There’s something very pleasing about washing dishes. It soothes and smooths me, much like tapping on the keyboard. It’s easier though. It requires no thinking. I turn on the tap and away I go, scrubbing one thing after another. Then there’s the rinsing and putting it on the rack to dry. It’s a dance of the dishes – scrub, rinse and dry.
It has a calming effect on me when I am at a loss of what and how to do. A dance session at the sink settles my nerves and erratic thoughts. By the end all the scrambled thinking falls into their rightful places like – pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I feel such pleasure at this moment. I sink into it so that I can remember and conjure it up when there are no dishes to do.
In the moment, I am in the flow. I am one with the Universe. In the moment, I know what and how to do. The words and ideas find their way to me. And I tap them onto the page before they are lost.
The after-lunch-dishes time has become my mindfulness practice. It’s easier day by day. I’ve developed a rhythm of putting things away. First this and then that. Now it’s time to scrape off the dishes and stack them for washing. I plug in the kettle to get some quick hot water, squirt the soap into a big bowl/pot and watch the suds form. One by one I wash and rinse each item and put them on the rack to dry. Today I felt movement and flow. I feel pleasure. Is it possible? Can I believe myself?
Well, anything is possible. I’m starting to rethink a lot of things – like pleasure and fun. I’m a serious person. I’ve been told that I’m also eccentric. I suppose I am since I don’t like having fun, not the kind most people go for anyways. I’ve always felt apologetic about myself. I feel obligated to go along with someone else’s kind of fun. I have to rethink that, too. Why do I care so much about others and so little of myself? I have done it for so long, I’ve lost a sense of self. I have much rethinking to do.
What is the definition of fun anyways? Google says it’s a noun and means enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. Synonyms are pleasure, entertainment, enjoyment, amusement, excitement, gratification. I think I’ve been wrong about myself in the fun department. I do like fun. I find pleasure, enjoyment, amusement, excitement and gratification in many things. Some are serious as in participating in this Ultimate Blog Challenge. Serious is an okay fun, isn’t it? I derive a lot of pleasure tapping out my words, ideas and stories.
I do have lighter hearted fun. I have fun painting on index cards for the Daisy Yellow Index Card a Day Challenge. I read a wide genre of books. I enjoy lunch dates and dinner parties. I’m not much for large or loud parties though. And for laughing out loud fun, I make videos of Sheba. Here’s one from when she was young and really full of fun.
onethousandandtwo 