Embracing Mundanity
About My Liberation Notes, a Japanese ritual, and something my ex has said.
Hello, Sunday! (I wasn’t trying to promote one of my favorite cafes in Menteng). Just thought I’d open with this.
Starting this month, we are going to do things differently (I am aware that it’s ironic because I am going to talk about my love for mundanity). Dwitri and I will take turns in flooding writing the newsletter. Why? We are trying to maintain the consistency of writing while realizing our limits. As it turns out, writing once a month is not always feasible. So, let’s see how it goes. Also, it means you’re stuck with me right now. For another four minutes, at least. Instead of writing a long newsletter, I’ve divided it into three thoughts.
I recently watched a K-drama series called My Liberation Notes.
It’s a story about three siblings living their monotonous, day-to-day lives, trying to find lightness (or freedom?). Not to mention that they’re all in their 30s and live with their parents, which also brought up its challenges.
They live so far away from their workplace that they must commute a lot. Doing that every single day. Carrying whatever feelings they have in store on that day; anger towards their coworkers/boss, heavy loneliness, money problems, feeling lost, etc.
I remember my friend told me that she couldn’t handle the series. She stopped after the fourth episode because it’s just too dull. Not much is happening. “If I want to see how boring life can be, I’d just watch my own life. Don’t you think life is so boring?”
I didn’t say anything and just listened. But after she left, I started thinking about it. I wouldn’t call my life boring, but I understand how easy it is to see it that way. I have a pretty monotonous life that I actually feel grateful for. It makes me feel like I’m in control. At least a little bit. I know no matter how unpredictable situations are (covid-related situations, my loved ones’ responses and conditions, the weather, what the governments do or don’t do, what song my neighbor is going to sing that day, etc.), applying a structure to my day can actually make me feel like I’m not always all over the place. That I’m not always spilled porridge, I can be also a neatly stacked up cookies. (Yes, it’s lunchtime).
Don’t ask me how (because I don’t remember), but I stumbled upon Tsukimi.
It’s a Japanese ritual of viewing the moon scheduled on the 15th day of the eighth month and the 13th day of the ninth month (based on the solar calendar). This ritual is about practicing thankfulness and celebrating the full moon (along with the beauty of nature). I like that you get to make plans to be thankful. I like that you don’t need to wait until you’re in the mood to celebrate something beautiful.
My ex once told me, "I don’t know how you can be interested in the most mundane things."
I rephrased it, but he thought I managed to convince myself that there's excitement behind mundane things. Like how people brush their teeth, using a washing machine and dryer is not just a matter of preference but a necessity because that person doesn't have the space to hang their wet clothes. How people would choose to use a fork to eat rice? And so on.
It took me a long time to realize it, but he's right. I do find mundanity exciting. We can't always skydive, watch an interesting movie, or meet a stranger who can make us feel excited. A mundane life is the kind of life I have to sustain (at least that's what I think for now), and I'm okay with that.
