A lot of people have a lot of pet peeves and most people find other people's pet peeves to be annoying. Is it really such a big deal if you don't have a straw in a public restaurant? Is it really all that serious if your neighbor doesn't take out the trash? Is the world coming to a crashing halt if suddenly there isn't enough dish soap? While most people would answer these questions with a solid "no, that is ridiculous," I would instead like to respond with, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Your pet peeves are vaild and I commend you for caring so much about them."

It is important that we see each other's pet peeves as a method to communicate if they are comfortable or not. People are more successful when they are in an environment where they feel safe. When I sit down at my desk to do my homework, I prefer my bed to be made. When I brush my teeth at the sink, I prefer the counter to be wiped clean of hair. When I leave my car, I collect all of the trash that was in it, instead of leaving it behind to stink up the whole vehicle. I care very much about my surroundings and them being in order.

Some people care about other forms of cleanliness. Once, when meeting with people who will be traveling in the future, I had a discussion about hygiene that interrupted my usual thoughts about being clean. During the conversation, one person mentioned that he does not like it when he can tell someone else has not showered within the day. Some one else stated that she absolutely could not stand bad breath. Listening to these people discuss hygiene, I began to Think many of the things people probably think about me when I ask them to wipe out the sink after they use it. "What an up-tight neat freak!" "This is ridiculous!" "What doesn't she mind her own business?"

I don't know how we end up with the cleanliness and hygiene pet peeves we have. I don't know how I became a person who notices the threat of germs on the rim of your cup at a restaurant or when someone's car is getting messy. I don't know how we become Type A and Type B or how we determine which person is right. However, I do know that there is a nessicary balance between being clean and being obnoxious. I have learned that my organized personally can be stressful for people who care less about the tidiness of their space. I know that we have to respect each other's differences and communicate openly with one another to figure out where healthy impoverments can be made as individuals and as two people sharing space. Always remember that the other person is human and if they need something different than what you need, that is okay.