The Traditions of Spring Cleaning

What triggers your spring cleaning? Is it the persistent tweet of the birds outside your window? The warmer air that begins to signal that spring is coming? or is it the extra length of light each day that has been creeping in since the Winter solstice in December?

Whatever your trigger is, to be sure, you are not the first human to have that feeling or instinct that compels us all to stop and at least think about doing some cleaning or organizing. It still remains to be seen as to whether we actually do it!  It depends on how bold your procrastination tendencies are allowed to be. It also may depend on your own traditions and the value you place on the exercise.

Think about old sayings that are still used as compliments like: “There’s no dust collecting on his shoes.” or “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” There are others that are not so much a compliment as a statement of not taking it to heart or spending energy on it like:  “I shake the dust from my shoes on this.”, “Water off a ducks back.” or the one I use a lot that’s a take on that same thought, “Put on your duck suit on.”  If you live in a place where dust is kicked up, a dust analogy works. 

We are body, mind and spirit beings. We can deny that fact if we wish but to embrace it is to promote our own growth.  Spring is about things being fresh and new.  What artist couldn’t resist writing on a newly clean white board?   Feel the same when the board is full of notes?  For a soap maker it’s more likely a fresh bucket of oils.  What kid can resist a new box of crayons?

It’s an amazing conversation when you talk to your kid who just received a new set of crayons.  They look at the old box or if it’s demolished or lost, they just think on it. They ponder the old box and how they used to treat the crayons.  Perhaps there are statements on how they know better how to take care of a box of crayons than they did in the past.  Even such a small thing can be a signal to start fresh and new, yet armed with knowledge learned.  The observation of knowing you’d do things differently might be more likely to be acted upon when there is a fresh slate.  Many take that signal at a New Year.  If some of those intentions didn’t take root then, spring is yet another time to start.  Is it time for a new start?

How about a new soap bar to seal the pact with yourself?  I dare you to step into the shower and gently take stock on where you are and decide what new start you would like to take this spring.  [Insert unabashed Dr. Flower soap promotion here…oh wait done already!]

Happy Washing!

~Regina