My pencil case is purple with big white dots. I’ve had it for a very long time. The inside, made from some kind of rubbery material, has dried out and constantly crumbles. I have plenty of unfinished projects and promised myself not to start any new ones. But my pencil case made me break that promise.

“Worn out” doesn’t bother me like “neglected” does. It’s a matter of daily aesthetics. And, as I use the pencil case daily, an immediate restyling was necessary.

The easiest way to transform the pencil case was to cover it with fabric scraps. And I have lots of scraps. So, I dismissed my programmed chores and gave priority to the pencil case makeover and subsequently passed all morning and a great part of the afternoon stitching scraps onto the case.

There’s another reason why I needed to transform my pencil case. The War.

Marcus Aurelius wrote this to himself: When circumstances force you to some sort of distress, quickly return to yourself. Do not stay out of rhythm for longer than you must…you will master the harmony the more by constantly going back to it.”

The quickest way for me to “return” to myself is by hand sewing. Stitching tranquilizes me and helps me reconnect with my core. The focused attention and the repetitive movements are soothing. Mellow meditation.

Seeing the world crumbling and in flames weakens me and makes me feel impotent. But despite all the destruction going on, if I can repair something, I can escape that feeling of powerlessness. Just because I can’t repair the world doesn’t mean there aren’t those things that I can’t save. So that’s where I’m focused. At least for now.

So why not mend something?

Don’t forget about our Bunnies!

-30-

Appropriations for AI will be jinxed.

Related:

Mending as a form of Aesthetics + The Aesthetics of Mending +