Chores are almost synonymous to drudgery. Perhaps the carefreeness of youth makes this so. The idea of having to do something at an appointed time was totally undesirable compared to the freedom of spontaneous action. Playing the piano for visitors was a “chore.” I had to be dragged from the neighbor’s mango tree or called for piano practice from my grime accumulating spontaneous afternoon play. Sleeping at 3pm was a chore compared to wearing a raincoat and walking outside in the rain. As I got older, chores got more interesting. A perfectly good novel became a chore to read all because it was required by the teacher. Eating anything healthy was a chore because it was good for me.
Fast forward into adulthood.
Now, I am of a different mind. I never would have thought that washing dishes can be therapeutic. Cleaning the bathroom can be relaxing. Throwing the trash can be humanizing. Extrapolating from these…there are things that must be done because they are part of being human. Freedom can be a chore if spontaneity means purposelessness, irresponsibility and zero drive to accomplish anything worthwhile.
I love Booker T. Washington because he taught his students to love work not as drudgery. But to find beauty and dignity in it. Must-Dos are part of being human.
–The Fool
I am very happy for you fool. I am still learning what you have learned over time in regard to these chores.
Hi everyone! I agree with The Fool. Attending to menial tasks such as cleaning and cooking has become, for me, a way to break the monotony of things in my life. Incidentally, a puck, i have read somewhere, is also sort of fairy who helps housewives with their work.
hi absolutes searcher!
oh just keep on learning.
in the course of your learning and reflection … you might want to pick up “Ode to Ordinary Things” by Pablo Neruda though i don’t like all the entries. this is an amusing read. just caution your senses that it’s not to glorify the trivial. for an appreciation of deeper aspects you might want to look into the japanese view. captain algren was indeed correct in saying that the japanese are an extraordinary people… from the moment they wake up, they devote themselves to the perfection of everything they pursue. that’s why common place things (e.g. chores) became works of art like the ikebana, chado, and calligraphy.
hi puck!
your name transports me to shakespeare. midsummer night’s dream is very funny. for me, reading shakespeare is one sure way to break monotony. my favorites are merchant of venice and much ado about nothing! i liked the latter so much that i had to find the original sound track of the movie. ironically, people do other things to break the monotony they find in shakespeare. ha!
isn’t it interesting that asian movies have adapted shakespeare. ran, for example, a japanese masterpiece is based on king lear (ahem… which is where i get my name). the banquet is based on macbeth!
anyway, all for now.
I also love Midsummer Night’s Dream, and most of all, Othello (with his nasty antagonist named Iago.
Fool, I also noticed that too… Asian films doing a rendition of Shakespeare stories in their own style…
The Banquet movie is the perfect example of this. Lang lang, the renowned Chinese composer of the Banquet soundtrack (who also performed in the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony, mixed Western music (piano and stringed instruments) with the Eastern music (Er Hu and Guzheng). The musical effect is a sweepingly mysterious rich music conveying to the hearer a sad story from ancient past. I watched the Banquet 5 times because I was so affected by its tragic end. huhuhu.