Living with People: The good and beautiful, the bad and ugly.

Hello Beautiful(s),

How are you all doing? Today I am sharing on a habit some of us have had one or more opportunities of exhibiting at some point in our lives. This post is as real as it can get. It by no means celebrates perfection but imperfections which make us humans and can be corrected for beautiful results. So if you think you are as human as I am, read on. Hehehehe.

Living with people can be one of two things. It can either be sweet and beautiful or exhausting and sour. I’ve had people live with me, I’ve lived with people and I’ve heard of people who lived with people. Hehehe. I have had sweet experiences and sour experiences. I’ve also heard of sweet experiences and sour experiences too.

Which ever role you attain in this matter, please be a good one. There exist responsibilities for both the host and the guest. There are also “common sense” obligations expected as well. Maturity is not in number but in character and behavior I must say. When I had my children, I stayed with a family because I needed help after baby was born but I ensured I helped in whatever way I could while I was there before and after babies arrived.

While it can be either sweet or sour to stay with or accommodate someone, each party must know the boundaries.

As a host:

• Respect your guest.
• Respect his or her privacy. If he or she would stay in a particular room, take whatever you need out of there to avoid always going in and out. (This is different if it’s a family member. Knock before entering or ask them to bring what you need for you)
• Don’t go snooping in his or her things. That’s so bad and ewww.
• Don’t try to make them do everything you do, how you do it. Leave them to make use of their “common sense.”
• Don’t force them to accept your beliefs. Live by example as a great host and if you must say something, say it in love.
• If you have children, make it a rule that they do not go into the guest room even if invited by the guest.
• The list goes on but I’ll stop here.

As a guest:

• Respect your host.
• Respect their privacy. Be limited to your room and the public spaces like the Living, Dining and Kitchen (if they are comfortable with you entering their kitchen)
• Don’t go drinking and eating everything you didn’t buy. Even if it’s your family member, courtesy demands that you ask before taking or you take “reasonably” and mention.
• If you are staying beyond a regular visit, and you have the means to, buy somethings (like bread, water, provisions and even food produce) once in a while to show you appreciate their hospitality even if they say, “you shouldn’t have.” It goes on to show that you are responsible. It’s not compulsory, it’s just common sense.
• Help around the house like cleaning and doing the dishes. Most importantly clean your room. Fold your clothes, clean your bathroom. It is not an hotel and there is no housekeeping.
• Don’t eat in your room or living room except in exceptional situations (That’s the purpose of the dining) Clean where you eat and wash your plates. If you are a woman and your host is comfortable with you cooking once in a while while she is out and busy, help. After all, you will eat from the food. Once again, it’s not compulsory, it’s just common sense.
• If there are children in the home, don’t always have them in your room. If they want to be around you, stay in the living room.
• When you are leaving after your stay, clean up behind you. You met a clean room and bathroom, keep it so.
• The list goes on but I’ll stop here.

We can all live beautifully and happily if we know our roles and do our part. While I can stay with the worst of host and try hard to maintain my sanity, I do not have all the grace some people have in hosting. But, when I do, I pat myself on the back and say “Well done, you did well.” Mind you, I can get very irritated easily if my privacy is compromised both as a host and a guest. Anyone will. I bless God because he has blessed me with guests who have become family and have been so helpful to me. So basically, I’ve had more sweet than sour experiences. *smiles*

Okay, thanks for reading from me again and next time we’ll talk about our healthy living lifestyle.