Turn out the lights

"Go for hurried baths, and then forget all about hurrying. Take midnight showers. Turn off the light and stand in the water."

These words by Natasha Badhwar in one of her parenting columns keep turning up in my head every now and then. Even though I'm not a parent, I love the way she writes and I can still relate to most things she writes about.

Coming back to the quote above, I generally end up taking midnight showers because I get home quite late and I quite like feeling clean before I can nod off to sleep. But tonight was only the second time I switched off the lights while taking a shower. The first time, it felt great, peaceful and relaxing. And last night as well. Except that I had an A-HA moment too where I learnt...

1. The darkness reduced the noise which all that artificial lighting brings. The only light I had was the hazy streetlight outside diffused by the frosted glass strips on the bathroom window.

2. I felt more aware of where things were, how to control the temperature of the water...

3. It was almost like meditation.

4. Finally, the most significant learning: no information processing. With the lights off, I wouldn't have to look at the labels around me for damage-therapy shampoo or blemish-fighting apricot scrub or thermal massage shower gel. I didn't read the labels, so I don't get reminded of how old and tired I've become. I didn't read the labels, so my mind did no info crunching. And I didn't look in the mirror and go "WTF!" and "Damn! I need to get my eyebrows done."

Total peace. Even if for just 15 minutes.

I slept for just 5 hours, but that peace made those 5 hours restful. Thanks, Natasha. More power to your pen.

To read her column which inspired this post, click here: Be inefficient, take midnight showers.

Sent from my iPod Touch

Comments

Lobotrix said…
:) Showering in the dark used to happen only when lights went out.

The bathroom mirror I look at only to see how the color of the towels looks against my skin (bizarre... I know :P). I look at my flaws in the dressing mirror and frown.

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