It greets you at the front door, sitting expectantly.
You walk on it, wiping off your feet. Your shoes, which have trudged all over, supporting your weary body is the first thing to greet the welcome mat. The mat collects so much.
Dust. Dirt. Grime. Animal fecal matter.
Worry. Stress. Fears. Hopes. Dreams.
Shaking your feet off on a welcome mat is one way to leave it all behind. When you enter inside the home, you’re free. The choice is yours. To bypass the mat, stepping over your opportunity. Or to leave it all on the outside, not wanting to contaminate the inner sanctum.
You may be greeted by a committee. Or one person. Or no one. Despite the welcome, despite their best efforts to make you at home, the feeling of being welcomed cannot be forced.
The choice is oftentimes made on the mat. Do you walk in with uncertainty, anticipating good things? Do you enter with a goal of criticism, hoping to nitpick at any possible fault; any point of complaint?
The mat says “welcome” because that’s the intention.
Do you accept?
