We typically consider annual check-ups a normal and, indeed, essential part of our lives: the once-a-year visit to the doctor for a physical, for example, or the once-a-year conversation with our accountant to review our tax position, and even the once-a-year visit to the vet to review the health of the family pet. So why not an annual check-up for your home?
Houses have many parts, both moving and otherwise, that need routine cleaning, maintenance and inspection. To keep all these parts running smoothly, they too need a once-a-year check-up and tune-up.
The three tenets of the green movement are to reduce waste, to re-use and to re-cycle. But fundamental to all of these goals is proper maintenance of your existing items so that you do not need to re-use or re-cycle them to begin with. What is truly green in the home, therefore - once you've replaced your old energy inefficient or functionally obsolete heating systems, kitchens and baths - is keeping in place the home's original equipment - such as its roof, siding, floors, decks, gutters, fences, plumbing and electrical systems - and operating them as originally designed.
Why not consider, therefore, investing a few hundred dollars in having a knowledgeable, responsive professional give your home an annual once-over? Why not, in other words, have that person review the home's vital signs, take a few samples, and then administer a few shots, write a few prescriptions, and generally deliver to you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are ahead of the game?
Typically, the service begins with a complete inspection of the home's mechanical and structural systems. You then review the results with the inspector, and prioritize any items that need further inspection, or require repair or maintenance. Some services go even further: overseeing the complete maintenance of your home, including coordinating any repairs or further inspections, while you are at work or busy shuttling the kids to and fro.
Home health check-up services may be administered by a home inspector or a remodeling contractor. While not all of these professionals will have a formalized program with follow-up appointments and coordination of additional service providers, all should provide you with a checklist of items needing attention.
Health check-ups for the home are becoming increasingly popular. Remember: being green isn't just about buying or using new products that are green, it is also about properly maintaining, and thus maximizing, the lifespan of the things you already own.
For example, when Lila started to work with me, she was convinced that it was her husband's lack of help around the house, his anger, and his unwillingness to communicate with her that was causing her unhappiness. Yet it soon because apparent to me that her unhappiness was being caused by giving herself and care-taking others to avoid conflict.
"Lila, you constantly give yourself up and do what others want you to do - not just with Seth, but with your children and with people at work. There must be a good reason that you do this, even though it is making you feel resentful and trapped. Why do you think you are doing this?"
"I just don't like to fight. I don't like conflict. I don't like arguing. I don't like for people to be upset with me.
"When people are angry or upset with you, what are you telling yourself that make this so hard for you?"
"I'm telling myself that I did something wrong or they wouldn't be upset."
"So you are taking responsibility for their feelings and behavior instead of your own. You are telling yourself that you are CAUSING their upset, rather than their upset coming from what they are telling themselves about your behavior. It sounds like you want to believe that you cause - and therefore control - their feelings and behavior, and you also want to believe that they are causing yours."
"If I don't do what they want and they get upset, aren't I causing their upset?"
"No. If you don't do what your husband wants and he gets upset, he might be telling himself something like, "Lila doesn't care about me." It is this thought that is upsetting him. But is this true? When you don't do what he wants, is it because you don't care about him?"
"No, not at all. Usually it is something that he can do for himself and I want to do something else with that time."
"So his upset is coming from what he is telling himself rather than from you having done something wrong. But he will continue to get angry and blame you as long as it works for him to get you to do what he wants. The way out of this dysfunctional system is for you to be willing to have him be angry with you. You might want to practice saying to yourself, 'I'm willing for others to be upset with me. I don't cause their upset. I haven't done anything wrong.' When you are willing for others to be upset with you and you know you are not the cause of their feelings, then you are free to take responsibility for your own feelings. You are free to be kind and loving to yourself and them, instead of giving yourself up and care-taking them."
As Lila became willing to have her husband - and others - be upset with her and willing to take responsibility for her own feelings rather than theirs, she found herself becoming happy. The more she took responsibility for her own feelings rather than for Seth's, the more loving she felt toward Seth.
I have found that taking responsibility for others' feelings rather than one's own is one of the key issues that cause relationships to fail. Learning how to take responsibility for your own feelings and wellbeing and not for others' feelings may heal your relationship!
Both Gary Belk & Margaret Paul, Ph.d. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gary Belk has sinced written about articles on various topics from Insurance for Business, Arizona Property and Fitness. About the author: Gary Belk has been designing and renovating residential property in California, Hawaii, Texas, Maryland, Central America and the Caribbean for over 20 years. He is also owner of Winans Construction in Oakland, California a design/build f. Gary Belk's top article generates over 1600 views. Bookmark Gary Belk to your Favourites.
Margaret Paul, Ph.d. has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Divorce and Infidelity and Cure Anxiety. Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and ?Healing Your Aloneness.? She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding? healing process. Learn Inner Bonding n. Margaret Paul, Ph.d.'s top article generates over 90500 views. Bookmark Margaret Paul, Ph.d. to your Favourites.