbed in it’s own way. I sprayed the mirror and cleared smudges. I removed dirty towels and hung clean ones.

I stepped back and peered into the most pristine place on Earth. It’s my bathroom, but it’s not just my bathroom, it’s me. The ceramic glows, the metal parts shine, and the mirror reflects just like it’s supposed to. I wonder: what will open up now that I have restored this piece of life to its original integrity?

Robbie Kramer writes

How you do anything is how you do everything.  Just in case you didn’t get the metaphor from the beautifully written pieces above, I’ll do my best to play captain obvious.  Is your living space a total disaster?  Is it disorganized or scattered?  Is it dead and lifeless and void of character?  Is it inviting, full of life and interesting?  However it is, consider that it just may be a reflection of what is going inside of you.  And either way, if you want an abundance of beautiful women in your life, which way is ideal?

Cheers,

Robbie Kramer