Cleaning Out Your Refrigerator: A Lesson in Responsibility

It was about time to tackle the mess in my refrigerator. I had delayed this task for far too long, and despite searching for someone to handle it for me, I realized that I needed to take matters into my own hands. I set aside thirty minutes—time I knew I could have spent elsewhere, but it was necessary.

As I reluctantly opened the fridge door, I hesitated, contemplating whether to grab rubber gloves and a mask from the linen closet. However, with a tight schedule, I knew another delay could easily lead me to abandon the clean-up altogether.

I decided to approach the task one shelf at a time, rearranging the food items to remove the glass shelves and empty the drawers. While they soaked in soapy water, I scrubbed the rails, frames, and interior walls. It was a nasty job, but to my surprise, I found it somewhat therapeutic.

As I shifted through containers, bottles, and jars, I rediscovered many of my earlier purchases. What shocked me was how some items had overstayed their welcome and needed to be thrown out immediately. Why had I allowed these expired products to linger when they should have been discarded weeks ago? It was time to make some decisions.

Should I risk opening lids or peeling back seals just to catch a whiff that might damage my lungs? I decided it wasn’t worth the risk—anything that looked questionable went straight into the trash.

With each item I discarded, I felt my mind lighten. Replacing the clean shelves and drawers was uplifting, as I had newfound space to rearrange things. I could see clearly what was still good, what was worth keeping, and what could last a bit longer—all because I chose to do what needed to be done when it needed doing.

Was it the persistent guilt in my mind that drew me toward the refrigerator like a magnet? Perhaps that nagging feeling had finally taken precedence and could no longer be ignored. I may never know. However, once the task was done, I surveyed the clean, fresh inventory of healthy food and took a deep breath. Knowing I had recognizable, edible items without needing to conduct a sniff test felt incredibly satisfying.

Next week, I might just take on the pantry. Who knows what’s hiding in the dark corners of that space… and I'm certain it won't clean itself.

In this motivational video, Jordan Peterson emphasizes the importance of facing your problems rather than avoiding them. He discusses how unresolved issues can resurface and affect your life negatively.