It’s not just about fear. If you want to make this about COVID-19 or flu season, you can. But those aren’t the only reasons hand washing is worth talking about.
Go ahead and sing the ABC song to make sure you’re taking enough time to effectively remove germs and bacteria from your hands, but don’t switch to auto pilot while you do it.
Use this time as a moment for meditation.
Think about what your hands do for you. What they touch. How they feel. What the water feels like against your skin, and how your hands feel touching each other.
Take time to think about each part of your hands. The fingernails. The tips of your fingers. The knuckles. The palms. The back of your hand.
How well do you really know the back of your hand?
Are you taking care of yourself? What can your hands tell you about that?
Is the skin on your hands dry or cracked? Are the nails in need of clipping? Are there callouses or sore joints? Minor cuts that you ignored that could use a bandage?
And if you’re ignoring these problems with your hands, take that moment to ask yourself if there are other problems you’re ignoring; other ways you could better care for your body.
This is time to slow down and feel grounded.
This is time to feel gratitude for the soap and clean water that help keep you and those you come in contact with healthy.
This is a time to remember your body needs your attention in ways great and small.
Treat washing your hands like a gift to yourself; a gift of time and presence.
Your hands empty. Your mind focused. You have the chance to reset from a rough day, or to reinforce the calm and focus of a good day.
Commit to slowing down and taking time to wash your hands.
This Builds Character 
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