Staying In with Muji

Back in December I moved into my new home. It’s a strange feeling, not to be able to have people over to celebrate. I’ve also been working with Muji, who have been so supportive of Omoiyari, and who I’ve been collaborating with to promote products from their range.

I’m feeling extremely grateful to have moved to a neighbourhood I love, and into a home with a garden! We’ve made quite a few changes, too - painting the kitchen floors, drilling shelves in, and it’s lovely getting settled in. I’ve really enjoyed making constant adjustments and changes to the place, and having the diffuser has been a lovely way to subtly shift my office environment day to day.

My favourite essential oils at the moment are ‘I Am Home’ (for obvious reasons) and also ‘Omotenashi’, which is so apt because it’s actually the title of a chapter in my latest book. ‘Omotenashi’ describes the spirit of hospitality. The word, a combination of ‘omote’ (public face) and ‘nashi’ (nothing, or without), perfectly encapsulates a compassionate approach that we could all benefit from at the moment – doing things for others, without the expectation of anything in return.

I was also lucky enough to receive a new set of pyjamas from MUJI for the holidays this year, and I’m ashamed to admit I’ve worn them far too many times to be socially acceptable. But given the current climate, I think we can safely say that they don’t have to be strictly nightwear anymore.

In ‘Omoiyari’, I often write about respect for objects, almost savouring or treasuring them. While I received these purple ones for Christmas, the checked ones I share here I got from the MUJI store near my grandmother’s house in Japan almost ten years ago. They’ve gotten softer and better over time; aging gracefully and beautifully.

Post made in collaboration with Muji.