#Bathing

Bathing is an alleged ritual of washing away grime with water and heat, yet in reality it is a time to wallow in self-satisfaction while neglecting the filth of the mind. In the fleeting moment when soap-laden bubbles embrace the body, one feels freed from the world’s troubles, only to drown again upon leaving the tub. The civilized miracle of reheating systems reigns ultimately as a monstrous loop generator. Sometimes the true enemy of relaxation is the playlist broadcast through a smart speaker. At least we cling to the hope that steam can mask the sounds of reality in a tiny act of escape. In our daily monotony, we thoroughly forget that this simple act is mere magic in service of the social contract called “cleanliness.”

A sauna is a training ground of sorts where heated stones and steam boil humans alive. Touted as a place to confront one’s weaknesses, it is in reality a shrewd marketplace stripping away both moisture and comfort. It is the one public space where strangers must socialize through skin-to-skin contact on the same wooden bench. When finished, what remains is the illusion of refreshment accompanied by a faint twinge of regret.