Ikutagawa River flows near the atelier. Before I knew it, spring had passed, and the row of cherry trees along the river is now completely wrapped in fresh green leaves. As I quietly watch the flowing river, I sometimes find myself so absorbed that I forget the passage of time. Where does this beauty come from?
By flowing quietly and without stagnation, water maintains its purity and nourishes the creatures living within it. However, if the flow slows and stagnation occurs, the water gradually becomes murky, the creatures disappear, and eventually even unpleasant odors begin to spread. It may be that the very act of continuing to flow creates beauty.
On the other hand, within our human bodies, cells are being replaced with brand new ones every day. After just a few days, you could say that, at the cellular level, we are essentially different people. Both rivers and humans exist within a "flow." It is easy to imagine that if this flow becomes stagnant or blocked, problems will arise.
In the manufacturing work we engage in daily, we always pay close attention to "stagnation." If we fear change and remain in the same place, our minds and thoughts gradually become rigid. Without new stimuli or values coming in, our perspective narrows, our sensitivity dulls, and our vitality fades. Before we know it, an indescribable awkwardness begins to linger among the people involved. Looking back, it seems that during times when things felt off, we usually had some form of stagnation to contend with.
Starting a new project. Considering a design with a different direction than before. Whenever I feel stagnation, I make a conscious effort to step out of my comfort zone to clear that stagnation.
Of course, it is not easy to keep moving constantly. There are naturally times when you get tired and want to take a short break. However, a brief rest is fundamentally different from stagnation. By pausing, you can recalibrate your direction and even cultivate the strength to move forward. But if you stay there too long, the water will eventually become murky.
Not fearing change and approaching each day with curiosity to make it new. Taking even small steps forward. As I ponder these things and gaze at the clear, untroubled flow of the river, I feel a strange sensation as if there is a will within it.