Things I’m Tired of

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Sharaf (Honor), 170 BE – Sunday, January 05, 2014 about 10:46 am Pacific Standard Time

These are some of the things I’m tired of dong...

1. ...washing dishes by hand everyday, I want a working dishwasher. Sometimes I enjoy washing dishes the old fashion way and sometimes I would like to put them in the dishwasher and wash them once every two or three days.

2. ...doing laundry everyday, I would like to do laundry once or twice a week, even if it meant going to a laundromat (which I’m usually not crazy about doing).

These are some of the things I’m tired of...

1. ...high power bills, because I’m on a fixed income and it’s difficult to pay them.

2. ...taking a bath in a cold bathroom because I’m attempt to keep the power bills down (I don’t think it’s working).

3. ...living in a house that is too big for me to take care off and feeling like a failure because I can’t keep it clean.

4. ...dentures that need relining when I can’t afford to have them relines.

5. ...having a bad hair day everyday because I need my hair done and can’t afford it because of the high power and other utility bills.

6. ...hearing weird noises that I can’t identify coming from inside or outside the house.

Monday Meditation: Washing Dishes by Hand in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 169 BE – Monday, May 14, 2012 about 10:40 AM Pacific Time

There is nothing like washing dishes by hand to focus my mind on the moment. The feel of the hot soapy water on my bare hands is an invigorating experience. I have to scrub clean each dish and then rinse each bowl, cup, plate, or fork. After that, I place them on the drying rack. Through out this process, my mind remains focused on the utensil and nothing else.

After finishing the dishes, I look out my kitchen window. The play of light and shadow appear fresh. The white, pink, and red oleanders seem to glisten in the morning sun. Today, the neighbor’s cat did not walk across the backyard or along the top of fence. However, the birds were singing and the sunshine seemed brighter then usual, perhaps my imagination or just the feeling I get after focusing on one thing for five or ten minutes.

I do not know how long it took me to wash the dish this morning. I did not look at the clock on the microwave. I focused exclusively on getting the dishes clean. Now I know how my Grandmother felt when she washed dishes in the kitchen sink in Blackwell, Oklahoma.