Orka

I'm taking some time off before I go back to the grind. Just a week—enough to declutter my workspace and my head, to delete the cache in my brain, so to speak. I realized I hadn’t washed my work seat cushion and desk mat in ages, simply because I was too busy. So I finally tossed them into the washer. I also printed out packaging materials for my little online crafty shop, which I’ve neglected for years. I want to rekindle my passion for creating nifty, crafty things again. I want to be still for a while, to enjoy the quiet days. I’ve grown so accustomed to chaos that I’ve become numb to it.

Since the passing of our senior cat—who my sister and I loved dearly—I’ve come to realize how short life is. A decade can feel like days when you’re constantly busy. I wish I’d spent more time with him during his last few days. I remember how his eyes would light up, and he’d try to stand on his frail legs when he saw me. I fed him, talked to him, and told him it was okay to rest—that we’d take care of his adopted sister, our calico cat, Katsumi. Looking back, I think we should’ve brought in a second cat much sooner than we did. We underestimated his capacity to care for another feline. He was the kindest protector and brother. I miss him terribly, but I know my new job will keep me occupied. Still, I’ve promised myself: never again will I say I “don’t have time.” Because time slips away so fast.

As I write this, Katsumi is lounging on my chest. I suppose I just want to enjoy my morning coffee and these slower days. My sister's fascination with finding cute and useful kitchen tools has been amusing—she recently bought a gimbap maker, which has sparked my interest in making those delicious rice rolls wrapped in seaweed. I’m doing my best to resist the urge to shop indulgently online, especially since we’ve just converted the utility kitchen into a pantry to house all our kitchen bits, bobs, and groceries.

There are so many things I want to do, and I don’t even know where to start. I'm genuinely excited to clear out the mental clutter—the miscellaneous tabs open in my brain. The question is: how do I even begin? Ⓕ