When I meet a follower in-person, they get puzzled a bit, and tell me “I was nervous to meet you because of your message on SNS”. I received this kind of comment in almost every in-person workshop, and sometimes even in Online Class. It is kind of funny. If you have already met me, you know what kind of person I am. I deliberately choose to be “difficult” on the Internet. In real life…? You will find out when you meet me.
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I know it is much wiser choice to be a “nice” and “smiling” person on this account even with faking my emotions. If my goal is to be “popular” or “making money”, I really should be nice all the time and keep a happy “persona” regardless of what happens. Look around. No one is trying to be as “difficult” as I am in Sashiko. Interestingly, however, the “difficulty” I am mentioning here is simply the “honestly”. Honesty becomes an obstacle in “business”, and I deliberately decide to be as “honest” as I can to share what Sashiko really is. I cannot pass down the Sashiko to the next generation by myself. The nice & happy persona won’t communicate the truth all the time. Someone gotta be honest (and therefore difficult), and it happens to be in Sashiko because of my background. Your support will be very much appreciated to achieve my goal – to pass down the Sashiko that the Japanese practice(d) in their ordinary.
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昔から、物事の”コツ”を掴むのは上手で、どんなことをしても一定のレベルまでは短期間でスイスイと上達してしまうので、「器用だね」と褒められることが多い人生でした。要領は良いんだろうなと思います。一番苦労した勉強も、”米国の4年生大学を卒業するくらいの要領”はあったんです（当時はどうしたもんかと思ったけど）。それでも、博士課程に人生をぶっこむ程の勇気も覚悟もなく、また士業に進む程の能力も気合もなく。結果、どっぷり浸かったのは、あれだけ毛嫌いしていた刺し子だったという冗談のような人生です。
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親父が亡くなってから、一気に不器用になりました。笑わなくて良いところでは、笑わなくなったから。下唇を血が滲む程噛んでまで頭を下げる必要がなくなったから。そして初めて分かるんです。「文化を伝える」とはこういうことなんだと。今でも日々大変です。清貧と言えば聞こえは良いけれど、一人では生計が立てられないので、清貧以下。それでも、曲げたくないものがあるのは、やっぱり不器用なんだろうと思います。昔からそうだったんだろうけれど。日本が好きなんです。だから変えられたくないものがある。不器用を誇り、建前をふっ飛ばして刺し子を紹介していこうと思います（英語圏の話です）。
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2020-10-06 10:51:10
I appreciate your posts, your work is amazing and your words bring messages to grasp the philosophy, or insight, behind sashico that is normally not given in other spaces. Thanks 🤗
I never thought of you as difficult. Never!!!! And in person you are one of the coolest, more honest, down to earth person I have met.
Lindo
Stay sovereign sashi 🙏😘
Your honesty and “difficulty” is exactly what made me follow you because your perspective is very interesting and I learn so much from reading your posts!
Absolutely exquisite outfit!
Being British I often get accused of being blunt or rude when conversing in written word with North Americans. Am I those things? Well I can be, but what I also am is trying to impart information with as little extraneous waffling to keep my message clear, and I’ve found that a lot of Americans find that rude. They want small talk and placating when neither is warranted. Keep being you! It’s refreshing.
Aprendo cada día de tus palabras y de tu bordado. No encuentro mejor manera de aprender. 🇦🇷😊
全く同意です！❤️💯
Precioso trabajo bordado
Amazing!! 💓
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and cultural insights. I very much appreciate learning about, and to appreciate, the different customs and cultures around the World.
I think there is.a refreshing tone to you 🙂 who.says we must be accommodating to all things all the time?
@susanschmittart re: our conversation last Tuesday