Ichi-go Ichi-e
Christmas is barely over and I’m getting emails for sales - ‘biggest offers’ and ‘last chances’. I’ve deleted 31 emails in the last 2 days. They play on our desire not to miss out, yet the thing we do miss out on is peace of mind, enjoying the moment. Retail is terrible for moving on to the next season before the current one is over. Christmas chocolates are at reduced rates now and, so my husband informs me, Easter is packaged and ready to hit the shelves.
I don’t know about you, but I’m still in christmas mode, if not quite in Christmas mood. I’m enjoying chilling with my non-alcoholic beverages, having time for conversation, walks and puzzles. Maybe you’re already feed up with family squabbles and TV, maybe you’re already back at work - many of my husband’s retail colleagues only had 1 day off - I don’t know your circumstances, but I do know this: you are not missing out on sale shopping. There are always offers- it’s the way retail sucks us in to buy things we don’t necessarily need. It is not your last chance to buy a sofa, a TV or that celebrity perfume and even if it was, it doesn’t really matter because there will always be something else popping up to replace it.
I’m not one for giving advice and operate on a live and let live basis for the most part. I don’t have any particular wisdom to impart. I’m here trying to live life the best I can, like most of us. However, I do know this, people are what matters and people are where we need to invest our time and talents - family, friends and strangers. A human life is a relatively short thing and none of us knows in advance how long our own will be. So savour the moments playing cards with the family, eating meals, pulling crackers, watching films, going for walks, whatever it is you do with family and friends. Slow down and appreciate the time you do have and don’t be too keen to rush on to the next thing. Living in the moment is priceless.
I hope you’ve enjoyed some down time this festive season, I hope you’ve had some joy. I wish you enjoyable days in this in between time.
Thank you for reading, following and subscribing to All Kinds of Everything this past year it’s been a positive experience to engage with you in this space. If you feel like buying me a cuppa to support my writing, the link is below.
The Japanese concept of ichi-go ichi-e says, "This moment exists only now and won't come again."