Why “Emptying the Dishwasher?”

Blogging has been dead for a while, so why start one now?

Local startup founder Dave Christison made a great point that the cost of blogging’s death—at the hands of microblogging and other social media—might be heavy. Personally, I need more critical thinking and less immediate reacting to things.

Writing is one thing I can do. But coming up with titles and headlines is a glaring hole. People assume that if you can do one, you can do the other. Not true. Completely different skill set. Some people can do both; some can do neither. I can only do the first one.

In search a title and theme for the blog, I asked my 11-year-old son what phrases I say a lot. His first response, after rolling his eyes, was “empty the dishwasher,” because that is the most common household chore that I frequently remind him to do.

I laughed, but then I thought: actually, that could work as a metaphor for. . . something.

A little assist from ChatGPT to connect the dots for me:

“Emptying the Dishwasher” as a metaphorical title for a blog, where “Dishwasher” represents your brain, suggests a blog focused on decluttering thoughts, sharing insights, and processing various aspects of life. Here’s what the title could imply:

1. Organizing Thoughts: Just like emptying a dishwasher involves sorting and organizing dishes, this title implies a process of sorting through and organizing your thoughts and ideas.
2. Daily Routine and Reflection: The act of emptying a dishwasher is a common, routine task. The title might suggest a focus on everyday thoughts, reflections, and the mundane yet significant aspects of daily life.
3. Clearing Mental Space: Just as a dishwasher is emptied to make room for more dishes, the title could symbolize the clearing of mental space to make room for new ideas and experiences.
4. Practical and Relatable Content: The use of a household chore as a metaphor implies a down-to-earth, practical approach to topics, likely making it highly relatable to a wide audience.
5. A Mix of Topics: Similar to a dishwasher holding various types of dishes, the blog might cover a variety of topics, mirroring the diverse nature of thoughts one might have.
6. Mindfulness and Mental Unloading: The title could also suggest a focus on mindfulness and the importance of mentally unloading or decompressing, much like the necessary task of emptying a dishwasher.

Overall, “Emptying the Dishwasher” as a blog title conveys a sense of relatability, routine, and the thoughtful processing of a range of life experiences and ideas. It’s a creative and unique metaphor that captures the essence of everyday introspection and mental decluttering.

And that kinda made some sense. That is exactly the type of content I hope to produce here. My brain is a dishwasher.

So here’s to more long-form writing in 2024, and to less proverbial jerking of the proverbial knee.