Delight at the Kitchen Sink

So many of us appreciate the little things.  I know this is true of me, and if you’re here in this space, I know it’s true of you.  Sometimes I forget though.  I get busy and weighed down by All That Needs Doing. I get lost in the flurry.   But then something will surprise me, delight me, inspire me.  And I come back to where I most need to be.  In my present moment.

The other night, I was cleaning up after dinner, and I was in a hurry.  The dishwasher was loaded and food put away, and I needed to clean the kitchen sink. I reached under the sink for the jar of baking soda that I use for scrubbing the sink.  I opened the spout and sprinkled.  And…I was delighted (completely delighted)…by the aroma that greeted my nose.

I had forgotten that I’d added some essential oils to my baking soda.  How could I forget that?  I don’t know, but I did.  And so something I occasionally do (add oils to the baking soda) slipped my mind.  I was like a child opening a present.  The smell of lemon and cloves made me smile, and I felt my shoulders relax.  I was still in a hurry, but the hurry shifted as I sprinkled the baking soda and smelled the oils.

I still had to do the actual scrubbing (which, truthfully, I don’t mind all that much) (kitchen sink duty and I get along fairly well) but the essential oils were such a treat to my sense of smell…and the surprise of it…well, it just made me happy.

I don’t like to get lost in the flurry of activities and everyday stresses.  But it happens.  And I love (a lot) when the delight pops in at unexpected moments and turns things around.  It doesn’t take much really.  The practice of noticing and appreciating gets easier the more we do it. So that, even when we get lost, we’re usually easily found again.

Thank goodness.

sending a little love your way, m

*****

If you’d like to make a spouted jar for baking soda:

I’ll share a very old link of mine where I explain how to do it.  It’s such an old post, and the photos are rather lackluster, but you’ll get the idea.  Also, there’s one photo of my daughter’s little hand holding the lid…I couldn’t quite bring myself to write a new post with new photos…her hand is just too sweet.  You’ll see what I mean when you click here.

If you’d like to add essential oils:

2 cups baking soda + 20 drops essential oils
(I used 10 drops lemon and 10 drops clove) (feel free to substitute)

Simply place baking soda into jar, add oils, stir with a knife to combine.
When using, wet sink and sprinkle liberally.
If you need extra scrubbing power, add a squirt or two of dish soap (at time of cleaning) (don’t add this to the jar).
Scrub and rinse thoroughly.
And maybe, just maybe, be a little delighted.

P.S. It’s time to sign up for Gratitude Week!  Read details right here!