I’t probably not every day you hear someone say they are thankful for dirt, but today I’m saying it outloud and encouraging you to do the same. This post is sponsored by Bona and we are both really excited to hear all your dirt. So often when you hear the dirt on someone it’s in a negative light or gossip, but today let’s chat about the dirt we are thankful for! You might just look at cleaning in a whole new way. PLUS – there is a chance for you to win a COOL prize, so read ’till the end!
Sometimes I think a new frame of mind is all we need when tackling a task we don’t exactly love. I came across this thought years ago when I heard some wise women talk about how they handle laundry in their home. They pray for each person as they fluff and fold and I’ve never looked at laundry the same again. This mind shift took a mundane task and upped it to a sweet opportunity to serve and love on my favorite people.
Well, I took this idea and applied it to mopping because if there’s one household chore I don’t love, it’s mopping. I can’t exactly say why, it’s always been a chore I dreaded. But two things changed that. The first is my Bona mop. I told you guys about it a while back when I got it (and shared a cute storage idea). I made a super easy place to store it, where it was handy at all times for quick clean ups. To say I enjoy mopping now seems like an exaggeration and gives a lot of credit to a mop, but it is 100% the truth. My Bona mop is soooo easy to use and leaves the floors squeaky clean. The specially formulated Tile & Laminate cleaner is water based, safe to use, dries fast and doesn’t leave a residue or film on my tile. I feel super accomplished in a matter of minutes. ????????????
Here is a quick pic of the correct way to use your Bona mop. Make sure the easy to attach squirt bottle of goodness is pointing forward and spraying the way for the large mop head to do the dirty work!
The second thing that changed was my attitude. Seeing muddy paw prints at my back door and walking through crunchy, sticky kitchen floors used to irk me. Then I decided to be thankful for the dirt. I ‘m so grateful for the three children that mess up our home daily. ????♀️???????? 
The days are quickly dwindling until the house falls silent of teenage angst and Cinnamon Toast Crunch crumbs. What will I do when there is no mess to clean? Recognizing the alternative makes me happy to clean spilled chocolate milk and smeared grape jelly off the floors. The dirt is easily fixed and the cause of it has my heart. 
Even the furry little whirlwinds that seem to go in and out our back door two million times a day make me happy. Without them I wouldn’t have a warm snuggle buddy when I’m sad and want to be alone.???? I wouldn’t have a furry work friend to lounge out on my desk and make me laugh at his laziness. ???? Who else would entertain us with his constant jumping and fetching if there were not dusty paw tracks meandering through the house? ????
I’ve told you all about the dirt I’m thankful for but now Bona and I want to hear about the dirt YOU are thankful for! Tell us about it for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card ???? and a bundle of Bona products to effectively remove the dust, dirt and grime you are learning to love! (please note this giveaway is for US residents only) There are a few ways you can enter so be sure to try them all. First, comment here on the blog, second comment on this Facebook post, third comment on this Instagram post and for a bunch of extra entries go visit my friends, hear about the dirt they are thankful for and follow their directions for more ways to enter! I can’t wait to hear your stories and hope that this opens your heart to love an unlovable task, Bona sincerely makes it SOOOOO much better and a grateful heart always wins!
Grateful for dirt | Real Life Mess | Embrace The Mess | Cleaning Messy Tiles
Hi Kim,
I found your post very moving. What a difference in your day when you look at even the most mundane tasks with a grateful and loving heart!
I have a 2 yo and 5 yo. Sometimes I tire of not only the crumbs, but the toys! They are everywhere! I even rolled over in bed last night onto a little plastic frog! ????
Thank you for sharing!
You are exactly right! I’m surprised you have realized that at such a young age. ???? When I start to get aggravated over something, I stop and think what if they were no longer here. I’m a homemaker and will never run out of a job.
Thank you for the reminder sweet friend … and the hint about a great mop! Been looking for one like this so glad to know! xo
p.s. love the new name and look of the blog
I’ve had to learn to listen to my own advice in order to gratefully complete household tasks. As a teacher, I had students who would ask, “Do we HAVE to do this?” And my answer was always a perky, “You GET to!” Then at home with my own children I would use “get to” over their “have to” when it came to every little thing from going to church to cleaning their rooms to stopping play for dinner. Over the years, the Holy Spirit has reminded me that I GET to clean and care for the provisions God has placed in our lives: clothes, dishes, floors. What a privilege to care for my family!
I too am thankful for dirt! Our kids are all gone now but we live in the most beautiful area of the country! We live off a dead end dirt road where everything gets dirty! We have amazing views of the Rockies right out our living and dining room windows! The kids may have moved on but we still have our beloved German Shepherd Ruger and our recently adopted cat Romeo. Ruger always wants to be by our sides. He is our protector. He’s not too good at wiping his paws though! Dirt means we’ve all been outside having fun or being productive. We grow a garden, we repurpose old and dirty in to fresh and wonderful! We go horseback riding for pure pleasure, we go camping and exploring new areas. Dirt means we still have the strength and health to keep going and doing what we love!
Love it Kim! I love that laundry idea of praying for your loved ones as you fold their clothes. I’m so going to do that…my son will certainly have the longest prayer of them all lol.
I love mopping, but hate dusting and laundry too. I mean if you write your name on my table in the dust I am assuming you are buying it right? BUT when time to do those chores, I stop and thank God for the home he provided me to clean, because if I did not have these chores it would mean I had no home to clean. Washing clothes means I have more than some who don’t have any.. When you start thinking of all the blessings God has given you and you feel the need to grumble stop and think “what if” I promise you will have a grateful spirit..
You have a beautiful home i wish i had a home like yours some of us aren’t so lucky like you
I just finished vacuuming and had to empty my Dyson twice! This is a weekly experience. Talk about dirt, dog fur and you name it. I was just thinking if it could only stay this way more than twenty minutes. I am thankful too, for the feet and paws that bring in all the surprising things!
OMG if I did not have my 4 legged f friends I would be so sad. Even the messes they make me think how much I love them.
Lovely post that puts everything in perspective. My daughters are grown and I am blessed with 8, soon to be 9 grandchildren all 7yrs and under. I cherish the time when we can all be together. I am most grateful for the dust and dirt that follows my husband inside after he has been working in the yard or garage. However, I am certain I do not express that appreciation as I should. Bona products would be a blessing.
it represents life and that we are all mobile and active
I’m thankful for the dirt that comes on the soles of friends and family visiting me .