Washing Machines and TED

For my wreakage this weekend I chose this one:

We had 2 weeks worth of laundry to do so it seemed like the reasonable choice. As I was getting everything ready to load the machine I remembered a TED talk I watched sometime last year.

I've watched a lot of really great TED talks, but this one really changed the way I think about the world around me. Watch it - it's really good.

Laundry gets a pretty bad rap. It's a pain to do and I'm not a fan of lugging the heavy baskets down to the basement and remembering to sometime later move soggy clothes to the drier (or hang them on the line if the weathers good - and I'm feeling patient enough to hang them.)

I'm not a fan of doing laundry, but after seeing this TED talk I realized that I really have no right to bitch about laundry, because - I HAVE A MACHINE THAT DOES ALL THE HARD WORK.

I try to image my grandmother, or great grandmother washing all the family's clothes by hand on a scrub board, wringing them out and hanging them on the line. Laundry for her was an all day, maybe multi-day task, that required strength and stamina.

And today, there are still women who do this very hard work everyday in the world. I really have it pretty easy by comparison.

Having this book is a prime example. I have the time and energy to dedicate to destroying a book. This is a hobby - I have a lifestyle that allows for giving time and energy to a hobby. I"m not worked to bone either at a job or at home.

I realize this. I am grateful for this. I am blessed and honour that. Then I wrecked stuff.

`