Kelly 1/25
I think dolphins with top hats and monocles would be awesome.
Rebuttal?
Julia 1/28
I'm kind of curious how the top hat and monocle would be secured to the dolphin.
...could the female dolphins wear those top hats with the little veils attached? I know it's stuffy and Victorian, but I think they're awesome.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
the f word
Kelly 1/19
Ok so this is not about THAT f word but another f word that I will introduce with a story. *ahem*
The other day I made a quiche. Not just any quiche, but MY quiche. I just decided, randomly in the store, that I wanted to make a quiche. So I bought a bunch of random stuff, looked at 10 or 11 recipies and then made up my own. I was excited, and happy and really pleased with this adventure. But then I put it in the oven. It started to spill, and it took FOREVER to cook. The whole time I started to freak out. My "happy experiment" quiche had become the "OH MY GOD WHAT IF IT TASTES NASTY AND I HAVE JUST WASTED ALL THIS FOOD?!??!!?" quiche. I had already deemed it to a failure, and appropriately was feeling badly.
And THAT is the f word I meant. Failure. I found it defined in seven ways:
1. an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected: a failure to do what one has promised; a failure to appear.
3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency
4. deterioration or decay, esp. of vigor, strength, etc.
5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt
7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful
Now looking at these definitions, it make sense why people fear failure. It is something to be avoided at all costs. It is shameful and irreversible. However, none of these definitions explain what failure actually dose.
Failing, in a way is inevitable. You will fail at something, perhaps even several times. So why avoid it? When done correctly, failure teaches us things, and helps us identify and avoid mistakes. Not to mention that mistakes can sometimes be fun and open you to new possibilities.
So yes, one should not wallow or seek out failure; but nor should we fear it as much as we do. I mean really what happened to the Miss. Frizzel motto?
"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"
Julia 01/24
Talk about weighty issues! It took me a while to sort out my thoughts on this one, particularly because failure and I got to be pretty good acquaintances during the four months I was looking for a job. Failing is depressing. It becomes easy to believe that you have never succeeded at anything, that you never will succeed at anything and should just give up as soon as possible.
I'm, of course, talking about the failure called rejection in this case. It doesn't really matter where you are in life, the possibility of rejection is always around the corner. Prospective employers reject us, friends and family reject us, love interests reject us. Or they might. It's that distinct likelihood that often keeps people from trying.
Because, let's face it, if you fail by yourself while no one's looking or depending on you, it's not so bad. I might fail to dust my furniture or learn how to play the guitar and, while those are personal failures, I don't see them as being nearly so bad as failing to get into graduate school or get a decent job. Because (1) there are people rejecting me and (2) there are people watching me get rejected.
I think, too, that because we live in a society that measures so much by personal success, we really leave ourselves open to the anxiety that we will fail. And in part, I do mean material success. If you're not aspiring to the American Dream, well, a lot of Americans might say you're kind of a loser. I think it's sufficient to take care of yourself and your family and hopefully find some personal fulfillment, but every family and community has different expectations. And those expectations scare the hell out of us.
Which comes back to people. We hate to have others see us fail. It's a little humiliating, even if those people love you no matter what. It might be worse, in fact, to fail in front of the people who matter most because you know they empathize with you more.
So, how do you deal with failure? One way is by changing the definition of success. When I was applying for jobs, I concentrated not on the response I got but the quantity and quality of my applications. I want to apply well and apply often, so I did, and the more I applied, the better I got at it. I actually applied for three different jobs with MPP and guess what? None of them are the position I hold now. I decided the only way I could really fail was by giving up or undermining my own beliefs (by applying to places I didn't consider ethical). And, not to be corny, but I learned a tremendous lot about myself during those four months.
Because the truth is...you never know what you're capable of if you succeed constantly with few obstacles. The true measure of your ability is how you deal with the prospect of failure and failure itself.
Or simply to agree with Ms. Frizzle, get a little messy.
