It isn’t easy to “speak up”, especially when one knows what they say can be unco

It isn’t easy to “speak up”, especially when one knows what they say can be uncomfortable for others. It is much easier to say something comfortable, especially when one knows what the others would like to hear. I occasionally (or often) feel down when I see the trend leads the majority to the convenient and comfortable place regardless of the voice behind them. I feel like our voice doesn’t matter (or get rewarded). I know I am not doing this for some reward – not for fame, not for money. It is just challenging to squeeze out every last bit of my strength in running against the wind (trend).
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I will NOT stop sharing the stories no matter what happens. I will NOT stop stitching until the end of my life. Our stories, our Sashiko, are not my own achievement. I am just connecting the past and future, from the many hands of Sashiko Artisans, to the future when they may need wisdom from Sashiko. I am here thanks to their hands. I decided to commit my life to pay back to them, and to hand someone who may need my hands toward the future. It is sad – or even depressing – to see the people lean to the “easier” option without further thinking. After all, “cheap price” is one value we all follow. However, I will not jump into the whirlpool of “being competitive in pricing” because I have hands to protect, to preserve, and to pass down. All I need to do is to think & act – and most importantly, keep sharing & stitching. We cannot forget we can be here because of someone – we can practice Sashiko because of millions of hands who have been stitching for many years.
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(Your support & learning for supplies on @upcyclestitches would be very much appreciated).
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昔は「手」が嫌いでした。自分の不恰好な手は勿論のこと、毎日目に入る刺し子職人さん（おばあちゃん達）の手も、なんだか嫌でした。テレビに映るような綺麗な手に憧れ、少し成長するとギターのフレット上を滑らかに動く指の長い手に憧れて。不思議と今、自分の手には愛着がありますし、また記憶の中にあるおばあちゃん達の手から力を頂いているような気になります。今では「手」が嫌だなんてとんでもない話で。
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明日/本日(9/15)実は誕生日です。んでもって実は私、誕生日を祝うというのが昔から理解できてません（笑）「年を重ねる＝死に近づく」日をなぜ祝うのかと不思議に思っているのですが、こうして「手」と「年齢」を重ねることを意識すると、年を重ねることを祝うというよりは、その年までに出会った手に感謝をする日なんだろうなと思うのです。来年は前厄の歳になります。厄年＝変化のある時期と捉えているので、何かしらあるんだろうと心の準備をしつつ来年の9/15も迎えられたらと思うのです。
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2022-09-15 00:04:02

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