PERSONAL HYGIENE

Personal hygiene was certainly not the intended subject for my next post. In fact, it wasn’t even on the list of conceived post. But life takes some funny twist and turns and here we are. Of course, nobody asked me, but…

I am continuously in and out of homes and offices and meeting new people. Oftentimes the environment puts us in close quarters. While my business is technology it continues to exist because of developed relationships and personal hygiene plays a huge role. This past week I found myself in close quarters with someone seriously lacking personal hygiene skills. Like “Pig-Pen” from the Peanuts comic strip it appeared just to be a way of life – so sad. I wish I knew why and knew a way to broach the subject. In this case, I think the straight forward approach would probably produce a lose – lose end game. Maybe you, the reader have some thoughts on the subject.

I joined the U.S. Navy in March of 1976 and attended boot camp in San Diego. We had our own company “Pig-Pen” and he wasn’t a company asset. Our Company Commander would inspect us and “Pig-Pen” always had something wrong with his uniform but even worse was the fact, that while we were required too and given time, he wouldn’t shower and brush his teeth. The odor that emanated from his body in formation was horrible. Finally, the Company Commander began to discipline the entire company for this one individual’s hygiene habits. At that point, the company took steps to adjust his behavior after taps one night. ‘Nuff said about that incident.

Later in my career I had a Sailor in my division aboard ship that had similar hygiene habits. It’s bad enough with sixty guys in one berthing compartment who give a darn. But, add one who won’t shower, brush his teeth or get his laundry washed can make a both a berthing compartment and work space really brutal. When the complaints came to me I tried sitting down and counseling him. That worked for a short period of time but after awhile he went back to the old habits. I guess it’s true – “a mind changed against its will is of the same opinion still.”

For the health and comfort of his shipmates I ended up tasking his LPO with getting him up thirty minutes before reveille and escorting him to the head (shipboard bathroom) and making him shower, shave and brush his teeth. Once a week his Work Center Supervisor was tasked to stand by him in berthing so he would strip his rack and remake it with clean sheets. This was followed by going through his locker to make sure all his dirty clothes got sent to the laundry.

We laugh at the Peanuts character “Pig-Pen” but it’s really sad. Imagine the poor soul whose personal hygiene habits announce his presence everywhere he goes. Would be friends and Co-workers avoid getting to close and staying around too long. And, the closest of personal relationships just don’t get the opportunity to blossom. One doesn’t have to guess how much the personal hygiene habits of “Pig-Pen”stymied the relationship with his “love interest” Violet.