The Power of Water

Perhaps you've had a morning like mine - running late, you throw yourself in the shower, choke down a bowl of cereal, toss an apple in your bag, and dart out the door. All this haste only to idle at a traffic light for 3 full light cycles while the truck in front of you won't chance a left turn without the green arrow. Your heart rate is on rapid fire speed, and you just can't find a song on the radio to help you cool your jets.

Then something extraordinary happens - something you don't expect, that asserts itself in the midst of the stress to pull you out of yourself. I was rushing to my car in the parking lot where I'd just run a quick errand, and I was trying to not be blinded by the bright morning sun. Suddenly I sensed something cool and wet on the skin of my arms - little droplets flung by the breeze from sprinklers lining the lot. My brain switched off momentarily to let my senses focus on the sensations of coolness and wetness and the feeling of not knowing when or where the next droplet would fall. Water is such a fundamental element in the process of life. This pivotal molecule that we consume can also consume us - whether floods on land like in Iowa this summer, or on the sea during hurricanes and boat wrecks.

What surprised me about this single quiet moment of my morning was the way the water consumed my thoughts. It exerted enough power over my senses that everything else vanished like a crashing wave under the heaving crest of another. It was absolutely the best moment of my day.

Trashing Convenience

Well, I finally did it. I decided to bring dishes to work. I know, I know, I'm way over due for some scolding for my continual use of paper plates, plastic silverware, and styrofoam cups. Now that my company has finally installed a sink with a disposal in our breakroom, I feel better equipped to wash dishes and ditch the disposable.

That's why I brought in a glass plate, tea mug, and real silverware today, as well as dish soap and a square tupperware to haul the dishes to and from the sink. With this set-up, I can even wash them and NOT dry them with a paper towel, just let them drip-dry in the tupperware over night.

Yes, washing dishes will take a little more time than tossing dirty plates into the trash, but I think the time has come to trash convenience. Doing a couple of dishes hardly puts a dent in my day. Just a couple minutes, and I've left a space empty at the landfill where my trash would have been.

If you want to take it a step further, check out some "green" dish washing soaps. I'm talking about biodegradable, non-toxic, sustainable, and cruelty-free products made with natural ingredients. If you're a parent, just think how much less frightening it'd be to have your little one get a hold of natural-based cleaning supplies as opposed to Clorox or Lysol. Using green cleaners reduces the pollutants in your home and reduces the negative impact on aquatic life due to contaminated wastewater.

Lots of on-line sellers offer green cleaning products. One site I'd recommend is the Pristine Planet site, which compares brands and sellers and lists the natural characteristics of each item.
Check out some of the eco-friendly cleaners on these sites. You might find yourself fully conscious after scrubbing the floors instead of lightheaded and dopey.