What connects counts

I realized this past weekend that the medium gray grout in my floor had really darkened after a decade of use, so I cleaned it – the  old-fashioned way. Years of regular mopping had kept the tiles clean but to really clean and refresh the grout, I got down on the floor and scrubbed each connection with a paste made from water and Bar Keepers Friend (one of the essentials in anyone’s cleaning arsenal, in my humble opinion), then I sponged the whole floor with a basic hot water and Lysol mix and ended up by drying it with a towel. Like I said, the old-fashioned way.

It got me thinking about how easy it is to do the surface work and think that’s enough. It’s not. Pay attention to what connects us. It’s important.

Relationships, especially close ones like spouses and family, take work. They don’t just take care of themselves. Particularly with those we know so well, there are times when we think we’re doing fine but we really are not because we’re letting that connective tissue darken and harden. Things may look fine on the surface, but how about those deep connections?

Keep the connections between you and your loved ones clean. If you’ve had a disagreement, acknowledge it. You may not be able to come to each other’s position. That’s okay. But don’t let it fester. Don’t assume that just because the motions are the same, that feelings aren’t changing. Acknowledging that there is a difference of opinion is fine but if you’ve had unkind words over it, that’s not fine.  The longer you  ignore the dirt, the harder it is to clean it up.

The assumptions, beliefs and connections that we share in our most important relationships (indeed in all relationships), are often hidden and, therefore, easy to neglect. Don’t do that. Keep your connections clean. They are foundational to the overall picture.

© www.megreilly360.com

7/21/2025