Ben came to us to help with cleaning through 2023. Prior to this he’d had a period of significant difficulty. That’s an extreme understatement. At the Woodland Motor Lodge Ben found healing. Throwing himself full into the necessary work gives purpose, accomplishment, and a new identity.
Unprompted by us, soon after arriving Ben began composing long text messages updating Diane on what he’d been up to. We find these notes so passionate and well written and compelling that we’re sharing them here. Ben gave us permission, but he didn’t even know we were planning anything like this till he’d written dozens of these messages.
- June 4
You guys have an awesome time in Traverse City. And no worries you can rest assured we got everything covered here easy peazy. I mean other than minor unforeseen events like Yellowstone’s super volcano deciding to suddenly erupt or some other extinction level event like a super comet or asteroid suddenly hitting earth , there’s nothing to worry about .Safe trip guys
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- June 3
I love planting these flowers. look how beautiful they’re turning out . The flowers know they’re going into a badass new home . And they’re all talking to each other getting to know one another . Haha they’re buzzing singing
Flowers are planted and I’m doing my passes back and forth with the water giving them time to soak it up . Look how much color already they are showing . The water makes them happy. I can tell they’re like ” Me me over here me i want some , and the others are like yeah , mee too quick over here” haha
FYI- Our new guests In rm 28 with the red pickup truck and canoe just complimented on the flowers . He walked up and said he thought they looked beautiful . Then said he just planted something called Natives and said they just bloomed.
You’re very welcome ! Flowering or gardening is #1 favorite thing to do here. It’s super healing
- June 1
Rm 26 is also complete. I walked In to do the bathroom and vacuum rm 26 and found Eric finished it for me . That was awesome of him and that was a great feeling of surprise when I walked in . He vacuumed, toilet band, wiped it all down fresh and clean . I did t ask for it or expect so it was a much appreciated surprise. The real take away here isn’t that he saved me a bit of work . It’s that he cares. Doesn’t matter how big or small a favor is . it’s the simple fact that someone cares that sits with me and leaves a lasting impression . Eric totally made my day.
All rooms complete. I mopped rm 16 it was dusty and had circular smudges on the floor. it’s crispy clean hospital corners so tight the guest will become exhausted after spending a few seconds trying to get under the covers ,Hope they have a great night sleep. rm 12 vacuumed and everything clean and sharp. Rm 25 was victorious in the war on dog hair and looks like it’s ready to be sealed off and preserved to serve as a museum quality show room exhibit and shining example of mankind’s greatest achievement. Hmm , ok I might have been stretching it a bit there but you get the idea haha. Everything is good to go(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 31
I’d like to pick up one of those mini lint rollers sometime this week . A quick swipe over even clean blankets i think will make a difference and only takes a few seconds just to get that last bit of dust and hair off things. it will increase wow factor of rooms and only cost 5 bucks and 60 seconds of one’s time. worth the investment I think
Yeah, the dog hair is really bothering me now. Now that I’ve seen it, all of it stands out . From now on new process for dog and pets guests . I’m going to dust and vacuume and wipe everything down FIRST before I redress the room this way the hair and dander will already be removed and won’t get on the freshly made beds and cleaned surfaces.
See the hairs ? to me its just as “loud” as a stain . know what I mean ? like now I walk in and I immediately zoom in on the hair it just pops out to me . If it’s popping out to me then there’s a chance it will pop out to a guest .
and thank you for the vote of confidence
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 27
I am up and ready to go! I Goal is to get to the rooms before Adam can. I’m the newbie here and I understand that . I want to be able to do my part and help *without getting in his way. I know me getting up earlier won’t actually lessen his work load bc he will find other stuff to do and continue to move at a blistering pace.
first thing I noticed is he already has the flower pots out mixed and placed in front of rooms . the individual flower pots in front of each room next to the chairs really fills in and makes the walk ways POP. Like placing fresh new pop tart, green tea and cereal boxes on a naked shelf . Brings it to life
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 26
You’re very welcome . It’s not hard work when you’re doing something you love for and with people you love .
