Don’t let fear override you. Don’t allow anxiety to control what you do. The worry comes from “unknown”. Avoid being unnaturally positive, too. It is okay to freak out. It is natural to feel guilt/shame that you may not be able to maintain the "same". Close your eyes. Sit on the floor. Position your body, then stitch. It will be okay. We will be okay. The "Care" can define who we are. ☆ This is a phrase I tell myself before the morning Sashiko session. I used to have 15~ min of morning meditation. Now, I replaced the meditation with just 5 ~ minutes of Sashiko every morning before a super busy day starts. ☆ We, our ancestors, lived in the unknown. Before the IT, the Internet, and Industrial Revolution, the majority of us lived mainly for the food, shelter, and cloth. The Japanese who developed Sashiko didn’t have stability in life. They didn’t know if they would survive through the winter. They hoped, but it wasn’t guaranteed. The unknown was their ordinary, and therefore they stitched and “prayed”. We all get used to “receiving” the answer so easily - instant gratification. Therefore, the productivity, solution based innovation, and the competition were so important to be successful. Now, we are forced to standstill. It may be a time to remember what our ancestors did - and my message is to practice Sashiko as they did. It “can” help. At least, I keep my sanity in there. ☆ “Don’t step on the gas pedal when the gear is in neutral (or “P”). It will only burn the engine.” We will have time to go forward - may be a different direction - and we need our “vehicle” to do so when the time comes. Take care of yourself, please? Try Sashiko with your eyes closed. It helps me a lot. ☆ - - - ☆ 日々不安が募ります。忙しくなればなるほど、毎朝の数分の、ほんの一本の線だけの刺し子を続けるようにしました。その数分が、今の自分の生命線なような気がすらしています。その数分は目を閉じます。目を閉じて刺し子をします。そして思いを重ねるのです。目を閉じて運針。始まりと終わり、針を抜く時は目を開けて。吃驚するくらい気が落ち着くのです。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #PowerofSashiko #SlowStitching #Meditation #RhythmicalStitching #Mindful #Handstitching #SashikoStitching #Unshin #JapaneseBoro #刺し子 #運針 #襤褸 https://www.instagram.com/p/B_FVglrpH8F/?igshid=1l535t0htq600