Remember when we were little kids? The only thing we hated more than being forced to come inside after an intense game of make believe was dipping into a hot tub of water.
Bath Time.
We'd kick and yell, splashing suds into our parent's eyes and causing the whole ordeal to take twice as long as it should have. Then, after drying off from our battle, we'd be too exhausted to sleep and tumble into our beds. We'd fall asleep before our damp little heads of hair hit the pillow.
Most of us grow out of this phase. I hope that everyone reading this has done just that.
Frankly, now I absolutely adore bath time.
Flashback to not too long ago, at the beginning of my first year of college. My dingy dorm hall had a small, harshly lit bathroom setup that hadn't been updated since the 1980s. One look at the stained, cracking bathtub tucked in the corner and I already felt a sense of longing. As if my first year of college wouldn't be hard enough, now I'd have to go through it with a heavy heart of desire for a nice hot bath. No longer would I take bath time for granted.
Every single visit home brought along a myriad of soaking time. Mountains of bubbles, surrounded by tea candles and hair up in a messy bun. I could feel the stress melt away. Bath time is my time. In the mix of everyday life, it's difficult to find little things that bring us bliss, even if that feeling only lasts for a short time. For me, this is baths.
Everyone who knows me knows how much a good tub of water means to me. For my birthday each year, I receive tons of bubble bath mixtures. (Take note, friends and family: when in doubt, buy me bath stuff). Sometimes, I set baths as a goal. If I can just get through a week of heavy tests at school, I can swing home for the weekend and take a bath. It sounds silly, I know. But in all reality, even the smallest things can help motivate and enrich your life. It may not be bath time for everyone, but just take a second to think about what that could be for you.
A piece of chocolate? A long walk? A pile of blankets? Or maybe just a second to breathe?
Whatever that may be for you, don't be afraid to reach for that. Your happiness is what's most important, and I hope you learned a thing or two from my love letter to bath time.
