To people from a different time, our methods must seem like the epitome of waste. We run water for several minutes to rinse off dishes, pour out a glass of water if it sits overnight, and luxuriate in daily hot showers. I’ll bet if we had to pack our water by the bucket from a nearby well, our habits would change very quickly.
What gave rise to this obsession with hygiene? Women of a few generations ago were happy to take a weekly bath. Body odor was not considered so repugnant, but a natural part of who we are. Today, we spend millions of dollars to buy chemicals in order to disguise the fact that we are human. We have scented shampoos, conditioner, lotion, perfume and soaps, all in an attempt to make sure we don’t smell like who we really are.
It has long been established that the chemicals in some of those products can cause hormone disruption, skin reactions, and sometimes even cancer. Imagine how much healthier, richer, and quite probably happier we would be if we lived the way we used to live and accepted the fact that our natural bodies are wonderful.