Just wondering if anyone has found a cure for laundry?

I really think that they ought to devote more research to the laundry problem. I want to know why in the UK it takes twice the time of doing laundry in any other country. I suppose given the damp climate and huge cost of heating a home for 45 minutes, it is understandable that using a tumble drier is over £5 per load (and it sets the wrinkles permanently), so now in a new twist on laundry hell due to recent budget cuts, I have to hang things to dry. But thankfully it is the new eco-chic thing to do, saving the planet by NOT using the tumble drier. Phew!

Then I go and do things like forget a load in the washer for over 48 hours, then it smells and needs rewashing. Washing machines in the UK are specially designed to embed wrinkles in clothes so firmly that only ironing will restore them to a marginally presentable condition (barring other laundry disasters like shrinking and color runs). I never ironed in the USA, or rarely anyway.

I have friends here who iron underwear because of the mangled state they come out of the washer in. What is with that? It is insanity. Something must be done. Perhaps I will start a charity and run a marathon. I will be coming round soon with a little sign-up sheet, a reusable cling-free dryer sheet. Then I will organize a protest against unnecessary ironing of underpants and we will have a sponsored wrinkled undies day. Please send your ideas for eliminating laundry in 2010.

Together we can find a cure.

When I was young I had a little ring with a shield that said CTR – Choose the Right. I loved it and what it stands for. Growing up with a clear structure about what is right and wrong was very nice. But it can breed intolerance for those whose idea of right is different to yours.

According to some of my family and friends I have chosen the wrong path in life. I no longer am conforming to the Mormon idea of ‘right.’ It is hard for them, but, to their credit, they mostly refrain from expressing their disappointment over my apostasy. Now I wonder about how to chose the right when deciding what is right can be so fraught.

Religion is a common place to find different ideas about what is ‘right’. Intolerance of other peoples’ ideas of right comes up wherever we impose our sense of right onto situations and people who may have a different view of what constitutes correct behavior.

These last weeks I have been treating a fellow acupuncturist in the hospital. He had a stroke and has been exceedingly poorly. To one acupuncturist, I was in the wrong because I am yet to become fully qualified. He complained to the university in an attempt to stop me. But I was asked and no one else had offered and, slightly gallingly, this particular acupuncturist had even been asked and had not responded to an initial call for urgent help. Now weeks later, he has stepped in to treat him and barred me from participating in the rota I organized! – which actually is fine as I was exhausting myself and neglecting other things – but I was completely blind-sided. A friend in dire need, I wanted to help – how clear cut can it be? This only serves as an example of just how difficult it is to chose the right that everyone agrees on.

I was a missionary – my zeal to tell others what I thought was right was so strong that I gave nearly two years of my life to proclaiming my ‘right way’ to the poor sods in Ecuador (poor in that they had to listen to me!) And now about my work I still am quite enthusiastic and have a somewhat zealous approach at times, but alarm bells do ring for me now when I start to impose my idea of right on others. Am I choosing the right for me? Fine. Am I choosing the right for other people? Possibly not so fine.

Not that I listen to those alarms at times – especially where my sons are involved – I’m still sure I know what is best for them.

It is a very hard thing to walk our path and discipline ourselves without imposing our path on others. This applies to religion, politics, and therapies of all sorts where people with the best of intentions seek to help in their limited way. What works for some doesn’t work for others. It is up to you to choose what is right for you. And let others do the same. Then there will truly be peace on earth.

Best wishes this holiday season to you all!