I’ve already outlined the many reasons and ways to use gratitude, blessing, and appreciation to make cleaning easier, so I’m not going to go through that again here. However, I would like to bind ho’oponopono to this method.

Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of blessing and gratitude. It includes more of what we are going to use here, and you can search it further if you want. In fact, I would encourage it. But for our purposes here, we will use the simplest form, which is the following:

Thanks.

I love you.

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

When you’re not really in the mood to make long statements of appreciation or gratitude, this works very well. It’s easy, fast, and it still gets you out of that place where you’re chatting to yourself in a constant, unpleasant mental monologue.

Let’s say you’re ready to go clean the bathroom, but you really don’t feel like it. I mean, who likes to clean the bathroom? If you do, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know …

Seriously though, most of us don’t enjoy this prospect. So you’re sitting there and you’re thinking, “Ugh, not in the bathroom again!”

Let’s apply ho’oponopono to this situation. Focus on the bathroom and think about it: “Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Why however? Why would you thank the bathroom? Well, what if you didn’t have one? Then you would have to go out into the trees. Even in winter. And you’d probably have to dig a hole so you don’t stink up the neighborhood.

Not to mention the other comforts of a shower or bathtub, a sink, a mirror … there are many things to be thankful for in the bathroom.

Why would you love the bathroom? Well, again, maybe there is something to love about something that keeps you from having to go outside to do your business. And something to love about the place that shows you all your beauties. Something that you love about the place where you brush your teeth and prevents anyone from spying on you while you eliminate.

What about being sorry? Well, if you are unwilling to take care of and love your bathroom (or any part of your home or life), then you are taking it for granted. Everything in your life is a gift from someone (what about God?) Or something that you have earned. And everyone in your life is a child of the Universe just as much as you are. So remember not to take it for granted.

Please forgive me for taking you for granted. For being resentful for taking care of you as well as you take care of me. For not appreciating and blessing you as you deserve.

Thanks for reading this.

I love you, as a companion of the Universe.

I’m sorry I didn’t write this much earlier.

Please forgive me that it took me so long to even think about writing it.

May you be blessed in everything you do, including cleaning your house, dear reader.