Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Dealing with the Inside Practicing good mental health hygiene is a practical investment in ourselves Newsletters Manitoba Local 152 By Nathan Koslowsky, Representative Two years ago, my brand-new microwave would pop a bowl of popcorn in 2 minutes and 40 seconds. A few months ago, I noticed more and more unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bowl, so I increased the time to three minutes. That worked for a while, and then I had to increase the time again, and again, until one day in an uncharacteristic burst of cleaning energy, I opened the door to the microwave and tackled the dried-up, crusty disaster inside. That evening, I burnt the popcorn and in so doing learned an important lesson: a clean microwave works better than a dirty one. I’ve never had a problem wiping down the outside of the microwave. Dealing with the inside—now that is a very different story! The outside is a uniform surface and easy to clean. The inside, with the glass merry go round and the plastic whatchamacallit on wheels that needs to be removed; and the long-since-calcified-into-diamond-strength-clumps-of-spills-and explosions-of-guck are much easier to ignore. Like my microwave, life’s splatters, spills, and eruptions can collect on our insides. And if those wounds, fears, resentments, and unhelpful stories about ourselves, the world, and others are left alone and ignored, they can collect and bog us down. Choosing to practice good mental health hygiene is a practical investment in ourselves and can ensure that we are able to truly be who we are in the world. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026