Strangely Satisfying

When people find out I like to clean, they don't really get it. I suppose it's because they get an image in their head of me cleaning when I could be out at a friend's party or at a movie or show, but that's not usually the way it works. I generally like to keep things clean but when I really like to clean is when I want to spend a few hours alone with just the mess and music, or when I desperately need to de-stress and get back to some sort of equilibrium. 

The only thing that has a similar affect for me is baking. People don't really get that either, though, especially because it makes them think I'm secretly a domestic Susie Homemaker type. But there is just something about the process of both that I really love...

First there's the routine of it all. The same step-by-step process will make your dirty kitchen spotless every time and following a well-written recipe will give you a baked good you'll enjoy. Secondly, both require quite a bit of attention and patience, which helps center me when my mind is usually analyzing and over-thinking. And lastly, there is something incredibly satisfying about starting a task and knowing that in just a few hours you have a finished product you can really enjoy. With cleaning, you can literally see that all the effort was worth it when you go from a grimey surface to something you can eat off of. With baking, you do a lot of mixing and combining and meticulous measuring, then you get to stick it in the oven for a while and it comes out as something delicious. It's almost magical!

Ok, so maybe you still think I'm a little weird, but isn't there something slightly strange that you find satisfying?