The definition of “messy” is “generating or involving mess or untidiness.” It can also mean, “confused and difficult to deal with.” But I love messy, in people anyway. Messy people make me more comfortable.
If I hear a person described as “organized,” “efficient,” “really has their act together,” “never a stray hair out of place,” it makes me nervous. I might be some of those things sometimes, but I’ve never been all of those things all of the time. Those kinds of people would find me sadly lacking.
But if someone is described as “a little different,” “off the beaten path,” “doesn’t really have their act together,” my breathing relaxes and I smile. That’s my kind of person.
I like my friends a little messy. Not running from the law messy, or aliens stole my husband’s brain messy. But I locked my keys in my car messy, or I have four loads of laundry I need to fold messy. I feel more at home with those people, because I’ve been there. I probably am still there, truth be told. Although at this writing, all my clean laundry is folded. Well, except for a load of towels, but does that really count?
Don’t we all have a little mess in our lives? But we sweep it under the rug, so to speak, so we can present a tidy exterior. And we can all walk around pretending we have our lives together.
But what about the other people, the ones who can’t fit their messes under the rug? Or they don’t want to? Untidy lives cause uneasiness, as people feel awkward and turn their backs. If I’ve got my mess safely tucked away, why would I want to hang out with people who haven’t quite mastered that trick?
I love people with imperfect children, unbalanced lives, and any other less than ideal situation going on. Because I am all those things, and more. And I have empathy and patience and room in my life for perfectly imperfect friends. Let’s link arms and forge down the path of Life. We’ll hold each other up and laugh at the funny parts. And we’ll cry during the hard times. We’ll put away our brooms and leave our messes out in the open. Oh, and let’s have coffee and chocolate cake too!
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1989 and resides in Grand Cane, Louisiana. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com