Could Scrubbing the Shower Help Answer Your WHY?

I mean, maybe, maybe not, but follow me for just a minute or two. We have been discussing “chores around the house” with my boys for, well, quite some time seeing as they are ten, but we sat down the other night and made an actual plan. One of the things they are now required to do is to scrub a section of the tub. Each section is divided, and they must scrub on Mondays and Thursdays. I figure if the thing is scrubbed that often, it will glisten and gleam for miles and literally be the shiniest tub in all the wide world. Anyhow, at first, they were completely irritated with the idea of their royal selves having to do such a dastardly chore. But, y’all, they got in there, each taking their turn, and fell in love with the scrubbing. I know. It’s totally not my thing either, but they could see a difference. They could see that what they were doing was making that difference. And they were proud of their work and its beautiful outcome.

Now, I’m not about to tell you that cleaning the shower is going to solve all of your problems in life, but I am going to tell you that for my boys, this has been a game changer. See, they needed to spend some energy in a place that needed said energy. This is symbolic of life. Everyone’s life. Each of us was put on this earth to create something. Something beautiful Now, we can think big like: (in our most theatrical and no doubt British voices) “Of course, we are here to create wonderful legacies to leave our children and grandchildren, and if we’re really good, the community in which we live and serve.” Okay, that’s fair and absolutely true, but I’m also thinking about small things. When we create something, even the small things, we are creating new pathways in our brains and we are creating more joy in the world. Isn’t that marvelous? Who doesn’t want to create and plant more joy in such an otherwise crazy world?

Let’s look at a few examples: I have a friend who creates - not bakes, not makes - the woman creates royal icing cookies. These things are absolutely majestic. I can’t even begin to explain the tastes, the beauty, the wonder. When she creates them, she sells them, and the buyer is exceedingly blessed with this art that he or she wouldn’t otherwise have. It’s a magnificent thing. I have another friend who directs high school theatre. The theatre department in a very large high school. Holy cow! How this woman coaches high school students to do anything is impressive. I mean, if you think about it, perhaps she is a magician. I hear parents talk frequently about how they can’t even get their own teens to do what they’re supposed to, and this woman has them acting like other people on stage to successfully tell a story, getting the crowd all sucked in and needing popcorn, and leaving them wanting more. I have another friend who creates ceramics. Exquisite pieces. I’ve always admired her work because they are sooooo much her own style, her own originality, her own imagination. I tend to wonder things like: if these artists did not create art, where would we find it? There are so so so many ways to create that aren’t as “big” as these in the sense that they are paid for it. But all art doesn’t have to be connected to a financial stipulation of some sort. Some art, I would argue that most art, is just a way of putting something beautiful in the world that makes everyday a better day and a better place. Think about it: when your mama made dinner and put it on the table, that was art. When your first grade teacher had you and all of your classmates sitting in a circle singing happy morning songs, she was helping you create art by showing you how to be positive while learning something educational, I’m sure. When your dad sang to wake you up in the morning and prayed to God that you woke up in a good mood - okay, was that just my dad? LOL!

Maybe you aren’t all psyched up for ceramics or cookies or morning songs or directing theatre or even for singing to your kids (though I think you should definitely sing to your kids if for nothing else to embarrass them just a little :), but maybe there’s something you want to do. Something that has been wanting to come out of your brain for a long time. Maybe it’s a book. Maybe it’s stage scenery. Maybe it’s chicken piccata - more on chicken piccata later. .. .But for now, keep your ear and create. Create something. In fact, create something, take a picture, and put that pic on your favorite social media platform and hashtag it: #keepyourearandcreate