Doing the daily dishes

You may engage in rotational, rhythmic and repetitive activities like running and walking in the gym. Or calming devices like meditation and yoga. These activities bring a pattern to your otherwise slippery life. But there is one simple, pleasurable and real-value daily activity that, when done as routine, becomes a gateway for blissful everyday peace: washing dishes.

Dishwashing in the age of dishwashers and domestic help unveils a realm of unassuming gratification that often goes unnoticed. It is a serene chore that embraces a unique therapeutic charm. The tactile interaction with soapy water and porcelain – or stone, bell-metal, silver, stainless steel or even melamine – conjures a tranquil mindfulness.

The gradual removal of food remnants unveils a metamorphosis – a microcosm of cleansing and renewal. The gradual scrubbing, rinsing and stacking morph into a rhythm that is intensely calming. The aromatic embrace of dish soap – Lemony? Minty? Keep the nose guessing – intermingles with the running water and soft squeeze of sponge in your hand, a sensory trio that enchants the senses.

Stacking up washed dishes is stacking up each day. And, with each round of rinse, a sense of accomplishment continues.