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 23
Note -Something i thought worth sharing . I can feel myself becoming more aware and present . And I like the man I’m beginning to see emerge from under a blanket of ugly . Last night I cleaned my room, did my laundry and I noticed this morning that I had cleaned and arranged my cleaning kit and carry tray. The cleaning kit thing might appear to be insignificant on the surface but it’s actually a big deal for me and a sign of healing . You know at first I didn’t like cleaning toilets. I cleaned them but I didn’t enjoy it . I noticed that now I do. I love using that Clorox spray and leaving the toilet with a nice dry shine plus the smell of the spray is great and imo adds to the wow factor of the room.
I want our guests to feel that wow factor when they sit on the toilet with the knowing it’s spotless squeaky clean and sanitary. For me – The cleaner and crisper and tighter I make the beds , the tighter and cleaner and crisper I feel as a person. pillow and toilet paper points are like the icing on the cake . I also feel a need to go clothes shopping and get a hair cut
I have begun to become aware of my appearance and I want to clean up
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 21
Just an FYI. the guests in 25 are raving to each other about how beautiful your hotel is . She said ” it’s really nice here “. both women smiling about it .
It’s exciting for me when Adam checks rooms behind me bc his challenge is to find something I missed and my challenge is not to miss anything and Adam doesn’t miss Anything . He checks all the suspect spots , runs his hands along all the counter tops and dressers looking for dust. His favorite spot i think is behind the bathroom doors …1 spec of dust he’ll see it and know it wasn’t swept .
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 20
Human Being to Human being , I’m sitting here looking at the back building , I can see the reflections of the trees in the windows . Everything looks so sharp and so clean . It feels really good to put work into making something beautiful and then be able to take a step back and look at it , and hold that moment , to be able to say I hey I touched something and I didn’t fuck it up . Although I know I struggle with some things , i can feel myself making progress in other areas and that progress gives me a bit of confidence that I’m on the right track and tipping the balance of scales in favor of all that’s good. I don’t say it out loud but all the little words of encouragement you Rob Winnie Adam and Eric give me really go along way with me . They add up and reinforce me keeping a positive mindset . I’m just grateful for everything .
Ooh Weeeee lots of rooms tomorrow . I’m excited about it . The more rooms , the better and no worries I have something even better than Wheaties, I have a legit 3 pound 13 0z bag of Dino Bites . Dino Bites are like the Crack cocaine of cereal minus the Crack cocaine add vitamins. Not that I’ve ever tried Crack or believe it offers any nutritional value lol. Anyway permission to call it a day ? Clock out around 4:30
See, that’s that WOW factor I was talking about . The hotel next door might have a bigger slightly brighter sign but they don’t have that Woodland motor lodge Wow factor . haha
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 19
You guys window cleaning fluid is no joke , it’s potent. I love how after I spray a little the glass gets foggy but then after wiping it and rubbing it all the sudden the glass gets clearer and clearer to the point the glass makes a squeaky sound . There’s just something so satisfying to me about that sound . It’s the sound of squeaky clean haha. Also when I go around the white widow frames and watch the layer of dust transfer over to my hand towel leaving that bright layer of clean underneath . I like to imagine the 2 tall blonde twin dudes from the antiques road show . You know the ones that always put on gloves before appraising the most exotic furniture decided to get together and have a baby with Brad Pitt and Sylvester Stalone then 5 months later I popped out but already full grown with a beard and everything.
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 12
Good Morning Diane ! I’m up , got my coffee and ready to kick some butt with Adam today . im going to message him in a minute.
Commander Riker reporting to captain Kirk for duty . Over
I want you guys to know that I’m the furthest thing from lazy or slow. And I truly do put my heart into the work I’m doing here. I don’t even consider it “work” I consider it a privilege. I love you guys . You all together saved a life . You don’t all know just how dark my life was . it was bad . very bad. and I didn’t notice how bad until the end . Now I’m healing and having to relearn how my own body Naturally works . So I’m trying to relearn everything kinda. it’s a process . I’m trying tho very hard . I should only get better with time. I’m quitting smoking . I can’t stand smoking. So I bought some vapes . No more stinking cigarette smoke in my clothes and stuff. Just know that all of my intentions are true. I’m not good at pretending. And thank you for sitting me down and explaining everything so clearly . That really helps me a lot .
