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Is it possible to affix the notion of culture onto the fictitious character, Cinderella? As we know, culture can be defined as a long-term behavior migrating from one generation to another. Culture serves as a powerful force to sustain values and beliefs, and community involvement.
What happens when you see Cinderella sweeping up the kitchen? Isn’t she a busy worker-bee and unfortunately, an abused housecleaner? Whenever I come across any story or movie portraying Cinderella, I shed a hug onto her. Throughout my worldly travels, I’ve witnessed many Cinderellas sweeping the streets, the hallways and kitchens. It could be permissible to construe that the very notion of Cinderella carries a sub-culture for housecleaning.
Even on TV, I remember the short skits on the I Love Lucy Show where Lucy wore her white head ban, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed the mop. The broom serves as an extended arm: a true sweeper. It was kind of an acknowledgement about the culture of housecleaning. And with that, I make my case for my wife and her daughter. They are a living testimony that the housecleaning culture remains vibrant.
It all started when traveling throughout Russia performing seminars. As we were about to leave our hotel rooms, I noticed my wife cleaning the bathrooms, making the beds and cleaning the dresser tops. With a bit of curiosity, I asked: “What on earth are you doing that for? The house maids do that!” Ignorant of the hotel practices, her responses revealed that it’s not polite to leave a room dirty for someone else to clean. “What?” I clamored.
She was quite defiant that I imposed a different value upon her. After 20 years, I’ve come to recognize that her daughter and she were once embodiments of Cinderella. I never saw two people ensouled in housecleaning.
But I’ve come to reason, it’s not the tasks that need attention, it’s the reward you get for strict focus. Cleaning is good work, with regard to learning self-mastery. I try to evaluate the many scenarios she puts on before me. It’s like a high-speed movie chase. With guilt I sit in front of the TV and painfully watch the wife bounce from one task to another…relentlessly. I got to get up and do something. Our house is always clean and that’s a good feeling. While cooking dinner, she washes the dishes and pots. So, after each meal is cooked, the kitchen is clean.
We are in the process of selling our beautiful 10 room home. There’s a lot to do and her focus is extraordinary. Things get done and done well. Yes, her sleeves are rolled up and she’s got some cleaning object in her hands.
Many smart phones have a Health app that counts how many steps you took in a day. With excitement, she showed me the step calculator which read: 14,100 steps or 5.9 miles. No, this is not a one-day high, it’s her average. But the real shocker is that she never left the house.
It’s a bit entertaining to see mother and daughter clean consistently and effortlessly. It’s not a chore to them. They are focused on getting a task done. They’ve earned their Cinderella Ph.D.
How far back in time or civilization did this culture take hold? In the cave or maybe in the palace. When I see artifacts from the ancient Sumerian civilization, I sense that one of the oldest cultures passed on over eight-thousand years happens to be housecleaning.
Copyright© 2019 Robert V Gerard
Featured Image: Wiki media Commons, https://www.panoramio.com/photo/100031327, agracier
—Dr. Robert V. Gerard
Mr. Gerard brings 50+ years of experience in Senior Management, Organizational Psychology alongside many entrepreneurial achievements. Previously, Dr. Gerard was the publisher of Oughten House Publications and currently the CEO of Oughten House Foundation, Inc. He has authored twelve books and an international best seller titled: Change Your DNA, Change Your Life. He keeps a creative mind set, a super positive attitude and enjoys presenting information to enlighten individual pursuits on personal, social and spiritual sectors. He has written close to one-hundred articles that carry inspirational overtones and challenges to the heart. Dr. Gerard’s educational and professional qualifications include AAS (Associate Degree) in Civil Engineering Technology; B.S. in Social Psychology; M.S. in Human Resources Management; and a, Doctorate in Metaphysical Philosophy and Spiritual Psychology. Robert lives with his wife, Zeljka Roksandic, recognized as a Clairvoyant Healer worldwide. Together, they continue their healing and writing practices serving the premise that a unified and loving heart generates a unified humanity.
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