Ok so this is not about THAT f word but another f word that I will introduce with a story. *ahem*
The other day I made a quiche. Not just any quiche, but MY quiche. I just decided, randomly in the store, that I wanted to make a quiche. So I bought a bunch of random stuff, looked at 10 or 11 recipies and then made up my own. I was excited, and happy and really pleased with this adventure. But then I put it in the oven. It started to spill, and it took FOREVER to cook. The whole time I started to freak out. My "happy experiment" quiche had become the "OH MY GOD WHAT IF IT TASTES NASTY AND I HAVE JUST WASTED ALL THIS FOOD?!??!!?" quiche. I had already deemed it to a failure, and appropriately was feeling badly.
And THAT is the f word I meant. Failure. I found it defined in seven ways:
1. an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected: a failure to do what one has promised; a failure to appear.
3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency
4. deterioration or decay, esp. of vigor, strength, etc.
5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt
7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful
Now looking at these definitions, it make sense why people fear failure. It is something to be avoided at all costs. It is shameful and irreversible. However, none of these definitions explain what failure actually dose.
Failing, in a way is inevitable. You will fail at something, perhaps even several times. So why avoid it? When done correctly, failure teaches us things, and helps us identify and avoid mistakes. Not to mention that mistakes can sometimes be fun and open you to new possibilities.
So yes, one should not wallow or seek out failure; but nor should we fear it as much as we do. I mean really what happened to the Miss. Frizzel motto?
"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"
Julia 01/24
Talk about weighty issues! It took me a while to sort out my thoughts on this one, particularly because failure and I got to be pretty good acquaintances during the four months I was looking for a job. Failing is depressing. It becomes easy to believe that you have never succeeded at anything, that you never will succeed at anything and should just give up as soon as possible.
I'm, of course, talking about the failure called rejection in this case. It doesn't really matter where you are in life, the possibility of rejection is always around the corner. Prospective employers reject us, friends and family reject us, love interests reject us. Or they might. It's that distinct likelihood that often keeps people from trying.
Because, let's face it, if you fail by yourself while no one's looking or depending on you, it's not so bad. I might fail to dust my furniture or learn how to play the guitar and, while those are personal failures, I don't see them as being nearly so bad as failing to get into graduate school or get a decent job. Because (1) there are people rejecting me and (2) there are people watching me get rejected.
I think, too, that because we live in a society that measures so much by personal success, we really leave ourselves open to the anxiety that we will fail. And in part, I do mean material success. If you're not aspiring to the American Dream, well, a lot of Americans might say you're kind of a loser. I think it's sufficient to take care of yourself and your family and hopefully find some personal fulfillment, but every family and community has different expectations. And those expectations scare the hell out of us.
Which comes back to people. We hate to have others see us fail. It's a little humiliating, even if those people love you no matter what. It might be worse, in fact, to fail in front of the people who matter most because you know they empathize with you more.
So, how do you deal with failure? One way is by changing the definition of success. When I was applying for jobs, I concentrated not on the response I got but the quantity and quality of my applications. I want to apply well and apply often, so I did, and the more I applied, the better I got at it. I actually applied for three different jobs with MPP and guess what? None of them are the position I hold now. I decided the only way I could really fail was by giving up or undermining my own beliefs (by applying to places I didn't consider ethical). And, not to be corny, but I learned a tremendous lot about myself during those four months.
Because the truth is...you never know what you're capable of if you succeed constantly with few obstacles. The true measure of your ability is how you deal with the prospect of failure and failure itself.
Or simply to agree with Ms. Frizzle, get a little messy.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
About sports
Julia 01/10
Around high school, I started a period of really hating professional sports. I thought the athletes were overpaid and the industry in general completely was unethical (as much of the entertainment industry is, in all honesty). It irritated me when people announced their sports allegiances in class or tried to use a game as a current event in AP US History. Looking back, I think this was in part because disliking athletics is a major part of your indie/alternative street cred. Sports are mainstream and therefore lame -- just another mind-numbing drug for the uneducated masses.
Okay, some of that is actually true, indie street cred or no. In the past few years, however, I've come to realize that sports do play an important role in our culture and -- gasp -- can actually be entertaining. For instance, I've always enjoyed watching the summer and winter olympic games. Should we raise some eyebrows about the inflated medal counts? Of course! But that doesn't decrease the pride of a community in sending a son or daughter off to the games, regardless of their country of origin. I think the honor is what gets lost in American sports, actually, and that honor is what appeals to me most. You can see in when you watch the smaller contingencies of athletes walk into the stadiums. The look on their faces is unmistakable: whatever the outcome, they are thrilled to be there. And you know there are folks back home who are even more thrilled.
