Life lesson: Small things set guidelines for the future.
I can’t say I hate doing dishes, but it’s not my favorite task. One of the realities of re-entering life is that there are going to be dishes with which to contend.
Whatever effort went into preparing the meal, leaves what has to be contended with after the meal. Did I pop a prepackaged dinner into the microwave? If that was the case, the only issue is what to do with the container. Do I trash or recycle it? Dishes done!
Am I going to pull whole meals that I had previously prepared out of the freezer? Or will I choose combinations of individual dishes along with additions, such as a salad, potato, etc., which means more dishes?
Should I prepare a brand new meal to include salad, a carb, protein and dessert? Something good for me, nutritious? That means a lot of dishes.
How should I decide to eat my meal? Will I sit at the table? In my chair? At the counter? Should I eat on nice dishes or straight out of the container? We all do it.
So some dishes have accumulated. The options seem obvious to some, but if we are sort of stuck in a period of indecisiveness, we may need a reminder of some of the options available to us.
Leave them in the sink until later.
Wash them under the faucet with soap and water, then leave them on the counter to dry.
Put them into the dishwasher. Do you rinse first? Some compulsive folks do.
Use paper plates and either throw them away or recycle.
Eat out of the container and put leftovers in the refrigerator. No dishes.
My spouse had rules about the dishes. They were to be cleaned off and put in the dishwasher, not left in the sink. They were to be cleaned up now, not put things off.
This daily chore may seem insignificant, but I need to consider the options seriously. This will help in determining how I am addressing my re-entry into life. Am I avoiding it? Am I establishing unhealthy habits? Am I searching for an easy way out? I must consider the dishes as part of my plan to re-enter life. Now I have to make my own rules. I have to be mindful of my patterns.
I believe I will not leave the dishes in the sink.
Let me know how you are doing. I care.
Sincerely,
Lynn Brooke
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Photo credit: © 2023 Rachel Gareau
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