(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 7
check it out. rugs had like coffee stains and mud stomped in. it so clean it actually shines haha. Adam was walking by so I lured him over to where the carpets were drying and looked at it and this big Adam smile came over his face . I was like carpets are so clean it’s almost disturbing huh? he laughed . i jokingly told him I don’t even want guests stepping on them, we should put some sticky notes on them that read look but don’t touch lol
(copied from a text message from Ben, minimal or no editing)
- May 3
I just moved the fan to the last room 21 and placed the long throw rug back in 16. It felt really good watching that carpet clean up like it did. Now Rm 16 has that wow factor.
I love it here
idk if there is anyone in 18 but next time or as soon as the rm is free i want to pull the 2 throw rugs out of it and work on them. one is a circular one and the other long square. the circular rug has some stains and stuff I doubt you can get out with just the shampoo er so I want to take it and do some real scrubbing and squeegee on it and see if I can get it looking shiny and new
(copied from a text message from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 2
Completing the last few touches on room 16 and 18. One of the throw rugs in 16 looks like the last guest was walking all over it with wet dirty shoes . It’s visibly noticeable to me and takes away from the ” wow factor” of how crisp and clean the rest of the rm is . I’m doing the carpets in my room after work . If it’s ok I’d like to take the throw rug down to my room with me and do it while I already have the shampooer going.
Thank you , Thank you. Your message just totally made my day . Adam is a super worker . And doesn’t play any games whatsoever. He takes his job very serious . and it’s bc he is the way he is that I was able to catch on so quickly . He’s an excellent teacher . He showed me point by point how everything is done the right way. It’s a process and he’s got it down to a science where there isn’t really any wasted movement , time, back tracking or confusion . It makes me feel really good that you guys are all happy with me . It feels good to be appreciated. I am grateful for all of this , everything. Thank you for giving me the opportunity
(copied from a text message from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- May 1
Good afternoon Diane. I’ve almost completed the shampoo phases on 32 and 19. It’s been a rainy nasty day today all day. The weather does affect the shampoo process a bit bc I have to put my shoes on to dump the waste water and then when I go back in I leave my shoes outside. once I’m done with a section I try not to have to walk back over it while it’s drying . When I do I put down dry clean paper towel which keeps me from transferring and dirt to it and also acts like a gauge for dryness. Any wet or damp areas will show on the paper towel.
(copied from a text message from Ben, minimal to no editing)
- April 28
Good Morning Diane . I just inspected the carpets in rms 12 & 14. I did a barefoot walk through and the carpets are bone dry . I have to say Wow the feeling walking into those rooms…everything is so crisp and so clean . The linen all very tightly placed on the beds pillow points , toilet paper points , all the soaps and towels meticulously placed and folded so sharp it’s as if the room was vacuum sealed . The smell is Awesome . The feeling I get is like walking into grandma’s log cabin everyone loves ( minus the pot of food cooking on the stove) . I lived in hotels for close to 8 months when I was working as an Uber driver. Dozens of hotels all over Florida. I know that as a guest the feeling yiy leave with is usually the initial feeling / impression you had when you first walk into you’re room .
for example – Wow this place is a fucking dump for my 80 bucks or ewwe i don’t even want to shower un this place OR Wow! this place is beautiful, it’s so clean on here and look at all these soaps and free coffee they gave me, feels like home, what an awesome deal for my 80 bucks i got more than i paid for. See, the latter is the impression you want people to leave with. with smiles on their faces. The tiny details go a long way. when people see the extra attention that went into making the flower pattern in the hanging towels they feel good about it(copied from a text from Ben, minimal to no editing)