And I don't even need to knock Americans, because we care about our athletes more than we should. But we care about all of our celebrities too much, so why should I criticize only the sports industry for this? The answer: I probably shouldn't. The last few years, I've started hanging out with my brother while he watches football games (by the way: GO RAVENS!). And they can be genuinely entertaining, in part because I'm watching them with my family. We have our teams and we scream at the television and that all can be fun.
So why do the academic and cultural elites often reject athletics as a viable form of culture? Certainly some of their complaints are legitimate, but is there something else there?
Kelly 01/11
Took me a while to digest this one. Primarily because I am one of those people that does not actually attach that much emotion to sports. In fact most of the time I would say that I don't care for sports. But then again, as you point out there is something fun about watching the olympics. And the pride and honor factor there makes it all the more satisfying to watch. However, over all I don't care for sports and god help you if you are trying to get me to play them. (My reaction is generally "You want me to chase after that little ball?..... and possibly hurt myself doing it?.....why?.... think I'll pass")
Now I have a few theories about why so called "intellectuals" reject sports as a form of culture. The first is due to what you have already mentioned. We pay WAY too much attention to our athletes. I mean if half the fun of sports is thinking about honor, then that aspect is kind of crushed when you know that the sports star you are so in love with is cheating on his wife, running illegal dog fights, or cheating with illegal steroids. All of that cheapens the victory of that person and in a way the team (if they have one). You become so interested in what that one individual is doing that the team gets caught up in the scandal. When these types of stories break it is not "just about the game" any more. How can you root for someone that you know is an awful person? So if you take all of the gossip into account, sports is no longer a noble pursuit.
My second theory about why sports are rejected is due to something other things that are considered "culturally relevant" have in common. They leave something timeless behind. Paintings, poems, music, theories, philosophies. All of these were left behind by some form of activity that is usually considered to have some higher cultural merit. That and the triumphs of the future do not decry the trumps of the past. Is a Monet painting any less beautiful simply because someone now can build this same masterpiece in a 3d environment? Most would say no. However, when a record is broken it's done. The person that broke the record is now on top while the first person to do it is now a historical foot note. And this cycle not only continues but it strived for. People that play sports want to be the new person on top. Now while I sound like I am decrying this, I'm not really. I understand that sports is about pushing yourself and going beyond what has already been done. But I think that is partly why people see it as incopral and fleeting.
There are other pet theories I have about why sports are ignored (blood sport nature of them, the games changing, and the simple "oh you geeks just can't play so it's us vs them" syndrome) but those are my top two. Now while I don't care about sports personally, I don't really hate those that do. It does still confuse me why people care to such great extents though. I mean it's not like you personally are achieving anything by your team winning. I guess that returns us to the honor aspect, but I still don't 100% get it. I mean as a country at the olympics? Yes I get how national honor is caught up in those particular events, but I don't feel like anything of mine is lost when my state's football team looses. And then, what about those that root for teams that are not their home state? Or those that root for a team that lives in a state they may have never even been to?
Hmm... Well looks like I can cover why people dislike sports, but not why people like them. Other side of the coin fail. xD
Julia 01/17
I thought I had mused all I was going to muse on this topic, but then I went to DC Roller Derby yesterday and, well, suffice it to say that I've had a few more thoughts on the matter. I want to remove athletics from "sports entertainment" for a moment. True, the two are related, but they are not one and the same and I know I'm often guilty of lumping everything together.
The thing is, that an amateur golfer has very little to do with our famous adulterer. It's too easy to criticize both of them in the same breath, simply because they are both players in the same sport. And athletics do help people achieve self-actualization. The women I watched yesterday were athletes. They worked hard to be good skaters and good team members. I hear the DC League Teams practice five times a week. They have goals . . . and achieving those goals boosts their self esteem, allows them to set more goals, achieve more. And striving for those goals as a team gives them a community and a sisterhood. And it's not only a community of their team, it's a community within their city: fans, volunteers, competitors. They have the opportunity make connections with each other because of the sport they play. And hey, exercise is never a bad thing either. They were pretty buff-looking women.
