CLEANING
Though cleaning is usually perceived as a chore to get over and done with, it could become a good time to practice cultivating presence of mind, and gratitude for life. Since cleaning is often more or less mindless, it can be a good time to focus your thoughts fully on what you are doing and to practice being totally present. For example, observe as objectively as possible, refraining from sympathy or antipathy, how you hold the mop, the sponge, how you clean the sink, your gestures, and see what you find in that. Perhaps with this full awareness of what you are doing, you can find beauty in these simple things, in the movement of your hands, of the rhythm in your body as you work, in the kind of light in the room, and if you look for it, maybe a sense of gratitude will be there, for life, for other people, for all we have, and all we are able to do.
[1] Chenery, Narelle. Decoding today's cosmetics. EcoVoice, Natural Living September 2005, Issue 23 <http://www.ecovoice.com.au/evonline/evo-23/evo23-decodingcosmetics.html>
[2] ONEgroup. Toxic Ingredients and Toxic Ingredients Directory. June 2009 www.mionegroup.com <http://www.mionegroup.com:80/en/toxic>
