UNMADE BEDS

Sign up for your weekly personal message from Mario. Be inspired and uplifted!

When I was a little girl, my mother required my 2 brothers and me to make our beds before we left for school each day. I’ve followed that guidance my entire adult life and required my sons to do the same. There’s something about that simple gesture of making your bed before starting your day that demonstrates an appreciation for the rest provided the night before and gratefulness that you lived to see the day ahead of you.

Our bedroom, in particular, represents a place of security, even preparedness that we control the outcome in our lives, the ultimate reality in spite of unpredictable occurrences. It’s often the single room in which we escape to just be ourselves, with ourselves. For me, unmade beds represent a lack of personal attentiveness, and a lack of consideration for the simple blessings I receive daily. It further represents a dismissal of the gift I provide to my husband, which is to come home to the peace and tranquility of a clean, organized space devoid of chaos.

When both of my sons turned 19 respectively, they were invited to participate in a unique program that required them to reside in another state for 1 year minimally. To my surprise, and although this exact occurrence happened 5 years apart, they both left their bedrooms in utter and complete disorder – including unmade beds! To their surprise, my hubby purchased round trip tickets for them the very next weekend to return home to clean their rooms and make their beds. The lesson we were reiterating is that you can’t neglect the value of seemingly simple things in lieu of bigger opportunities. Additionally, you must complete simple tasks before you can tackle bigger ones. That’s the definition of growth. If there is no formula of navigation for managing each day, you will ultimately lose self-control and you’re at a higher risk for burn-out and experiencing feelings of guilt.

Guest room for my eldest son and his wife when they come to visit.

What’s the unmade bed in your life – the simple do-good-for-self task that you neglect in exchange for the high-end results you receive from your career or something else you’re passionate about? There must be a dominant, habitual practice that you engage in daily that represents and demonstrates your respect and appreciation for life. For me, it’s kneeling before a made bed...to pray.

MARIO'S MESSAGE