I observed similar effects as a college student. One of the most unexpectedly fun things I did my senior year was attend my roommate Cheryl's fencing tournament. Fencing takes skill and precision and grace. Man, did Cheryl have those things. When she made it to the final round, she called us (we had gone to lunch) and we went running back to the gym so we could see her win the championship. And knowing how hard she had worked and how much she enjoyed it, it was truly rewarding to watch.
So good athleticism is more than just running or hitting a ball or breaking a record. Sometimes it's a lot more like art. If it isn't something that we can achieve just by being mobile, if it requires time or effort or practice, then it's more of skill than we realize. And watching people do anything with skill -- whether it's painting or sculpting or playing the guitar -- is about more than entertainment.
Again, are professional athletes overpaid? Yes! Is there something strange about only being a spectator of sports, never a participant? Yes! Do pro-athletes get away with ridiculous things because they are celebrities? Yes! But in the same way that we can't dismiss all actors because some cheat on their wives or threaten them with axes, we can't dismiss all athletes. Especially when they're volunteer athletes or student athletes. Because the energy they put into what they do isn't really that different from the energy I put into writing.
As for playing sports, I've always been into the more solitary forms of exercise (hiking, bikeriding, swimming). But I can see the appeal, I certainly can.
Around high school, I started a period of really hating professional sports. I thought the athletes were overpaid and the industry in general completely was unethical (as much of the entertainment industry is, in all honesty). It irritated me when people announced their sports allegiances in class or tried to use a game as a current event in AP US History. Looking back, I think this was in part because disliking athletics is a major part of your indie/alternative street cred. Sports are mainstream and therefore lame -- just another mind-numbing drug for the uneducated masses.
Okay, some of that is actually true, indie street cred or no. In the past few years, however, I've come to realize that sports do play an important role in our culture and -- gasp -- can actually be entertaining. For instance, I've always enjoyed watching the summer and winter olympic games. Should we raise some eyebrows about the inflated medal counts? Of course! But that doesn't decrease the pride of a community in sending a son or daughter off to the games, regardless of their country of origin. I think the honor is what gets lost in American sports, actually, and that honor is what appeals to me most. You can see in when you watch the smaller contingencies of athletes walk into the stadiums. The look on their faces is unmistakable: whatever the outcome, they are thrilled to be there. And you know there are folks back home who are even more thrilled.
And I don't even need to knock Americans, because we care about our athletes more than we should. But we care about all of our celebrities too much, so why should I criticize only the sports industry for this? The answer: I probably shouldn't. The last few years, I've started hanging out with my brother while he watches football games (by the way: GO RAVENS!). And they can be genuinely entertaining, in part because I'm watching them with my family. We have our teams and we scream at the television and that all can be fun.
So why do the academic and cultural elites often reject athletics as a viable form of culture? Certainly some of their complaints are legitimate, but is there something else there?
Kelly 01/11
Took me a while to digest this one. Primarily because I am one of those people that does not actually attach that much emotion to sports. In fact most of the time I would say that I don't care for sports. But then again, as you point out there is something fun about watching the olympics. And the pride and honor factor there makes it all the more satisfying to watch. However, over all I don't care for sports and god help you if you are trying to get me to play them. (My reaction is generally "You want me to chase after that little ball?..... and possibly hurt myself doing it?.....why?.... think I'll pass")
Now I have a few theories about why so called "intellectuals" reject sports as a form of culture. The first is due to what you have already mentioned. We pay WAY too much attention to our athletes. I mean if half the fun of sports is thinking about honor, then that aspect is kind of crushed when you know that the sports star you are so in love with is cheating on his wife, running illegal dog fights, or cheating with illegal steroids. All of that cheapens the victory of that person and in a way the team (if they have one). You become so interested in what that one individual is doing that the team gets caught up in the scandal. When these types of stories break it is not "just about the game" any more. How can you root for someone that you know is an awful person? So if you take all of the gossip into account, sports is no longer a noble pursuit.
