This is the control panel for a public toilet in Tokyo…it was in the Starbucks ladies room. I was baffled for a moment when I realized that I was not sure how to flush the toilet. After reading the panel I realized that this was not where I flushed, it was for the bidet. The flushing mechanism had a completely different panel…wow! I laughed and was humbled as I was baffled by flushing a toilet.
Notice the button in the lower right hand corner, the one for the flushing sound? When you sit, the sound of gentle rain water begins and does not end until you stand up. It helps keep you from being embarassed by your bodily function sounds, and masks anything happening while you sit. I think it is brialliant. The Japanese think of everything. They take your bathroom experience to a whole new level.
Today I encourage you to take something in your world to a whole new level. We often think outside the box and laugh by proposing what if scenarios, yet here the Japanese have actually done it. Don’t just joke about what might happen, make it happen. Take your crazy idea and turn it into reality. Think it through and have the courage to turn your what if into a why not! There are people out there who will agree with you and buy that crazy idea…and maybe will even install it in a public place for the world to share your brilliance. Somewhere a person proposed to have sounds play to mask the body sounds that happen in bathrooms…and today I enjoyed that peaceful rainwater sound at Starbucks. Nothing is too crazy if you are willing to take a chance and make it work!