My life changed suddenly from traveling almost every week to staying at home day after day, Monday to Sunday, morning to noon to night. I lived my life like a busy bee, never staying in one place, so this new normal is refreshing. However, jobs I spent years building up were cancelled, so not everything is great. The uncertainty of the future is so stressful, that I have to cheer myself up with stupid jokes.
In the midst of all of this, I spent more time looking at where I stand. I literally mean where I stand, the floor of our place. I mop the wooden floor every day, wet and dry. Soon, my body remembers to do this as a routine. More often than I pray, I clean the floor until it shines. Working on it, I just think about the floor. Starting from the hallway, ending with the corner by the window, I follow the same course every day. By the time I finish this 15 minute routine, not only the floor but my mind becomes clear and starts to shine.
Starting a day like this shapes my senses and I feel I discover more things when taking a walk. The shifting colors in the sky, shuffling leaves, empty cicada shells, none of them captured my attention when I was busy running around. These days the discoveries are endless. One day I visited a friend’s atelier to chat, where there was a high ceiling with tall windows, and the breeze blowing through the room was so cozy. I suddenly thought, “I’d like to find a place like this for my work.” Until then the town I lived in was a place to return to from work, I realized I wanted to work from here, and needed a space for it.
I went home, started my search, and found a perfect place almost immediately, with tall windows, a high ceiling, and the refreshing breeze. I signed the lease that day. My friend was surprised and laughed a little at my quick decision, but I was certain of this new beginning. I am leaving a lot of blank space in terms of what to begin. I just want to see what amazing things emerge from this new experience.
– Masako Nakagawa