My second theory about why sports are rejected is due to something other things that are considered "culturally relevant" have in common. They leave something timeless behind. Paintings, poems, music, theories, philosophies. All of these were left behind by some form of activity that is usually considered to have some higher cultural merit. That and the triumphs of the future do not decry the trumps of the past. Is a Monet painting any less beautiful simply because someone now can build this same masterpiece in a 3d environment? Most would say no. However, when a record is broken it's done. The person that broke the record is now on top while the first person to do it is now a historical foot note. And this cycle not only continues but it strived for. People that play sports want to be the new person on top. Now while I sound like I am decrying this, I'm not really. I understand that sports is about pushing yourself and going beyond what has already been done. But I think that is partly why people see it as incopral and fleeting.
There are other pet theories I have about why sports are ignored (blood sport nature of them, the games changing, and the simple "oh you geeks just can't play so it's us vs them" syndrome) but those are my top two. Now while I don't care about sports personally, I don't really hate those that do. It does still confuse me why people care to such great extents though. I mean it's not like you personally are achieving anything by your team winning. I guess that returns us to the honor aspect, but I still don't 100% get it. I mean as a country at the olympics? Yes I get how national honor is caught up in those particular events, but I don't feel like anything of mine is lost when my state's football team looses. And then, what about those that root for teams that are not their home state? Or those that root for a team that lives in a state they may have never even been to?
Hmm... Well looks like I can cover why people dislike sports, but not why people like them. Other side of the coin fail. xD
Julia 01/17
I thought I had mused all I was going to muse on this topic, but then I went to DC Roller Derby yesterday and, well, suffice it to say that I've had a few more thoughts on the matter. I want to remove athletics from "sports entertainment" for a moment. True, the two are related, but they are not one and the same and I know I'm often guilty of lumping everything together.
The thing is, that an amateur golfer has very little to do with our famous adulterer. It's too easy to criticize both of them in the same breath, simply because they are both players in the same sport. And athletics do help people achieve self-actualization. The women I watched yesterday were athletes. They worked hard to be good skaters and good team members. I hear the DC League Teams practice five times a week. They have goals . . . and achieving those goals boosts their self esteem, allows them to set more goals, achieve more. And striving for those goals as a team gives them a community and a sisterhood. And it's not only a community of their team, it's a community within their city: fans, volunteers, competitors. They have the opportunity make connections with each other because of the sport they play. And hey, exercise is never a bad thing either. They were pretty buff-looking women.
I observed similar effects as a college student. One of the most unexpectedly fun things I did my senior year was attend my roommate Cheryl's fencing tournament. Fencing takes skill and precision and grace. Man, did Cheryl have those things. When she made it to the final round, she called us (we had gone to lunch) and we went running back to the gym so we could see her win the championship. And knowing how hard she had worked and how much she enjoyed it, it was truly rewarding to watch.
So good athleticism is more than just running or hitting a ball or breaking a record. Sometimes it's a lot more like art. If it isn't something that we can achieve just by being mobile, if it requires time or effort or practice, then it's more of skill than we realize. And watching people do anything with skill -- whether it's painting or sculpting or playing the guitar -- is about more than entertainment.
Again, are professional athletes overpaid? Yes! Is there something strange about only being a spectator of sports, never a participant? Yes! Do pro-athletes get away with ridiculous things because they are celebrities? Yes! But in the same way that we can't dismiss all actors because some cheat on their wives or threaten them with axes, we can't dismiss all athletes. Especially when they're volunteer athletes or student athletes. Because the energy they put into what they do isn't really that different from the energy I put into writing.
As for playing sports, I've always been into the more solitary forms of exercise (hiking, bikeriding, swimming). But I can see the appeal, I certainly can.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
squeaky clean
Kelly 01/03
SO! Lets start this out with something on the verge of a tmi. Getting clean is really therapeutic. Baths, showers, soaking in a rapid stream, whatever. There is really something wonderful about washing in particular. Yes, cleanliness is a virtue and all that, and it is nice to put clean sheets on the bed or wear fresh clothes, but to me there is something special about the act cleaning one's self with water. It just makes you feel better. Even when you just wash your hands from doing something, it's like you are.... well cleansed. There has to be something deeper to the act of washing though, and I am obviously not the only one to think so. I mean look at all the religions that involve ritual cleansing with water. You are baptized by water and there is holy water in christianity. But then that brings up a question for me. Is it really just the water that is holy, or the actual act of cleansing?
