There are so many people, so many ‘experts’ saying so much at the moment that at times the ‘noise’ they make seems worse than COVID -19 pandemic itself!
If there is one thing that I know, is that the noise comes from the TV ‘news ‘and social media. Yes, it is important to stay informed, but 24 hours a day, is not good for our mental and emotional health.
We need to disengage for periods from all the ‘news noise’ and immerse ourselves in reading, listening, watching and doing positive and uplifting things as ways to hold on to the knowledge that there is light in the world and we will rise out of this and go forward.
“The sun still shines, even when it’s hiding.” — Winnie the Pooh
We are all going to affected somehow, if not directly from COVID-19 then indirectly and of course from the economic depression that seems to be just around the corner. So, we need to look at ways to save money and you know what, it will give a sense of achievement and may set you on the path of simple living as a future lifestyle choice. So, let’s start with some practical suggestions to some of the issues the community is currently experiencing.
No Washing powder\liquid – unless clothes are really mucky /smelly they may just need some freshening. So, hang them outside on a sunny breezy day and do some ‘magical sun washing’
No Paper towel – it’s been more than 10 years since we have bought any, we have a Rag Bag – fabric from old cotton shirts, towels, sheets – cut into squares of different sizes , use wet , damp or dry depending on need, then wash or toss into the compost. You can add some antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic essential oils such as eucalyptus or tee tree to wipe benches when needed.
No Tissues – how about handkerchiefs, the good old hanky. Hankie’s can be made from any soft material scraps and 20 x 20cm is the size of a tissues so that what we sew. Handkerchiefs are only unsanitary, if, and I repeat, if you don’t change them as you would toss a tissue! Just use a clean hanky every day, if it’s been used! Put them into boiling hot water for 15 minutes before you rinse them with cold water and add them to your regular laundry. We use a mesh laundry beg as hanky’s are small and it makes easier to add and find in the wash load. Hang out to dry in the sun and breeze.
No Toilet Paper – Did you know that although we take toilet paper for granted, toilet paper has a relatively short history in the modern world? Before the advent of modern toilet paper in the 1850’s, many different materials were used for the same purposes. Different materials were used depending upon the country, weather conditions, social customs and status. People used leaves, grass, ferns, corn cobs, maize, fruit skins, seashells, stone, sand, moss, snow and water. People used a nifty tool called a gompfstick.
Gompf sticks are basically just a sponge on a stick that is used to clear away excess poo. It is placed in a tub of salt water and is shared by multiple people. It is believed the Vikings used gompf sticks made of sheep’s wool, while the wealthy French used a fancy version made of lace, wool and hemp. In the Middle Ages, most of them were made from hay balls. Ouch. Use a gompf stick … if you dare
I think we will sparingly use TP, and supplement with Cloth Wipes. A piece of cloth that is used in lieu of toilet paper that can be washed and used again. Some factors to consider: Most of us with young children, (now or in past ) have just thrown pee-clothes and poop-streaked underwear in the wash with everything else. Plus, all of our undies contain some number of germs and we are assured that the washing/drying routine gets them clean enough to wear again without killing us.
As with everything there are many variations to Cloth Wipes, so do your research. Last thoughts to ponder as you haunt the supermarkets for rolls of toilet paper: Wipes are soft. They clean your parts better (and don’t leave bits of paper behind), partly because you’re using a wet cloth for #2 No chance of “finger break-through” that puts you in contact with faeces (urine is sterile, so you’re good with that type of contact). And no don’t share them. One wipe = one person, these are not gompf sticks!
“Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” – Winnie the Pooh
We have no master plan. We have no way to plan. We must take each day as it comes. We will not stress about the things we cannot control But We do have the power to make each day the best it can be. We can use our intuition. We can walk with bare feet on the Earth. We can still gaze at the stars in wonderment. We can watch the sunrise. We can bake bread, make cookies & prepare slow meals. We can talk to the chickens, the cat or the dog. We can plant a vegie & herb garden. We can hang with our loved ones without a device in every one’s hands. We can take the time to work out how little we really need not just want. We can stay calm, take deep breaths and just be. We can work on simple living for a better world.
“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.”—Winnie the Pooh
So, let’s put on our big boots, and prove we can conquer this new adventure that the world has embarked on, granted this adventure was not our choosing, but how we act from now on , is all about choosing the path that this unfolding adventure is going to lead us.
“Life is a journey to be experienced” …. – Winnie the Pooh
