Feeling dirty and grimy for extended periods of time is extremely draining on the mental well-being of humans. Psychological studies prove it is detrimental to our self-esteem and contentment. And no wonder; we are animals--homo sapiens, a kind of ape--that instinctively places high importance on personal grooming. Like monkeys and cats and birds in a zoo, one of the best ways to make us feel sad ... is to make us feel gross to ourselves.

So here's an easy saying from my therapist/zookeeper:

"If you feel like you hate the world, eat something.

If you feel like the world hates you, get some sleep.

If you feel like you hate yourself, take a shower.

Shrouded Skeleton, 1860

Brass rubbing from funerary monument in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire.

Shower -   Eline Brontsema

Dutch, b. 1988 -

Yuzu Kato

‘Borrowing from the Tiger’s Majesty’.

Yohji Yamamoto

Spring/Summer 1997