Julia 01/04
An excellent topic for considering in the shower, I must say. Did you know that the switch from wool to linen clothing led to decrease in bathing? Other fun facts here!
Regarding religion, I would imagine that the act of cleansing is more holy than the water itself. I know the Catholic church makes a big deal about water being blessed, but if you think about it, it's act of baptism (the dunking or sprinkling or whatever, depending on your denomination) that "saves" you. If it was just the water, the simple act of touching it would be sufficient, but a priest or pastor (or Jesus!) has to do it for you. The water is primarily a means to an end.
Although, it's true water is inherently precious. We use it at a rapid rate and within the next century, its scarcity will make it more precious than gold or oil. There is a plant out in San Francisco that can completely recycle used water (from industry, sewers, etc), but they're having some trouble getting people to accept it.
It's funny, the founders of the monotheistic religions knew water was important because of the climate they lived in. And we've held to that significance, even though we don't value water very highly as a society.
But everyone loves a hot shower!
Kelly 01/05
Hmm I think you are right about the act of cleansing being more sacred than the water it's self. However, I feel like we should value water more. Actually, that is an interesting conundrum. Why do we pay for bottled water, sparking water, artisan water and everything if we don't value it as resource? It has become a status symbol, but not in and of its self. It's like what HOLDS the water (aka pools, bottles, spa mister's etc) is more important than the water its self. And that is strange to me! But then again, I guess we could find a lot of examples where the packaging is perceived to be more important than the actual contents. It reminds me of wanting to date someone simply because they are hot, not because you actually know who there are.
BUT BACK TO WASHING! :D Beyond the spiritual aspects, there is something really delightfully physical about it. Ok wait a minute before that gets dirty in your head. What I mean is that as you wash, whatever your ritual is, your brain settles down just enough for your consciousness to be engaged but for your subconscious to work as well. It's like washing some how hits the sweet mental spot between really thinking about something and just letting it mull about in your subconscious. I think that is why you have the stereotype of coming up with things in the shower. And I don't know about you but I come up with ideas showering all the time. Plus it always feels like a good time to go over the events of the day and think about tomorrow.
But then again, I shower at night. Showering makes me sleepy and I use it as the last act of the day plus something to calm me down. Do you think it makes a difference when you take the shower? The time could change the significance.
Julia 01/09
Absolutely we should value water more. Not only is it necessary for our continued survival, but think of how many industrial processes there are for which we use water? What you say about branding is interesting, too, especially because bottled water is evil. But some people would still rather pay for Evian than a water filter for their tap and a reusable stainless steel/aluminum water bottle.
But yes, washing. If you think about it, for a lot of people that's one of the few times in each day when they can attend to only themselves. Washing is about you getting clean. And the anatomy of washing -- steam opens your pores for example -- has also got to be petty fascinating.
I do a lot of thinking in the shower, too. I think it's for the same reason I do a lot of thinking when I'm walking. I'm engaged in a solely mechanical act (hands off the dirty jokes there, too!), so my brain can go on a completely different route if it need be. That's why busy/stressed out people can't remember if they've washed their hair (when they most likely have). Their body goes on autopilot even though their brain is miles away.
I alternate when I shower based on what my schedule is like. E.g. It's easier to shower at night during the work week. I find that if you're trying to wake up, a shower can be helpful (I used this method in school when I quit caffeine). Or it's a nice way to end your day because you're nice and relaxed for bed.
The eco-nazi in me has to mention, of course, that quick showers (5-10 minutes tops) are best. In the summer, I particularly recommend the navy shower. You do a quick rinse, turn off the water, lather up, and rinse again. In total, you only end up using about 2 minutes' worth of water instead of 5. This is actually quite pleasant if you've been exercising and sweating a lot -- you feel really clean afterwards.
