Our son started back at school this week. I like to take the first day of school off from work. It makes the transition from summer to fall so much more enjoyable and creates just enough space that the transition doesn’t feel jarring.
After school drop off my husband and I did the grocery shopping together. I cleaned out the fridge and freezer. I went and saw my doc for a yearly check up and bloodwork. Took care of some emails, walked to the library to return books, and started the laundry.
This extra “space” reminds me of the Japanese concept ‘yutori.’ I learned about it from this conversation between Krista Tippett and the poet Naomi Shihab Nye. Naomi was recounting a story from when she was teaching in Japan.
“And a girl, in fact, wrote me a note in Yokohama, on the day that I was leaving her school, that has come to be the most significant note any student has written me in years. She said, “Well, here in Japan, we have a concept called ‘yutori,’ and it is spaciousness. It’s a kind of living with spaciousness. For example, it’s leaving early enough to get somewhere so that you know you’re going to arrive early, so when you get there, you have time to look around.”
I will leave you with our current favorite house band Idles. We are obsessed.
Enjoy the weekend. xx
Always the right thought at the right time! 💛