June 2: Writing Prompt #153-The Zone

Tell us about your favorite way to get lost in a simple activity — running, chopping vegetables, folding laundry, whatever. What’s it like when you’re in “the zone”?

Washing dishes (BY HAND). For whatever reason, this is my favorite way to get lost in a simple activity.  Over the years, I’ve also gotten lost in running (particularly in the most difficult last days of my first marriage-I was literally “running away” from my troubles). Although, cleaning (in general), tends to be my most frequent go-to way to forget about my worries.  I often remember and still will go straight to the sink to get lost in dishes when I am upset about a situation in my life.  Many a time I cried over the rush of water while cleaning the mess from my most recent meal.  When I’m in “the zone,” so to speak, my mind quiets. It starts out frenzied and tearful, then slowly as the white noise and warmth of the water settles into the skin of my hands, I stop thinking about anything but getting the dishes clean. And when I’m done, there’s a strong sense of accomplishment. “Well, at least I can do this and do it well. I have not gone without completing something successfully today.”  Silly, I know, but to start and finish a mindless activity such as this calms me, stills me in a way little else except the rush of the ocean does.  I’m not much for astrology, but in this case, it makes sense to me because after all, I am a “water baby” (Aquarius). The power and noise of water draws me in and stabilizes me within its own constant movement and instability.  It’s an example of the power of God, of forces beyond our control.  When I feel out of control, I run to the water. I cannot control it, just as I cannot control everything in my life, but I can trust. I can believe that the tides will continue to come and go, that the dishes will still move through their clean to dirty cycle day after day, and that life will go on, even when I am not in control of it.  It puts everything back into perspective.  Life can be very simple. It’s we who make it complicated.