The Art of Doing Laundry

 Have you ever done laundry and while transferring it to the dryer from the washing machine a few pieces drop to the floor....... the dirty floor? I have.  I admit that it pisses me off. It's like a ground ball you missed as a catcher. Despite that, I have discovered doing laundry can become a ritual for me with wisdom folded in the sheets.

 During the time of Covid,  I confess to delaying washing clothes until every last pair of truffle scented underwear and all my tights, flakey with dry skin are tossed in the laundry bag. When I crave for clean things out of sheer necessity, I head to the task. I have to share the laundry room in my apartment building with 24 others living on my floor. Its not the same as having my very own washing machine.

Despite the double mask, my physical face armor to fight Covid,  and Clorox wipes and gloves, I have to put my clothes through a cleanse.  It's a walk down the hallway of closed doors, and shut in people. I also have to search for quarters, which is an issue when you don't use money anymore for fear of contamination. Food can be delivered to your door, but for laundry, you got to get out of the house here, and you have to have change.

 I try to get the task done before everyone in the building is awake. Six am seems to be the magic hour. I place my clothes into the dryer, the pant legs are often tangled with the pajamas and the pajamas have socks in their arms and I ponder.....Do I undo the tangles now or just let them work themselves out in the tumble of the drying? It's a question no doubt others  have from time to time.

Here's what I discovered early today. The effort it takes to untangle a bundle of messy items before it goes further into the future is clear. It's easier to do it on the spot, the moment you see it. "Avert the danger that has not yet come", my guru used to repeat in his lectures. The way wisdom of the ages appears in practical matters arises like fabric softener to ease my frustration is mystical. Of course, my teacher was referencing the fact that going to source of inner stillness and meditating each day is the the simple path to untangling difficulties before you tumble dry into your life. So untangle as you go will result in a beneficial outcome. Thats the story of getting centered in yourself.

I always love it when wisdom becomes apparent.

 It’s self care these days that matters and no one has to be responsible for you, but you. No one has to untangle your mental mess or make your food, or take care of your house, but you. And as for laundry, you just have to do it when its time. But, like everything, it has a price. Here it is around eight dollars per time in the laundry room, which seems expensive. But then everything has a price.

But tangles can be costly. Avert the danger that has not yet come? Untangle between the wash and dry cycle. Pay attention to the little things and the places that need an extra bit of handling with care. Notice the little things before they become magnified and cause a situation that will cost more time and energy in the long run as opposed to handling it now,

A new revelation from this laundry trip is that I do want a house with my own washer dryer, and a short skirt and a long red jacket. Untangle that.

Namastebubby