How to Appreciate

One of my least favorite things to do is wash dishes. With a dishwasher I could not stand dishes... almost despised them. So we were without a dishwasher for 3 months. Since we moved in more than a year ago we have had troubles with it and most dishes have had to be washed after being washed.

I continued to wish that it would arrive but I have realized some amazingly interesting lessons all the way through its arrival.

ONE:
Although I cannot stand washing dishes by hand, my husband and I have had more time together as we spend the 30-45 minutes washing, drying and putting away our plates, cups, bowls and utensils.

TWO:
There is something very therapeutic about washing dishes alone. The silences is encased by nothing but the occasional running water. What more could you ask for? I had more revelations doing dishes than I have had in months.

THREE:
When it finally did arrive, doing dishes was a breeze. You mean all I have to do it rinse and load? No scrubbing, rinsing, drying, putting away? It was something of a miracle to have a dishwasher again. They say, "If you want to break or start a habit, don't do it or do it for 21 days." Well, I had more than 21 days and my new saying is, "If you want to appreciate something, go without it for 21 days."

The same could be said for just about anything. Sometimes I do not even need 21 days to miss the conveniences of, the affections from, the support of, the words from, the presence of, or the awareness of something to truly miss and appreciate it.

I want to do this with something else... but this time by choice. I want to go without something for 21 days and see just how much I miss it. Maybe I will try SUGAR!

(HA!)