Dear World,

This may be one of the more unstructured letters without an explicit lesson. But you’re smart. You can read between the lines.

I don’t know about you, but every time I take a shower, I come out asking myself, “why don’t people, who have the resources, like to bathe and cleanse themselves?”.

The feeling of being clean, airy and smelling good is so uplifting for the spirit that I know I have to bathe. I simply must do this as part of leading a healthy life.

Unfortunately, there are people who don’t cleanse themselves often. It’s not even always because they don’t have the resources, sometimes it cause they don’t feel like it.

Before you go ahead to cast judgement, bear in mind that folks who are depressed, for example, often don’t take showers or baths simply because their depression suppresses their desire to do anything that requires taking care of their body.

I know this to be true because I’ve been there. Partial disclosure: I have seen days where I don’t take showers, or do much self-care because I’ve been consumed by being depressed, and I promise you, it’s not for being gross or nasty or even lazy. When your hormones are off balance, you do some crazy shit.

So, this letter is not geared towards those people. I’m talking to everyone else who has water, and soap, and just refuse to take a shower or have a bath. I’m not talking to the people who struggle to leave their beds or their homes.

For you — the people I am actually talking to. Yes, the lot of you. You’ve got to feel dirty, sweaty and icky when you don’t bathe after a day — much less an extended period. I’m sure you can smell the funk. I’m pretty sure that you’ve done a basic review of your day and you recall having sweated and not feeling as fresh as you would’ve if you had bathed.

Listen, if you use a handkerchief, cloth or tissue to wipe your face, for example, and you see dirt, it means you need to get clean. Treat it as a very basic audit of your skin and your body. Dirty? Alright, bathe. I’m not even talking about “freshening up”. No. Go jump in the shower and cleanse every part of you. Rub, scrub and wash yourself.

Though technically unrelated, you ought to do the same for your relationships. I’m talking about the relationship you have with yourself and the relationships you have with others. At this point, I’m talking to everyone.

Audit those relationships and cleanse what needs cleansing. Scrub away the messiness, wash away the dirt that soils your relationships.

Know that in auditing and cleansing, you may realize that some of those people are the very make-up of what you should wash away because they are no good for you. They “dirty up” your life and you have to clean up.

Perhaps when they just entered your life you needed them and they needed you. However, some people, like things, do their time, get soiled and must be discarded or in this case, they must be washed away.

Don’t be surprised if you get washed away after others do their own audits and find you to be the dirt in their lives.

You aren’t perfect and you aren’t the ultimate gift. Remember that. Just as how you’re not everyone’s cup of tea, you can also be the grime in someone’s life that must be washed away.

As it relates to the audit of the relationship you have with yourself: you’re gonna have to wash away some of your dirty habits. Do a review of who are, what you do as well as the things and situations you engage in. You and I know that everything is not the right fit for the person you want to be and the life you’re trying to build. Fix up what needs fixing. Cleanse!

Another point to note is that the results from an audit do not mean that you have to completely discard or wash away people or habits. It could mean that more attention is needed to clean and repair or fortify.

However you decide to look at it, a fix up is necessary. Go take a shower. Go have a bath. Engage in these activities daily for a healthy routine. Apply the principle to your relationships.

Audit and cleanse. Do it often and do it thoroughly. Your future self will thank you for it.

That’s it. That’s the lesson. Do with it what you will.

Signed with love,

The Suburban Girl JA