SO! Lets start this out with something on the verge of a tmi. Getting clean is really therapeutic. Baths, showers, soaking in a rapid stream, whatever. There is really something wonderful about washing in particular. Yes, cleanliness is a virtue and all that, and it is nice to put clean sheets on the bed or wear fresh clothes, but to me there is something special about the act cleaning one's self with water. It just makes you feel better. Even when you just wash your hands from doing something, it's like you are.... well cleansed. There has to be something deeper to the act of washing though, and I am obviously not the only one to think so. I mean look at all the religions that involve ritual cleansing with water. You are baptized by water and there is holy water in christianity. But then that brings up a question for me. Is it really just the water that is holy, or the actual act of cleansing?
Julia 01/04
An excellent topic for considering in the shower, I must say. Did you know that the switch from wool to linen clothing led to decrease in bathing? Other fun facts here!
Regarding religion, I would imagine that the act of cleansing is more holy than the water itself. I know the Catholic church makes a big deal about water being blessed, but if you think about it, it's act of baptism (the dunking or sprinkling or whatever, depending on your denomination) that "saves" you. If it was just the water, the simple act of touching it would be sufficient, but a priest or pastor (or Jesus!) has to do it for you. The water is primarily a means to an end.
Although, it's true water is inherently precious. We use it at a rapid rate and within the next century, its scarcity will make it more precious than gold or oil. There is a plant out in San Francisco that can completely recycle used water (from industry, sewers, etc), but they're having some trouble getting people to accept it.
It's funny, the founders of the monotheistic religions knew water was important because of the climate they lived in. And we've held to that significance, even though we don't value water very highly as a society.
But everyone loves a hot shower!
Kelly 01/05
Hmm I think you are right about the act of cleansing being more sacred than the water it's self. However, I feel like we should value water more. Actually, that is an interesting conundrum. Why do we pay for bottled water, sparking water, artisan water and everything if we don't value it as resource? It has become a status symbol, but not in and of its self. It's like what HOLDS the water (aka pools, bottles, spa mister's etc) is more important than the water its self. And that is strange to me! But then again, I guess we could find a lot of examples where the packaging is perceived to be more important than the actual contents. It reminds me of wanting to date someone simply because they are hot, not because you actually know who there are.
BUT BACK TO WASHING! :D Beyond the spiritual aspects, there is something really delightfully physical about it. Ok wait a minute before that gets dirty in your head. What I mean is that as you wash, whatever your ritual is, your brain settles down just enough for your consciousness to be engaged but for your subconscious to work as well. It's like washing some how hits the sweet mental spot between really thinking about something and just letting it mull about in your subconscious. I think that is why you have the stereotype of coming up with things in the shower. And I don't know about you but I come up with ideas showering all the time. Plus it always feels like a good time to go over the events of the day and think about tomorrow.
But then again, I shower at night. Showering makes me sleepy and I use it as the last act of the day plus something to calm me down. Do you think it makes a difference when you take the shower? The time could change the significance.
Julia 01/09
Absolutely we should value water more. Not only is it necessary for our continued survival, but think of how many industrial processes there are for which we use water? What you say about branding is interesting, too, especially because bottled water is evil. But some people would still rather pay for Evian than a water filter for their tap and a reusable stainless steel/aluminum water bottle.
But yes, washing. If you think about it, for a lot of people that's one of the few times in each day when they can attend to only themselves. Washing is about you getting clean. And the anatomy of washing -- steam opens your pores for example -- has also got to be petty fascinating.
I do a lot of thinking in the shower, too. I think it's for the same reason I do a lot of thinking when I'm walking. I'm engaged in a solely mechanical act (hands off the dirty jokes there, too!), so my brain can go on a completely different route if it need be. That's why busy/stressed out people can't remember if they've washed their hair (when they most likely have). Their body goes on autopilot even though their brain is miles away.
I alternate when I shower based on what my schedule is like. E.g. It's easier to shower at night during the work week. I find that if you're trying to wake up, a shower can be helpful (I used this method in school when I quit caffeine). Or it's a nice way to end your day because you're nice and relaxed for bed.
The eco-nazi in me has to mention, of course, that quick showers (5-10 minutes tops) are best. In the summer, I particularly recommend the navy shower. You do a quick rinse, turn off the water, lather up, and rinse again. In total, you only end up using about 2 minutes' worth of water instead of 5. This is actually quite pleasant if you've been exercising and sweating a lot -- you feel really clean afterwards.
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