It’s always a gift when you find a way to see something with new eyes.
Dirty Dishes
“My life will always have dirty dishes.
If this sink can become
a place of contemplation
let me learn constancy here…”
— Gunilla Norris, Being Home
The above is an excerpt from a meditation by Gunilla Norris in her 1991 book Being Home. I bought the book years ago in my search for a way to be at peace with the myriad of endlessly repetitive and menial tasks that are a fact of life when tending a home with young children. I loved the children part, but not so much the housework.
Jumble ©2016 Elizabeth Fram
It’s a soothing little book with lovely black and white photographs by Greta D. Sibley. In fact, I think those photos did more to help me reframe my perspective on daily chores than the meditations. Well, in all honesty I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to achieve a better attitude about housework, but Sibley’s images absolutely contributed to the way I observe the details of the ordinary.
String of Circles ©2016 Elizabeth Fram
There is a wonderful irony in the fact that the piles of dishes that had no redeeming qualities 25 years ago have indeed evolved into a source of contemplation. They now assume another mantle, that of a place of study — of shape, value, pattern and composition — a place “to be“, as Norris says in her introduction, “in the extraordinary beauty of dailiness”.
Sink ©2016 Elizabeth Fram
And she was right, my life will always have dirty dishes. But at least now I can also see them as the basis of a new still life that awaits me every day.
The trail of circles is superb! Thank you for giving an extended life to the ordinary objects of our lives – your dedication to drawing the “ordinary” is inspiring! Thank you!
I’m enjoying finding some redeeming qualities in chores!
Lovely! So glad you are exactly where you are with housework AND drawing. You sketches are a joy.
It’s all about perspective – right? I know you are a serious student of that!
There’s another similar book that deals with some of the same issues. It’s called “Plain and Simple: A Woman’s Journey to the Amish”, by Sue Bender. I’ve read it twice. What she observed when she went to stay with an Amish family is that when they do something (e.g., wash dishes…funny how that same issue comes back!), they do so by totally concentrating on the task of doing the dishes. They are fully present with that task, not thinking of the 43 other things they need to be doing. I found that a wonderfully meditative way to handle the daily tasks of housekeeping (which I, gulp, generally love to do!).
I have that book too Marya & loved it. I’ll have to reread it.
You will be interested in the link my son offered in his comment to this post. You definitely have an advantage if it’s work you love!
Reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh: http://www.mrpositive.com/washing-the-dishes/
Ha! Baby steps. After reading your link I can see I have a lot of work to do re:being in the moment when doing the actual washing… Thanks for making the connection.