7 Ways to Wash the Plate

I came across this quote today while scrolling through Facebook. I immediately clicked Share.

I liked the sentiment, my reasoning two-fold. In the literal sense, ‘wash the plate’, means clean up after yourself because it’s the thoughtful thing to do for the next person. My husband commented on my post, “Now tell that to the kids”. What he didn’t understand is that I meant it in the literal sense for him, too. Like most couples, we’ve had our share of relationship blips centered around the division of household responsibilities. Having married later in life with already established routines and families, it’s an area we work to improve. It wasn’t just a reminder for the kids.

The literal meaning of the quote wasn’t my first thought when I shared it, though. I more like the universal meaning of the saying — take care of things not out of obligation, or duty, but because you care about humanity.

Here are 7 ways to “Wash the Plate”

Literally Wash the Plate — At home clean up the mess, even if it’s not your mess. Think of the person on the receiving end of that kindness, and about how much you love and care for them. Washing the plate can be a very simple expression of your love.