SPLASH-BACK

Men don’t usually chat in public restrooms. There are occasional nods or grunts of recognition, maybe even some bantering, but conversations are rare. I won’t speculate on the reasoning, but that’s the norm.

One time in particular, however, after stepping away from the urinal, I was engaged in a conversation. Actually, it was more a statement directed my way. I was washing my hands and a colleague I worked with commented, “My daddy taught me not to piss on my hands, so I don’t have to wash when I’m done.”

Well, let me assure you my dad was not errant in his fatherly duties. He taught me the same thing. Then he went a step further. He explained “splash-back.”

Now, I know it’s not polite to stare at another person’s crotch, but have you ever noticed the front of guys’ pants as they leave the restroom. It’s more apparent when wearing light color pants, but often there are tell-tale signs — little damp spots visible around the zipper area. Sometime that could simply be the result of an over aggressive faucet, jetting out water which hit the sink and sprayed against the pants. I hate when that happens. But, many times it results from urine splashing back off the urinal wall.

Splash-back is not prejudiced. It doesn’t care if it hits the pants, the shirt, or even the hands. I don’t care how thorough a father was in teaching his little boy not to piss on his hands, washing afterward is just a good practice to ensure cleanliness.

I’m not as well versed in the intricacies of female hygiene, but I am sure that washing properly afterward is still good practice.

Proper washing involves using warm water and soap. It also requires lathering the hands in soap for at least 20 seconds; making sure to wash the palms and fingers, front and back, then rinsing. It’s not just that cursory holding hands under running water long enough to get them wet, then shake them off routine. If you really want to be safe, dry your hands thoroughly afterward. Then use the toweling to shut off the faucet and hold the handle on the door as you open it, before throwing away the towel.

Promoting sanitary conditions is another way to spread harmony. Making sure we all do our parts to diminish the spread of harmful bacteria makes the world a safer place to live.

The body is the temple which houses our consciousness. Taking care of it is paramount if we desire optimum conditions to continue learning and growing. Avoiding disease is one of the best ways we can take care of our bodies. Simple things like proper hand washing help us achieve that goal. It also prevents the spread of germs, thereby providing service to others, as well.

It feels good to do things which help us maintain our lives on a positive course, but contributing to the well being of others fosters our sense of purpose. With a strong sense of purpose, we feel connected to the whole of creation. This allows us to be a vibrant, contributing member of society. And that’s a great way to bolster our self-esteem. Wow, all that from just washing our hands!

So, I won’t be carrying on too many conversations in the men’s room. I’ll be too busy washing my hands. Please pass the soap.

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