It seems that for some, tidiness comes naturally, as if they were born with an instinct for what should go where. At their homes, there is nary a cup out of place and every cupboard and drawer is meticulously organized; their bookshelves are probably color-coded or alphabetized. And then there are the rest of us. Falling firmly in the second camp, that casual, easy tidiness has always seemed like the ultimate aspiration to me. And in no place do I feel that envy more than in the kitchen.
It's by no means something I'm proud of, but I'd be lying if I claimed to keep a perennially tidy kitchen. I can get it into a perfectly presentable state when needed, but the majority of the time, my kitchen leans towards the chaotic side. And even after a thorough tidy-up, it still doesn't seem to have that flawless quality I see in the homes of others. In fact, it's not until I'm confronted with a spotless, perfectly organized kitchen that I become fully aware of my own inferiority. And after one too many run-ins with countertop perfection, I'm ready to begin my ascent to tidiness.
